Respite Care in Berwick, PA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Berwick, PA: the local picture

1,885

residents 65 or older (18% of Berwick)

68%

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

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Columbia County)

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Berwick ZIP codes

Most older adults in Berwick 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 613 Berwick residents aged 65 or older report a disability (33%) (31% in Columbia County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 11 hospices serving Berwick ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Berwick compared with Columbia County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Berwick	Columbia County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	31%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	29%	30%
Residents 65 or older	18%	20%	19%
Residents 85 or older	3.6%	2.9%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.3%	9.5%	9.9%
Households with no vehicle	8.6%	7.3%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,221	$42,596	—

Older residents in towns around Berwick

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Bloomsburg, PA	11 mi	1,675	31%
West Hazleton, PA	13 mi	559	42%
Hazleton, PA	16 mi	4,550	36%
Nanticoke, PA	16 mi	1,823	34%
Shenandoah, PA	17 mi	644	58%
McAdoo, PA	17 mi	278	35%

Hospices serving Berwick

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Maylath Valley Health Systems Inc	Sybertsville, PA	9.8 mi	(570) 708-2929
All Care Hospice	Hazleton, PA	17 mi	(570) 459-2004
Geisinger Hospice	Danville, PA	20 mi	(570) 784-1723
Commonwealth Hospice Of Berwick	Forty Fort, PA	24 mi	(570) 231-5407
Hospice Of The Sacred Heart	Moosic, PA	36 mi	(570) 706-2400

Nursing homes near Berwick (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Glen Brook Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Berwick, PA	1.5 mi	2 of 5	240	(570) 759-5400
Sunset Ridge Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Bloomsburg, PA	7.9 mi	3 of 5	66	(570) 784-6688
Gardens At Orangeville, The	Orangeville, PA	8.4 mi	2 of 5	119	(570) 683-5036
Gardens At Millville, The	Millville, PA	15 mi	2 of 5	110	(570) 458-5566

Straight-line miles from the center of Berwick. 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 Berwick

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $3,102 monthly median income of Berwick households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Berwick: common questions

Which hospices serve Berwick?

Medicare lists 11 hospices for Berwick ZIP codes, including Maylath Valley Health Systems Inc, All Care Hospice, Geisinger Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Berwick?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $3,102 monthly median income of Berwick households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Berwick. 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 Pennsylvania.

More near Berwick

More senior care near Berwick

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Berwick

More for Berwick 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 Berwick, PA