Respite Care in Chesterton, IN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Chesterton, IN: the local picture

2,544

residents 65 or older (18% of Chesterton)

54%

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

31%

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

14

Medicare-certified hospices serve Chesterton ZIP codes

Most older adults in Chesterton live with someone: 54% 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 756 Chesterton residents aged 65 or older report a disability (31%) (26% in Porter County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 14 hospices serving Chesterton ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Chesterton compared with Porter County and Indiana

Census figure	Chesterton	Porter County	Indiana
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	26%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	46%	26%	30%
Residents 65 or older	18%	18%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	1.8%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.5%	7.1%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	5.4%	3.4%	6.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,714	$59,706	—

Older residents in towns around Chesterton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Porter, IN	2.4 mi	1,030	24%
South Haven, IN	6.1 mi	957	49%
Portage, IN	6.4 mi	6,098	23%
Valparaiso, IN	8.3 mi	5,873	32%
Westville, IN	8.9 mi	425	38%
Lake Station, IN	10 mi	1,648	40%

Hospices serving Chesterton

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Dunes Hospice LLC	Valparaiso, IN	10 mi	(888) 602-9004
Aseracare Hospice	Valparaiso, IN	10 mi	(219) 462-6398
Heart To Heart Hospice Of Northwest Indiana, LLC	Valparaiso, IN	10 mi	(219) 252-4860
Vna Hospice Home Care	Valparaiso, IN	10 mi	(219) 462-5195
Unity Hospice Of Northwest Indiana LLC	Merrillville, IN	17 mi	(219) 769-8648

Nursing homes near Chesterton (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Chesterton Manor	Chesterton, IN	0.4 mi	1 of 5	100	(219) 926-8387
Addison Pointe Health & Rehabilitation Center	Chesterton, IN	1.0 mi	4 of 5	100	(219) 921-2200
Ignite Medical Resort Chesterton	Chesterton, IN	1.6 mi	1 of 5	70	(219) 304-6700
Brickyard Healthcare - Portage Care Center	Portage, IN	7.0 mi	2 of 5	186	(219) 762-9571

Straight-line miles from the center of Chesterton. 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 Chesterton

At the Indiana median aide wage of $16.86 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,461 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,226 monthly median income of Chesterton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Indiana'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 Chesterton: common questions

Which hospices serve Chesterton?

Medicare lists 14 hospices for Chesterton ZIP codes, including Dunes Hospice LLC, Aseracare Hospice, Heart To Heart Hospice Of Northwest Indiana, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Chesterton?

At the Indiana median aide wage of $16.86 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,461 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,226 monthly median income of Chesterton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Indiana'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 Chesterton. 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 Indiana.

More near Chesterton

More senior care near Chesterton

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Chesterton

More for Chesterton 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 Chesterton, IN