Respite Care in Buellton, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Buellton, CA: the local picture

744

residents 65 or older (15% of Buellton)

82%

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

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Santa Barbara County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Buellton ZIP codes

Most older adults in Buellton live with someone: 82% 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 210 Buellton residents aged 65 or older report a disability (28%) (30% in Santa Barbara County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Buellton compared with Santa Barbara County and California

Census figure	Buellton	Santa Barbara County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	18%	26%	23%
Residents 65 or older	15%	17%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	2.3%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.3%	9.5%	12%
Households with no vehicle	1.9%	5.9%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$83,864	$81,399	—

Older residents in towns around Buellton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Solvang, CA	3.4 mi	2,017	21%
Santa Ynez, CA	5.6 mi	1,065	30%
Mission Hills, CA	15 mi	634	39%
Lompoc, CA	16 mi	5,672	37%
Vandenberg Village, CA	17 mi	1,445	40%
Vandenberg AFB, CA	19 mi	8	0.0%

Hospices serving Buellton

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Superior Hospice Inc	Lompoc, CA	15 mi	(805) 742-4519
Dignity Health Hospice	Santa Maria, CA	27 mi	(805) 739-3830
Vna Health	Santa Barbara, CA	32 mi	(805) 965-5555
Central Coast Home Health, Inc	San Luis Obispo, CA	52 mi	(805) 543-2244
Assisted Home Hospice	Ventura, CA	60 mi	(805) 677-7400

Nursing homes near Buellton (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Atterdag Care Center	Solvang, CA	3.3 mi	3 of 5	50	(805) 688-5645
Lompoc Valley Medical Center Comprehensive Care Ce	Lompoc, CA	15 mi	5 of 5	110	(805) 736-3466
Lompoc Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center	Lompoc, CA	16 mi	5 of 5	120	(805) 735-4010

Straight-line miles from the center of Buellton. 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 Buellton

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 21% of the $6,989 monthly median income of Buellton 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 Buellton: common questions

Which hospices serve Buellton?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Buellton ZIP codes, including Superior Hospice Inc, Dignity Health Hospice, Vna Health.

How much does respite care cost in Buellton?

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 21% of the $6,989 monthly median income of Buellton 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 Buellton. 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 Buellton

More senior care near Buellton

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Buellton

More for Buellton 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 Buellton, CA