Respite Care in Downey, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Downey, CA: the local picture

15,788

residents 65 or older (14% of Downey)

83%

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

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Los Angeles County)

254

Medicare-certified hospices serve Downey ZIP codes

Most older adults in Downey live with someone: 83% 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 5,490 Downey residents aged 65 or older report a disability (36%) (34% in Los Angeles County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 254 hospices serving Downey ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Downey compared with Los Angeles County and California

Census figure	Downey	Los Angeles County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	34%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	17%	22%	23%
Residents 65 or older	14%	15%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.9%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.6%	15%	12%
Households with no vehicle	5.3%	8.9%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$67,100	$64,269	—

Older residents in towns around Downey

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Bell Gardens, CA	2.3 mi	3,652	40%
Paramount, CA	3.4 mi	5,236	33%
Norwalk, CA	3.4 mi	14,384	33%
Cudahy, CA	3.5 mi	1,889	28%
Bellflower, CA	3.5 mi	9,593	38%
South Gate, CA	3.6 mi	11,344	34%

Hospices serving Downey

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Healing Care Hospice, Inc	Downey, CA	0.2 mi	(323) 988-1245
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Hospice Program	Downey, CA	1.2 mi	(562) 622-4350
Comfort Life Hospice	Downey, CA	1.6 mi	(562) 622-1400
Inspired Hospice Care, Inc	Santa Fe Springs, CA	2.8 mi	(818) 757-7200
Steward Hospice Care Inc	Bellflower, CA	3.6 mi	(562) 291-2052

Nursing homes near Downey (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Downey Community Health Center	Downey, CA	0.1 mi	3 of 5	198	(562) 862-6506
Lakewood Healthcare Center	Downey, CA	0.7 mi	1 of 5	290	(562) 869-0978
Southland	Norwalk, CA	1.9 mi	1 of 5	120	(562) 868-9761
Riviera Healthcare Center	Pico Rivera, CA	2.2 mi	1 of 5	154	(562) 806-2576

Straight-line miles from the center of Downey. 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 Downey

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 $5,592 monthly median income of Downey 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 Downey: common questions

Which hospices serve Downey?

Medicare lists 254 hospices for Downey ZIP codes, including Healing Care Hospice, Inc, Kaiser Foundation Hospital Hospice Program, Comfort Life Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Downey?

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 $5,592 monthly median income of Downey 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 Downey. 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 Downey

More senior care near Downey

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Downey

More for Downey 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 Downey, CA