Respite Care in Buffalo, NY: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Buffalo, NY: the local picture

39,279

residents 65 or older (14% of Buffalo)

59%

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

35%

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

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Buffalo ZIP codes

Most older adults in Buffalo live with someone: 59% 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 13,529 Buffalo residents aged 65 or older report a disability (35%) (30% in Erie County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Buffalo compared with Erie County and New York

Census figure	Buffalo	Erie County	New York
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	30%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	34%	29%
Residents 65 or older	14%	19%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	2.4%	2.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	19%	10%	13%
Households with no vehicle	23%	12%	29%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,122	$54,529	—

Older residents in towns around Buffalo

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Sloan, NY	3.4 mi	482	36%
Kenmore, NY	5.0 mi	2,381	22%
Lackawanna, NY	5.3 mi	3,310	36%
Cheektowaga, NY	5.6 mi	15,189	34%
Eggertsville, NY	5.8 mi	3,124	23%
Tonawanda Town, NY	6.5 mi	12,029	28%

Hospices serving Buffalo

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Buffalo Inc	Cheektowaga, NY	5.8 mi	(716) 686-1900
Niagara Hospice Inc	Lockport, NY	20 mi	(716) 439-4417
Chautauqua Hospice And Palliative Care	Lakewood, NY	60 mi	(716) 338-0033
Rochester Regional Health Hospice Care	Rochester, NY	67 mi	(585) 214-1000
Homecare & Hospice	Allegany, NY	—	(716) 372-5735

Nursing homes near Buffalo (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Highpointe On Michigan Health Care Facility	Buffalo, NY	0.6 mi	2 of 5	300	(716) 748-3101
Ellicott Center For Rehabilitation And Nursing	Buffalo, NY	1.3 mi	1 of 5	160	(716) 847-2500
Buffalo Center For Rehabilitation And Nursing	Buffalo, NY	1.4 mi	1 of 5	200	(716) 883-6782
Delaware Oaks Center For Rehabilitation And Nursin	Buffalo, NY	1.8 mi	2 of 5	95	(716) 885-3838

Straight-line miles from the center of Buffalo. 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 Buffalo

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 47% of the $3,510 monthly median income of Buffalo 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 Buffalo: common questions

Which hospices serve Buffalo?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Buffalo ZIP codes, including Hospice Buffalo Inc, Niagara Hospice Inc, Chautauqua Hospice And Palliative Care.

How much does respite care cost in Buffalo?

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 47% of the $3,510 monthly median income of Buffalo 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 Buffalo. 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 Buffalo

More senior care near Buffalo

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Buffalo

More for Buffalo 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 Buffalo, NY