Respite Care in Brookhaven, NY: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Brookhaven, NY: the local picture

755

residents 65 or older (26% of Brookhaven)

74%

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

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Suffolk County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Brookhaven ZIP codes

Most older adults in Brookhaven live with someone: 74% 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 157 Brookhaven residents aged 65 or older report a disability (28%) (28% in Suffolk County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Brookhaven ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Brookhaven compared with Suffolk County and New York

Census figure	Brookhaven	Suffolk County	New York
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	28%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	23%	29%
Residents 65 or older	26%	18%	18%
Residents 85 or older	4.3%	2.2%	2.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.0%	7.3%	13%
Households with no vehicle	0.0%	5.1%	29%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$72,159	$87,077	—

Older residents in towns around Brookhaven

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Shirley, NY	2.0 mi	3,654	26%
North Bellport, NY	2.1 mi	1,212	33%
Mastic Beach, NY	3.8 mi	1,775	21%
Mastic, NY	3.9 mi	1,658	21%
East Patchogue, NY	3.9 mi	3,986	39%
Yaphank, NY	4.0 mi	1,079	28%

Hospices serving Brookhaven

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Nyu Langone Hospital - Suffolk Hospice	Patchogue, NY	4.3 mi	(631) 687-2960
East End Hospice, Inc	Westhampton Beach, NY	14 mi	(631) 288-8400
Vns And Hospice Of Suffolk, Inc	East Northport, NY	22 mi	(631) 930-9399
Good Shepherd Hospice	Farmingdale, NY	28 mi	(631) 465-6300
Hospice Care Of Long Island, Queens, South Shore	Woodbury, NY	30 mi	(516) 832-7100

Nursing homes near Brookhaven (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Bellhaven Center For Rehab And Nursing Care	Brookhaven, NY	1.4 mi	2 of 5	240	(631) 286-8100
Brookhaven Health Care Facility, LLC	East Patchogue, NY	3.4 mi	4 of 5	160	(631) 447-8800
Swan Lake Nursing And Rehabilitation	Patchogue, NY	4.6 mi	2 of 5	120	(631) 289-7700
Medford Multicare Center For Living	Medford, NY	5.3 mi	2 of 5	320	(631) 730-3000

Straight-line miles from the center of Brookhaven. 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 Brookhaven

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $6,013 monthly median income of Brookhaven households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 Brookhaven: common questions

Which hospices serve Brookhaven?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Brookhaven ZIP codes, including Nyu Langone Hospital - Suffolk Hospice, East End Hospice, Inc, Vns And Hospice Of Suffolk, Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Brookhaven?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $6,013 monthly median income of Brookhaven households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 Brookhaven. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member covers New York.

More near Brookhaven

More senior care near Brookhaven

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Brookhaven

More for Brookhaven 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 Brookhaven, NY