Respite Care in El Centro, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in El Centro, CA: the local picture

6,189

residents 65 or older (14% of El Centro)

76%

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

47%

of residents 65+ report a disability (47% in Imperial County)

17

Medicare-certified hospices serve El Centro ZIP codes

Most older adults in El Centro live with someone: 76% 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 2,897 El Centro residents aged 65 or older report a disability (47%) (47% in Imperial County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 17 hospices serving El Centro ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

El Centro compared with Imperial County and California

Census figure	El Centro	Imperial County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	47%	47%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	21%	23%
Residents 65 or older	14%	14%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	1.6%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	19%	12%
Households with no vehicle	5.8%	6.1%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$34,167	$36,563	—

Older residents in towns around El Centro

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Imperial, CA	3.7 mi	2,045	55%
Heber, CA	4.1 mi	625	29%
Calexico, CA	8.0 mi	6,377	48%
Holtville, CA	11 mi	991	31%
Brawley, CA	13 mi	3,053	55%
Calipatria, CA	27 mi	665	44%

Hospices serving El Centro

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Imperial Valley	El Centro, CA	0.4 mi	(760) 352-8905
Aria Hospice LLC	El Centro, CA	0.4 mi	(760) 412-5574
Accentcare Hospice Of California Inc	El Centro, CA	0.4 mi	(760) 675-3030
Los Robles Healthcare SD	San Diego, CA	89 mi	(858) 487-8778
Paramount Hospice	San Diego, CA	89 mi	(858) 487-8778

Nursing homes near El Centro (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
El Centro Post-Acute Care	El Centro, CA	0.8 mi	3 of 5	123	(760) 352-8471
Imperial Manor	Imperial, CA	3.8 mi	4 of 5	31	(760) 355-2858
Pioneers Memorial Skilled Nursing Center	Brawley, CA	13 mi	1 of 5	99	(760) 344-5431

Straight-line miles from the center of El Centro. 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 El Centro

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 51% of the $2,847 monthly median income of El Centro 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 El Centro: common questions

Which hospices serve El Centro?

Medicare lists 17 hospices for El Centro ZIP codes, including Hospice Of Imperial Valley, Aria Hospice LLC, Accentcare Hospice Of California Inc.

How much does respite care cost in El Centro?

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 51% of the $2,847 monthly median income of El Centro 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 El Centro. 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 El Centro

More senior care near El Centro

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in El Centro

More for El Centro 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 El Centro, CA