Respite Care in Cape May, NJ: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Cape May, NJ: the local picture

921

residents 65 or older (33% of Cape May)

74%

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

21%

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

13

Medicare-certified hospices serve Cape May ZIP codes

Most older adults in Cape May 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 189 Cape May residents aged 65 or older report a disability (21%) (26% in Cape May County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Cape May compared with Cape May County and New Jersey

Census figure	Cape May	Cape May County	New Jersey
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	26%	27%
Residents 65 or older	33%	30%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	2.7%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.0%	6.4%	9.7%
Households with no vehicle	6.0%	5.7%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,985	$73,260	—

Older residents in towns around Cape May

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Wildwood Crest, NJ	3.9 mi	1,363	32%
North Cape May, NJ	3.9 mi	1,192	35%
Wildwood, NJ	5.4 mi	930	37%
Rio Grande, NJ	5.5 mi	851	34%
Villas, NJ	5.6 mi	2,402	37%
North Wildwood, NJ	7.0 mi	1,855	20%

Hospices serving Cape May

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice At Lsmnj, Inc.	Egg Harbor Township, NJ	34 mi	(609) 380-4302
Patient Care Hospice	Egg Harbor Township, NJ	34 mi	(609) 407-2020
Holy Redeemer Hospice-NJ, Shore	Egg Harbor Twp, NJ	34 mi	(609) 761-0300
Angelic Hospice	West Atlantic City, NJ	37 mi	(609) 822-7979
NJ Health Hospice And Palliative Care	Vineland, NJ	38 mi	(856) 696-5340

Nursing homes near Cape May (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
North Cape Center	North Cape May, NJ	2.7 mi	3 of 5	120	(609) 898-8899
Pelican Pointe Post Acute Nursing & Rehabilitation	North Cape May, NJ	3.5 mi	2 of 5	120	(609) 898-0677
Complete Care At Court House, LLC	Cape May Court House, NJ	11 mi	5 of 5	120	(609) 465-7171
Crest Haven Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Cape May Court House, NJ	12 mi	4 of 5	180	(609) 465-1260

Straight-line miles from the center of Cape May. 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 Cape May

At the New Jersey median aide wage of $17.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,545 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $5,999 monthly median income of Cape May households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Jersey's minimum wage is $15.92 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 Cape May: common questions

Which hospices serve Cape May?

Medicare lists 13 hospices for Cape May ZIP codes, including Hospice At Lsmnj, Inc., Patient Care Hospice, Holy Redeemer Hospice-NJ, Shore.

How much does respite care cost in Cape May?

At the New Jersey median aide wage of $17.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,545 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $5,999 monthly median income of Cape May households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Jersey's minimum wage is $15.92 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 Cape May. 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 New Jersey.

More near Cape May

More senior care near Cape May

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Cape May

More for Cape May 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 Cape May, NJ