Respite Care in Del Mar, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Del Mar, CA: the local picture

1,240

residents 65 or older (32% of Del Mar)

86%

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

17%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in San Diego County)

28

Medicare-certified hospices serve Del Mar ZIP codes

Most older adults in Del Mar 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 215 Del Mar residents aged 65 or older report a disability (17%) (31% in San Diego County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 28 hospices serving Del Mar ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Del Mar compared with San Diego County and California

Census figure	Del Mar	San Diego County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	17%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	14%	22%	23%
Residents 65 or older	32%	15%	16%
Residents 85 or older	4.1%	1.8%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.8%	9.5%	12%
Households with no vehicle	0.7%	5.5%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$197,619	$78,324	—

Older residents in towns around Del Mar

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Solana Beach, CA	1.9 mi	3,418	20%
Fairbanks Ranch, CA	4.7 mi	411	41%
Encinitas, CA	6.0 mi	12,264	22%
Lake San Marcos, CA	11 mi	2,192	36%
Carlsbad, CA	12 mi	21,458	23%
Harmony Grove, CA	12 mi	132	14%

Hospices serving Del Mar

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice By The Sea	Solana Beach, CA	2.1 mi	(858) 794-0195
Blue Monarch Hospice	San Diego, CA	6.0 mi	(619) 780-4332
Lightbridge Hospice	San Diego, CA	6.0 mi	(858) 458-2992
Sea Coast Hospice Care Inc	San Diego, CA	6.0 mi	(858) 452-9300
Goodwill Healthcare Services, Inc	San Diego, CA	6.0 mi	(858) 355-9903

Nursing homes near Del Mar (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Bayshire Torrey Pines Post-Acute	San Diego, CA	1.8 mi	5 of 5	45	(858) 259-2222
Encinitas Post-Acute	Encinitas, CA	5.0 mi	4 of 5	99	(760) 753-6423
Aviara Healthcare Center	Encinitas, CA	5.4 mi	4 of 5	120	(760) 944-0331
The Dorothy & Joseph Goldberg Healthcare Center	Encinitas, CA	6.3 mi	5 of 5	58	(760) 632-0081

Straight-line miles from the center of Del Mar. 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 Del Mar

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 9% of the $16,468 monthly median income of Del Mar 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 Del Mar: common questions

Which hospices serve Del Mar?

Medicare lists 28 hospices for Del Mar ZIP codes, including Hospice By The Sea, Blue Monarch Hospice, Lightbridge Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Del Mar?

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 9% of the $16,468 monthly median income of Del Mar 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 Del Mar. 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 Del Mar

More senior care near Del Mar

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Del Mar

More for Del Mar 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 Del Mar, CA