Respite Care in Elmira, NY: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Elmira, NY: the local picture

4,114

residents 65 or older (16% of Elmira)

58%

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

43%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Chemung County)

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Elmira ZIP codes

Most older adults in Elmira live with someone: 58% 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 1,666 Elmira residents aged 65 or older report a disability (43%) (33% in Chemung County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Elmira compared with Chemung County and New York

Census figure	Elmira	Chemung County	New York
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	33%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	35%	29%
Residents 65 or older	16%	20%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	2.5%	2.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	9.5%	13%
Households with no vehicle	20%	9.8%	29%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,678	$47,458	—

Older residents in towns around Elmira

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
West Elmira, NY	1.8 mi	1,071	28%
Southport, NY	2.1 mi	1,629	38%
Elmira Heights, NY	2.4 mi	705	35%
Horseheads, NY	5.3 mi	1,639	34%
Big Flats, NY	7.0 mi	1,435	25%
Horseheads North, NY	7.1 mi	414	8.2%

Hospices serving Elmira

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Carefirst / Southern Tier Hospice And Palliative	Painted Post, NY	17 mi	(607) 962-3100
Hospice At Lourdes, The	Vestal, NY	41 mi	(607) 798-5692
Chautauqua Hospice And Palliative Care	Lakewood, NY	129 mi	(716) 338-0033

Nursing homes near Elmira (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
St. Joseph's Hospital - Skilled Nursing Facility	Elmira, NY	0.7 mi	2 of 5	85	(607) 733-6541
Chemung County Health Center - Nursing Facility	Elmira, NY	0.8 mi	5 of 5	200	(607) 737-2001
Elcor Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Horseheads, NY	5.2 mi	2 of 5	305	(607) 739-3654
Bethany Nursing Home & Health Related Facility Inc	Horseheads, NY	6.8 mi	4 of 5	122	(607) 378-6547

Straight-line miles from the center of Elmira. 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 Elmira

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $3,390 monthly median income of Elmira households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 Elmira: common questions

Which hospices serve Elmira?

Medicare lists 3 hospices for Elmira ZIP codes, including Carefirst / Southern Tier Hospice And Palliative, Hospice At Lourdes, The, Chautauqua Hospice And Palliative Care.

How much does respite care cost in Elmira?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $3,390 monthly median income of Elmira households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 Elmira. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member covers New York.

More near Elmira

More senior care near Elmira

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Elmira

More for Elmira 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 Elmira, NY