Respite Care in Brunswick, ME: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Brunswick, ME: the local picture

4,058

residents 65 or older (23% of Brunswick)

58%

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

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Cumberland County)

13

Medicare-certified hospices serve Brunswick ZIP codes

Most older adults in Brunswick live with someone: 58% 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 1,389 Brunswick residents aged 65 or older report a disability (36%) (26% in Cumberland County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 13 hospices serving Brunswick ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Brunswick compared with Cumberland County and Maine

Census figure	Brunswick	Cumberland County	Maine
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	26%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	30%	29%
Residents 65 or older	23%	20%	22%
Residents 85 or older	3.7%	2.2%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	7.5%	9.4%
Households with no vehicle	7.9%	6.9%	6.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$55,532	$67,204	—

Older residents in towns around Brunswick

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Topsham, ME	4.2 mi	1,858	38%
Bath, ME	5.7 mi	2,224	27%
Lisbon Falls, ME	10 mi	734	15%
Lisbon, ME	13 mi	448	34%
Yarmouth, ME	14 mi	1,221	37%
Cumberland Center, ME	16 mi	306	23%

Hospices serving Brunswick

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Chans Home Health & Hospice	Brunswick, ME	1.9 mi	(207) 729-6782
Andwell Health Partners	Lewiston, ME	19 mi	(207) 777-7740
Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company	Auburn, ME	21 mi	(207) 784-4242
Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company	So Portland, ME	24 mi	(207) 772-0929
Affinity Care Of Maine, LLC	South Portland, ME	24 mi	(207) 345-6669

Nursing homes near Brunswick (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Horizons Living And Rehab Center	Brunswick, ME	1.9 mi	4 of 5	65	(207) 725-7495
Mid Coast Senior Health Center	Brunswick, ME	2.0 mi	5 of 5	42	(207) 373-3600
Winship Green Center For Health & Rehab, LLC	Bath, ME	6.9 mi	3 of 5	72	(207) 443-9772
Hawthorne House	Freeport, ME	11 mi	4 of 5	83	(207) 865-4782

Straight-line miles from the center of Brunswick. 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 Brunswick

At the Maine median aide wage of $18.55 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,608 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,628 monthly median income of Brunswick households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 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 Brunswick: common questions

Which hospices serve Brunswick?

Medicare lists 13 hospices for Brunswick ZIP codes, including Chans Home Health & Hospice, Andwell Health Partners, Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company.

How much does respite care cost in Brunswick?

At the Maine median aide wage of $18.55 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,608 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,628 monthly median income of Brunswick households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 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 Brunswick. 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 Maine.

More near Brunswick

More senior care near Brunswick

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Brunswick

More for Brunswick 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 Brunswick, ME