Respite Care in Boston, MA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Boston, MA: the local picture

86,924

residents 65 or older (13% of Boston)

65%

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

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability

30

Medicare-certified hospices serve Boston ZIP codes

Most older adults in Boston live with someone: 65% 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 31,404 Boston residents aged 65 or older report a disability (37%). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 30 hospices serving Boston ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Boston compared with Massachusetts

Census figure	Boston	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	29%
Residents 65 or older	13%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	2.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	21%	11%
Households with no vehicle	33%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,082	—

Older residents in towns around Boston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Winthrop Town, MA	3.5 mi	3,631	37%
Chelsea, MA	4.1 mi	4,188	53%
Everett, MA	5.0 mi	5,660	34%
Quincy, MA	5.4 mi	18,123	30%
Somerville, MA	5.5 mi	8,108	33%
Cambridge, MA	5.7 mi	14,440	24%

Hospices serving Boston

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company	Charlestown, MA	3.5 mi	(617) 242-4872
Legacy Lifecare Hospice And Palliative Care	Chelsea, MA	4.1 mi	(617) 889-0779
Longwood Hospice	Brookline, MA	5.4 mi	(617) 505-3443
Good Shepherd Community Care	Newton, MA	8.4 mi	(617) 969-6130
First Choice Healthcare Inc	Newton, MA	8.7 mi	(617) 738-1113

Nursing homes near Boston (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
North End Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Boston, MA	2.4 mi	2 of 5	100	(857) 772-7800
Alliance Health At Marina Bay	Quincy, MA	3.1 mi	3 of 5	167	(617) 769-5106
Highland Park Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Chelsea, MA	3.4 mi	1 of 5	195	(617) 997-9121
The Center At Advocate	East Boston, MA	3.6 mi	1 of 5	190	(617) 455-6115

Straight-line miles from the center of Boston. 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 Boston

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $4,257 monthly median income of Boston households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Boston: common questions

Which hospices serve Boston?

Medicare lists 30 hospices for Boston ZIP codes, including Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company, Legacy Lifecare Hospice And Palliative Care, Longwood Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Boston?

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $4,257 monthly median income of Boston households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Boston. 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 Massachusetts.

More near Boston

More senior care near Boston

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Boston

More for Boston 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 Boston, MA