Respite Care in Belen, NM: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Belen, NM: the local picture

1,261

residents 65 or older (17% of Belen)

55%

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

54%

of residents 65+ report a disability (43% in Valencia County)

19

Medicare-certified hospices serve Belen ZIP codes

Most older adults in Belen live with someone: 55% 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 646 Belen residents aged 65 or older report a disability (54%) (43% in Valencia County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 19 hospices serving Belen ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Belen compared with Valencia County and New Mexico

Census figure	Belen	Valencia County	New Mexico
Residents 65+ with a disability	54%	43%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	45%	25%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	19%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	1.6%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	34%	14%	13%
Households with no vehicle	7.1%	3.0%	5.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$34,844	$50,919	—

Older residents in towns around Belen

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Los Lunas, NM	2.6 mi	3,556	36%
Los Chaves, NM	3.5 mi	1,077	43%
El Cerro, NM	6.5 mi	907	56%
Peralta, NM	8.2 mi	646	44%
Bosque Farms, NM	8.6 mi	906	36%
El Cerro Mission, NM	9.3 mi	722	61%

Hospices serving Belen

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Legacy Hospice	Albuquerque, NM	27 mi	(505) 338-3702
Presbyterian Hospice Inpatient Unit	Albuquerque, NM	27 mi	(505) 559-7062
Hospice Of New Mexico, LLC	Albuquerque, NM	27 mi	(505) 872-2300
Bosque Trails Hospice LLC	Albuquerque, NM	27 mi	(505) 808-2870
Advanced Home Health Of New Mexico	Albuquerque, NM	27 mi	(505) 967-4274

Nursing homes near Belen (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Belen Meadows Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Belen, NM	7.8 mi	2 of 5	120	(505) 864-1600
Las Estancias By Pure Health	Albuquerque, NM	18 mi	5 of 5	120	(505) 632-3018
South Valley Care Center LLC	Albuquerque, NM	22 mi	5 of 5	58	(505) 877-2200
Ladera Center	Albuquerque, NM	25 mi	2 of 5	120	(505) 836-0023

Straight-line miles from the center of Belen. 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 Belen

At the New Mexico median aide wage of $13.71 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,188 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $2,904 monthly median income of Belen households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Mexico's minimum wage is $12.00 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 Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

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 Belen: common questions

Which hospices serve Belen?

Medicare lists 19 hospices for Belen ZIP codes, including Legacy Hospice, Presbyterian Hospice Inpatient Unit, Hospice Of New Mexico, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Belen?

At the New Mexico median aide wage of $13.71 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,188 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $2,904 monthly median income of Belen households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Mexico's minimum wage is $12.00 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 Belen. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers New Mexico.

More near Belen

More senior care near Belen

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Belen

More for Belen 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 Belen, NM