Respite Care in Damascus, MD: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Damascus, MD: the local picture

2,674

residents 65 or older (15% of Damascus)

86%

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

32%

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

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Damascus ZIP codes

Most older adults in Damascus live with someone: 86% 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 864 Damascus residents aged 65 or older report a disability (32%) (26% in Montgomery County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Damascus ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Damascus compared with Montgomery County and Maryland

Census figure	Damascus	Montgomery County	Maryland
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	14%	23%	27%
Residents 65 or older	15%	17%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	2.2%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.6%	7.4%	9.5%
Households with no vehicle	2.0%	8.5%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$125,515	$109,242	—

Older residents in towns around Damascus

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Clarksburg, MD	5.0 mi	2,890	27%
Green Valley, MD	5.4 mi	2,567	32%
Montgomery Village, MD	5.7 mi	4,812	29%
Flower Hill, MD	7.1 mi	2,084	27%
Monrovia, MD	7.4 mi	247	32%
Mount Airy, MD	7.5 mi	1,198	35%

Hospices serving Damascus

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Montgomery Hospice & Prince Georges Hospice	Rockville, MD	13 mi	(301) 921-4400
Jewish Social Service Agency Hospice	Rockville, MD	13 mi	(301) 881-3700
Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Maryland	Columbia, MD	20 mi	(410) 689-7400
Holy Cross Home Care And Hospice	Silver Spring, MD	20 mi	(301) 557-4663
Frederick Health Hospice	Frederick, MD	21 mi	(240) 566-3030

Nursing homes near Damascus (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Mount Airy Nursing And Rehab Center	Mount Airy, MD	6.7 mi	2 of 5	104	(301) 829-0800
Montgomery Village Care Center	Gaithersburg, MD	7.2 mi	5 of 5	147	(301) 527-2500
Lorien Health Systems MT Airy	Mount Airy, MD	7.2 mi	5 of 5	62	(301) 829-6050
Wilson Health Care Center	Gaithersburg, MD	8.5 mi	5 of 5	285	(301) 216-4004

Straight-line miles from the center of Damascus. 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 Damascus

At the Maryland median aide wage of $18.29 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,585 a month in wages, which is 15% of the $10,460 monthly median income of Damascus households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maryland's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Damascus: common questions

Which hospices serve Damascus?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Damascus ZIP codes, including Montgomery Hospice & Prince Georges Hospice, Jewish Social Service Agency Hospice, Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Maryland.

How much does respite care cost in Damascus?

At the Maryland median aide wage of $18.29 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,585 a month in wages, which is 15% of the $10,460 monthly median income of Damascus households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maryland's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Damascus. 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 Maryland.

More near Damascus

More senior care near Damascus

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Damascus

More for Damascus 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 Damascus, MD