Respite Care in Cary, NC: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Cary, NC: the local picture

25,341

residents 65 or older (14% of Cary)

79%

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

26%

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

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve Cary ZIP codes

Most older adults in Cary live with someone: 79% 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 6,607 Cary residents aged 65 or older report a disability (26%) (28% in Wake County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 16 hospices serving Cary ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Cary compared with Wake County and North Carolina

Census figure	Cary	Wake County	North Carolina
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	28%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	21%	25%	28%
Residents 65 or older	14%	13%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	1.3%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.8%	8.2%	11%
Households with no vehicle	3.2%	4.4%	5.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$86,492	$72,233	—

Older residents in towns around Cary

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Morrisville, NC	3.9 mi	2,174	37%
Apex, NC	5.0 mi	6,696	25%
Holly Springs, NC	8.9 mi	4,049	21%
Raleigh, NC	11 mi	57,081	28%
Fuquay-Varina, NC	13 mi	5,802	28%
Garner, NC	13 mi	5,648	37%

Hospices serving Cary

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Transitions Lifecare	Raleigh, NC	7.7 mi	(919) 828-0890
Duke Hospice	Durham, NC	10 mi	(919) 613-4663
Heartland Hospice (Raleigh )	Raleigh, NC	12 mi	(919) 877-9959
Unc Hospice	Chapel Hill, NC	14 mi	(984) 215-2650
Johnston Health Home Care And Hospice	Smithfield, NC	33 mi	(919) 938-7505

Nursing homes near Cary (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Glenaire	Cary, NC	2.2 mi	5 of 5	71	(919) 460-8095
Highfield Nursing And Rehabilitation	Cary, NC	4.2 mi	1 of 5	120	(919) 851-8000
Unc Rex Rehab & Nursing Care Center Of Apex	Apex, NC	4.6 mi	5 of 5	107	(919) 363-6011
Rex Rehab & Nursing Care Center	Raleigh, NC	7.3 mi	5 of 5	120	(919) 784-6600

Straight-line miles from the center of Cary. 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 Cary

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 18% of the $7,208 monthly median income of Cary households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Cary: common questions

Which hospices serve Cary?

Medicare lists 16 hospices for Cary ZIP codes, including Transitions Lifecare, Duke Hospice, Heartland Hospice (Raleigh ).

How much does respite care cost in Cary?

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 18% of the $7,208 monthly median income of Cary households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Cary. 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 North Carolina.

More near Cary

More senior care near Cary

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Cary

More for Cary 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 Cary, NC