Respite Care in Dos Palos, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Dos Palos, CA: the local picture

1,257

residents 65 or older (22% of Dos Palos)

75%

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

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in Merced County)

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Dos Palos ZIP codes

Most older adults in Dos Palos live with someone: 75% 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 470 Dos Palos residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%) (40% in Merced County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Dos Palos compared with Merced County and California

Census figure	Dos Palos	Merced County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	40%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	25%	24%	23%
Residents 65 or older	22%	12%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	1.3%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	16%	12%
Households with no vehicle	18%	7.3%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$22,296	$44,830	—

Older residents in towns around Dos Palos

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Los Banos, CA	13 mi	5,205	33%
Firebaugh, CA	13 mi	963	33%
Mendota, CA	21 mi	1,066	23%
McSwain, CA	23 mi	564	35%
Chowchilla, CA	23 mi	1,898	41%
Merced, CA	24 mi	9,545	46%

Hospices serving Dos Palos

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bristol Hospice-California, LLC	Merced, CA	24 mi	(209) 384-1415
Covenant Care Hospice	Turlock, CA	37 mi	(209) 664-2550
Compassionate Care Hospice Central California, LLC	Fresno, CA	46 mi	(559) 432-2003
Fresno Hospice	Fresno, CA	46 mi	(209) 727-2470
Hinds Hospice - Fresno	Fresno, CA	46 mi	(559) 320-0310

Nursing homes near Dos Palos (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
New Bethany Skilled Nursing	Los Banos, CA	12 mi	2 of 5	35	(209) 827-8949
Los Banos Post Acute	Los Banos, CA	14 mi	2 of 5	59	(209) 826-0790
Anberry Post Acute	Merced, CA	21 mi	3 of 5	120	(209) 783-9200
Chowchilla Memorial Healthcare District	Chowchilla, CA	22 mi	4 of 5	29	(559) 665-3781

Straight-line miles from the center of Dos Palos. 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 Dos Palos

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 79% of the $1,858 monthly median income of Dos Palos 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 Dos Palos: common questions

Which hospices serve Dos Palos?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Dos Palos ZIP codes, including Bristol Hospice-California, LLC, Covenant Care Hospice, Compassionate Care Hospice Central California, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Dos Palos?

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 79% of the $1,858 monthly median income of Dos Palos 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 Dos Palos. 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 Dos Palos

More senior care near Dos Palos

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Dos Palos

More for Dos Palos 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 Dos Palos, CA