Respite Care in Bethel, WA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Bethel, WA: the local picture

848

residents 65 or older (19% of Bethel)

90%

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

20%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Kitsap County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Bethel ZIP codes

Most older adults in Bethel live with someone: 90% 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 168 Bethel residents aged 65 or older report a disability (20%) (32% in Kitsap County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Bethel ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Bethel compared with Kitsap County and Washington

Census figure	Bethel	Kitsap County	Washington
Residents 65+ with a disability	20%	32%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	9.8%	22%	26%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.8%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	2.4%	6.1%	8.9%
Households with no vehicle	0.0%	4.3%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$74,535	$81,452	—

Older residents in towns around Bethel

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
East Port Orchard, WA	2.2 mi	627	39%
Parkwood, WA	2.7 mi	1,034	53%
Port Orchard, WA	3.6 mi	2,691	32%
Navy Yard City, WA	5.0 mi	357	39%
Manchester, WA	5.4 mi	980	38%
Bremerton, WA	5.9 mi	5,773	44%

Hospices serving Bethel

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Shalom Hospice Of Puget Sound LLC	Poulsbo, WA	18 mi	(360) 994-1200
Kaiser Permanente Washington Hospice	Seattle, WA	18 mi	(206) 326-4545
Envision Hospice	Tacoma, WA	18 mi	(360) 350-4875
Multicare Hospice	Tacoma, WA	18 mi	(253) 301-6400
Franciscan Hospice	University Place, WA	18 mi	(253) 534-7000

Nursing homes near Bethel (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Life Care Center Of Port Orchard	Port Orchard, WA	2.6 mi	5 of 5	125	(360) 876-8035
Avamere Rehabilitation At Ridgemont	Port Orchard, WA	2.6 mi	4 of 5	96	(360) 876-4461
Washington Veteran Home-Retsil	Pt Orchard, WA	4.1 mi	3 of 5	240	(360) 895-4700
Port Washington Post Acute	Bremerton, WA	5.6 mi	1 of 5	98	(360) 479-4747

Straight-line miles from the center of Bethel. 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 Bethel

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 32% of the $6,211 monthly median income of Bethel 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 Bethel: common questions

Which hospices serve Bethel?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Bethel ZIP codes, including Shalom Hospice Of Puget Sound LLC, Kaiser Permanente Washington Hospice, Envision Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Bethel?

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 32% of the $6,211 monthly median income of Bethel 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 Bethel. 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 Bethel

More senior care near Bethel

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Bethel

More for Bethel 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 Bethel, WA