Respite Care in Big Bear Lake, CA for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Big Bear Lake, CA: the local picture

1,082

residents 65 or older (21% of Big Bear Lake)

67%

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

17%

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

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Big Bear Lake ZIP codes

Most older adults in Big Bear Lake live with someone: 67% 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 179 Big Bear Lake residents aged 65 or older report a disability (17%) (37% in San Bernardino County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Big Bear Lake compared with San Bernardino County and California

Census figure	Big Bear Lake	San Bernardino County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	17%	37%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	20%	23%
Residents 65 or older	21%	13%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.3%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.8%	13%	12%
Households with no vehicle	4.9%	4.6%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,938	$61,795	—

Older residents in towns around Big Bear Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Big Bear City, CA	5.6 mi	2,720	30%
Running Springs, CA	12 mi	844	29%
Lucerne Valley, CA	14 mi	1,214	64%
Lake Arrowhead, CA	16 mi	2,719	27%
Yucaipa, CA	17 mi	8,728	40%
Mentone, CA	18 mi	1,272	46%

Hospices serving Big Bear Lake

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bear Valley Hospice LLC	Big Bear City, CA	4.8 mi	(909) 281-2550
Inland Valley Hospice Care	Apple Valley, CA	27 mi	(760) 243-2501
Carelife Hospice Inc	Riverside, CA	31 mi	(951) 521-2273
Bristol Hospice Inland Empire, LLC	Riverside, CA	31 mi	(951) 308-6000
St Martin High Desert	Victorville, CA	34 mi	(442) 255-4992

Nursing homes near Big Bear Lake (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Bear Valley Community Hospital D/P SNF	Big Bear Lake, CA	0.3 mi	4 of 5	21	(909) 866-6501
Mountains Community Hosp Dp/SNF	Lake Arrowhead, CA	16 mi	4 of 5	19	(909) 336-3651
Cedar Mountain Post Acute	Yucaipa, CA	17 mi	4 of 5	99	(909) 790-2273
University Post Acute	Mentone, CA	17 mi	5 of 5	50	(909) 794-1189

Straight-line miles from the center of Big Bear Lake. 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 Big Bear Lake

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 24% of the $5,995 monthly median income of Big Bear Lake 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 Big Bear Lake: common questions

Which hospices serve Big Bear Lake?

Medicare lists 11 hospices for Big Bear Lake ZIP codes, including Bear Valley Hospice LLC, Inland Valley Hospice Care, Carelife Hospice Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Big Bear Lake?

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 24% of the $5,995 monthly median income of Big Bear Lake 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 Big Bear Lake. 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 Big Bear Lake

More senior care near Big Bear Lake

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Big Bear Lake

More for Big Bear Lake 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 Big Bear Lake, CA