Respite Care in Belfair, WA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Belfair, WA: the local picture

540

residents 65 or older (12% of Belfair)

68%

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

51%

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

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Belfair ZIP codes

Most older adults in Belfair 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 276 Belfair residents aged 65 or older report a disability (51%) (37% in Mason County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 7 hospices serving Belfair ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Belfair compared with Mason County and Washington

Census figure	Belfair	Mason County	Washington
Residents 65+ with a disability	51%	37%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	22%	26%
Residents 65 or older	12%	24%	17%
Residents 85 or older	0.0%	2.2%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	9.2%	8.9%
Households with no vehicle	7.5%	3.9%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,281	$64,746	—

Older residents in towns around Belfair

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Bremerton, WA	9.0 mi	5,773	44%
Key Center, WA	9.2 mi	712	32%
Wauna, WA	9.6 mi	1,144	31%
Bethel, WA	11 mi	848	20%
Navy Yard City, WA	12 mi	357	39%
East Port Orchard, WA	12 mi	627	39%

Hospices serving Belfair

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Franciscan Hospice	University Place, WA	21 mi	(253) 534-7000
Envision Hospice	Tacoma, WA	23 mi	(360) 350-4875
Multicare Hospice	Tacoma, WA	23 mi	(253) 301-6400
Kaiser Permanente Washington Hospice	Seattle, WA	29 mi	(206) 326-4545
Providence At Home With Compassus, Puget Sound South	Lacey, WA	29 mi	(206) 459-8311

Nursing homes near Belfair (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Avamere Rehabilitation At Ridgemont	Port Orchard, WA	11 mi	4 of 5	96	(360) 876-4461
Life Care Center Of Port Orchard	Port Orchard, WA	11 mi	5 of 5	125	(360) 876-8035
Port Washington Post Acute	Bremerton, WA	12 mi	1 of 5	98	(360) 479-4747
Washington Veteran Home-Retsil	Pt Orchard, WA	13 mi	3 of 5	240	(360) 895-4700

Straight-line miles from the center of Belfair. 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 Belfair

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $4,023 monthly median income of Belfair households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 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 Belfair: common questions

Which hospices serve Belfair?

Medicare lists 7 hospices for Belfair ZIP codes, including Franciscan Hospice, Envision Hospice, Multicare Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Belfair?

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $4,023 monthly median income of Belfair households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 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 Belfair. 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 Washington.

More near Belfair

More senior care near Belfair

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Belfair

More for Belfair 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 Belfair, WA