Respite Care in Derby, CT: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Derby, CT: the local picture

2,632

residents 65 or older (21% of Derby)

59%

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

18%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region)

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Derby ZIP codes

Most older adults in Derby live with someone: 59% 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 480 Derby residents aged 65 or older report a disability (18%) (31% in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 9 hospices serving Derby ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Derby compared with Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and Connecticut

Census figure	Derby	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Connecticut
Residents 65+ with a disability	18%	31%	29%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	29%	29%
Residents 65 or older	21%	19%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	2.5%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	19%	9.8%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	8.1%	9.1%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,786	$60,762	—

Older residents in towns around Derby

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Ansonia, CT	1.4 mi	3,437	26%
Shelton, CT	3.3 mi	8,962	28%
Orange, CT	4.1 mi	3,293	24%
Oronoque, CT	4.9 mi	2,213	15%
East Village, CT	5.9 mi	425	20%
West Haven, CT	7.0 mi	8,839	28%

Hospices serving Derby

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassus - Greater Connecticut	Milford, CT	6.4 mi	(203) 301-0489
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Atlantic	Middlebury, CT	15 mi	(203) 437-3111
Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Conecticut	Middlebury, CT	15 mi	(203) 490-1000
Connecticut Hospice Inc, The	Branford, CT	15 mi	(203) 315-7586
Masonicare Home Health And Hospice Inc	Wallingford, CT	16 mi	(203) 679-5200

Nursing homes near Derby (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Hewitt Health & Rehabilitation Center, Inc	Shelton, CT	1.1 mi	2 of 5	206	(203) 924-4671
Apple Rehab Shelton Lakes	Shelton, CT	1.8 mi	2 of 5	106	(203) 924-2635
Gardner Heights Health Care Center, Inc	Shelton, CT	2.8 mi	2 of 5	124	(203) 929-1481
Masonicare At Bishop Wicke Health & Rehabilitation	Shelton, CT	3.1 mi	3 of 5	120	(203) 929-5321

Straight-line miles from the center of Derby. 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 Derby

At the Connecticut median aide wage of $18.75 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,625 a month in wages, which is 53% of the $3,066 monthly median income of Derby households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Connecticut's minimum wage is $16.94 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 Derby: common questions

Which hospices serve Derby?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Derby ZIP codes, including Compassus - Greater Connecticut, Vitas Healthcare Corporation Atlantic, Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Conecticut.

How much does respite care cost in Derby?

At the Connecticut median aide wage of $18.75 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,625 a month in wages, which is 53% of the $3,066 monthly median income of Derby households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Connecticut's minimum wage is $16.94 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 Derby. 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 Connecticut.

More near Derby

More senior care near Derby

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Derby

More for Derby 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 Derby, CT