Respite Care in Barstow, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Barstow, CA: the local picture

3,078

residents 65 or older (12% of Barstow)

68%

of residents 65+ in households live with someone, often a family caregiver

43%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in San Bernardino County)

76

Medicare-certified hospices serve Barstow ZIP codes

Most older adults in Barstow live with someone: 68% of residents 65 and older in households do. When one of them needs care, the person they live with usually provides most of it, and respite is what keeps that sustainable.

About 1,320 Barstow residents aged 65 or older report a disability (43%) (37% in San Bernardino County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 76 hospices serving Barstow ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Barstow compared with San Bernardino County and California

Census figure	Barstow	San Bernardino County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	37%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	20%	23%
Residents 65 or older	12%	13%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.1%	1.3%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	13%	12%
Households with no vehicle	9.6%	4.6%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,754	$61,795	—

Older residents in towns around Barstow

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Lenwood, CA	3.9 mi	717	69%
Silver Lakes, CA	19 mi	1,125	14%
Apple Valley, CA	25 mi	13,919	44%
Spring Valley Lake, CA	29 mi	1,729	44%
Victorville, CA	29 mi	14,339	39%
Adelanto, CA	30 mi	2,868	43%

Hospices serving Barstow

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Cherry Blossom Hospice	Barstow, CA	1.7 mi	(760) 979-2539
St Bernardine Hospice Care	Apple Valley, CA	25 mi	(760) 983-2647
Green Valley Hospice & Palliative Care, LLC	Apple Valley, CA	25 mi	(760) 242-0088
Inland Valley Hospice Care	Apple Valley, CA	25 mi	(760) 243-2501
Vnacare	Apple Valley, CA	25 mi	(760) 946-4730

Nursing homes near Barstow (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Mountain View Post Acute	Barstow, CA	1.2 mi	5 of 5	59	(760) 252-2515
Veterans Home Of California - Barstow	Barstow, CA	1.3 mi	5 of 5	60	(760) 252-6288

Straight-line miles from the center of Barstow. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a respite caregiver can help with

Taking over the usual routine while you are away
Meals, medication reminders and personal care
Company and activities
Overnight cover for a weekend or a trip

Cost

What respite care costs in Barstow

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,896 monthly median income of Barstow households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a respite caregiver

Family caregivers carry most long-term care in the U.S., and burnout is a common reason a home arrangement breaks down. The federal National Family Caregiver Support Program funds respite through local Area Agencies on Aging, and the ARCH National Respite Locator lists respite programs by state.

Questions worth asking: Can you do a short paid visit first, while I am home? Are you available at short notice if I am ill? Can you stay overnight, and what do you charge for it? More in our respite care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Respite Care in Barstow: common questions

Which hospices serve Barstow?

Medicare lists 76 hospices for Barstow ZIP codes, including Cherry Blossom Hospice, St Bernardine Hospice Care, Green Valley Hospice & Palliative Care, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Barstow?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,896 monthly median income of Barstow households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Does Medicaid or Medicare pay for respite care?

Medicare pays for short inpatient respite stays only for people on its hospice benefit (Medicare.gov); the hospices on this page serve Barstow. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave covers California.

More near Barstow

More senior care near Barstow

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Barstow

More for Barstow families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

Respite Care in Barstow, CA