Respite Care in Cottonwood, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Cottonwood, CA: the local picture

920

residents 65 or older (12% of Cottonwood)

80%

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

44%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Shasta County)

8

Medicare-certified hospices serve Cottonwood ZIP codes

Most older adults in Cottonwood live with someone: 80% 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 409 Cottonwood residents aged 65 or older report a disability (44%) (39% in Shasta County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 8 hospices serving Cottonwood ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Cottonwood compared with Shasta County and California

Census figure	Cottonwood	Shasta County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	39%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	28%	23%
Residents 65 or older	12%	22%	16%
Residents 85 or older	0.0%	2.4%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	11%	12%
Households with no vehicle	3.7%	6.3%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$66,466	$55,167	—

Older residents in towns around Cottonwood

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Anderson, CA	4.2 mi	1,936	54%
Lake California, CA	6.0 mi	745	29%
Happy Valley, CA	7.5 mi	1,431	37%
Redding, CA	13 mi	18,907	40%
Palo Cedro, CA	13 mi	799	35%
Red Bluff, CA	15 mi	2,135	37%

Hospices serving Cottonwood

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bristol Hospice - Redding	Redding, CA	11 mi	(855) 472-3892
Mercy Hospice	Redding, CA	13 mi	(530) 245-4070
Interim Healthcare Hospice	Redding, CA	13 mi	(530) 221-1212
Valley View Hospice & Palliative Care, LLC	Chico, CA	47 mi	(530) 206-8259
Freedom Home Health And Hospice Care Services, Inc	Marysville, CA	95 mi	(530) 844-2755

Nursing homes near Cottonwood (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Oak River Rehab	Anderson, CA	4.0 mi	5 of 5	143	(530) 365-0025
Veterans Home Of California - Redding	Redding, CA	8.2 mi	5 of 5	60	(530) 224-3300
Marquis Care At Shasta	Redding, CA	12 mi	2 of 5	180	(530) 222-3630
Crestwood Wellness And Recovery Center	Redding, CA	12 mi	3 of 5	99	(530) 221-0976

Straight-line miles from the center of Cottonwood. 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 Cottonwood

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $5,539 monthly median income of Cottonwood households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

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 Cottonwood: common questions

Which hospices serve Cottonwood?

Medicare lists 8 hospices for Cottonwood ZIP codes, including Bristol Hospice - Redding, Mercy Hospice, Interim Healthcare Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Cottonwood?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $5,539 monthly median income of Cottonwood households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 Cottonwood. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave covers California.

More near Cottonwood

More senior care near Cottonwood

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Cottonwood

More for Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood, CA