Respite Care in Ellensburg, WA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Ellensburg, WA: the local picture

2,062

residents 65 or older (9.9% of Ellensburg)

63%

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

41%

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

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ellensburg ZIP codes

Most older adults in Ellensburg live with someone: 63% 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 819 Ellensburg residents aged 65 or older report a disability (41%) (34% in Kittitas County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 3 hospices serving Ellensburg ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Ellensburg compared with Kittitas County and Washington

Census figure	Ellensburg	Kittitas County	Washington
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	34%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	21%	26%
Residents 65 or older	9.9%	17%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.3%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.8%	5.6%	8.9%
Households with no vehicle	7.8%	4.4%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$52,969	$66,458	—

Older residents in towns around Ellensburg

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Gleed, WA	24 mi	553	23%
Selah, WA	24 mi	1,237	45%
Terrace Heights, WA	28 mi	1,892	34%
Yakima, WA	28 mi	16,069	39%
Ahtanum, WA	31 mi	402	47%
Union Gap, WA	31 mi	860	42%

Hospices serving Ellensburg

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Kittitas Valley Home Health & Hospice	Ellensburg, WA	1.6 mi	(509) 962-7438
Assured Hospice	Moses Lake, WA	60 mi	(509) 766-2580
Puget Sound Hospice	Tumwater, WA	110 mi	(253) 581-9410

Nursing homes near Ellensburg (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Mountain View Post Acute	Ellensburg, WA	1.4 mi	2 of 5	74	(509) 925-4171
Yakima Valley School	Selah, WA	24 mi	3 of 5	112	(509) 698-1300

Straight-line miles from the center of Ellensburg. 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 Ellensburg

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $4,414 monthly median income of Ellensburg households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 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 Ellensburg: common questions

Which hospices serve Ellensburg?

Medicare lists 3 hospices for Ellensburg ZIP codes, including Kittitas Valley Home Health & Hospice, Assured Hospice, Puget Sound Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Ellensburg?

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $4,414 monthly median income of Ellensburg households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 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 Ellensburg. 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 Washington.

More near Ellensburg

More senior care near Ellensburg

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ellensburg

More for Ellensburg 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 Ellensburg, WA