Respite Care in Columbia, PA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Columbia, PA: the local picture

2,326

residents 65 or older (23% of Columbia)

66%

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

32%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Lancaster County)

12

Medicare-certified hospices serve Columbia ZIP codes

Most older adults in Columbia live with someone: 66% 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 705 Columbia residents aged 65 or older report a disability (32%) (27% in Lancaster County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 12 hospices serving Columbia ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Columbia compared with Lancaster County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Columbia	Lancaster County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	27%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	25%	30%
Residents 65 or older	23%	20%	19%
Residents 85 or older	4.8%	2.8%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	23%	8.3%	9.9%
Households with no vehicle	13%	8.6%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$39,008	$62,531	—

Older residents in towns around Columbia

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Mountville, PA	3.3 mi	706	21%
Marietta, PA	3.3 mi	808	49%
Maytown, PA	5.0 mi	477	38%
Mount Joy, PA	5.3 mi	1,697	32%
Salunga, PA	5.4 mi	517	44%
Hallam, PA	6.2 mi	313	62%

Hospices serving Columbia

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Caring Hospice Services	Lancaster, PA	7.0 mi	(717) 560-1700
Choices Healthcare	Lancaster, PA	8.7 mi	(717) 295-3900
Masonic Village Hospice	Elizabethtown, PA	10 mi	(717) 367-1121
Heartland Hospice (York)	York, PA	10 mi	(717) 840-1002
Compassus Hospice And Palliative Care - Philadelphia	Lancaster, PA	10 mi	(717) 283-2672

Nursing homes near Columbia (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Susquehanna Health And Wellness Center	Columbia, PA	0.9 mi	3 of 5	173	(717) 684-7555
St Anne's Retirement Community	Columbia, PA	2.5 mi	5 of 5	119	(717) 285-5443
Homestead Village, Inc	Lancaster, PA	7.7 mi	5 of 5	60	(717) 397-4831
Elizabethtown Nursing And Rehabilitation	Elizabethtown, PA	7.7 mi	2 of 5	45	(717) 367-1831

Straight-line miles from the center of Columbia. 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 Columbia

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,251 monthly median income of Columbia households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Columbia: common questions

Which hospices serve Columbia?

Medicare lists 12 hospices for Columbia ZIP codes, including Caring Hospice Services, Choices Healthcare, Masonic Village Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Columbia?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,251 monthly median income of Columbia households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Columbia. 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 Pennsylvania.

More near Columbia

More senior care near Columbia

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Columbia

More for Columbia 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 Columbia, PA