Respite Care in Emmaus, PA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Emmaus, PA: the local picture

1,963

residents 65 or older (17% of Emmaus)

64%

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

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Lehigh County)

15

Medicare-certified hospices serve Emmaus ZIP codes

Most older adults in Emmaus live with someone: 64% 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 680 Emmaus residents aged 65 or older report a disability (35%) (30% in Lehigh County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 15 hospices serving Emmaus ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Emmaus compared with Lehigh County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Emmaus	Lehigh County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	30%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	18%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	2.3%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	8.5%	9.9%
Households with no vehicle	3.9%	8.3%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,485	$58,170	—

Older residents in towns around Emmaus

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Dorneyville, PA	3.1 mi	1,334	18%
Macungie, PA	3.2 mi	441	23%
Wescosville, PA	3.3 mi	1,267	19%
Allentown, PA	4.2 mi	16,972	37%
Ancient Oaks, PA	4.6 mi	1,423	17%
Alburtis, PA	5.7 mi	217	23%

Hospices serving Emmaus

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Family Pillars Palliative Care Hospice, LLC	Center Valley, PA	3.9 mi	(201) 218-1447
Lehigh Valley Hospice	Allentown, PA	4.1 mi	(610) 402-7800
Aseracare Hospice	Allentown, PA	7.5 mi	(610) 336-0711
Compassus - Allentown	Allentown, PA	7.5 mi	(610) 336-8000
St Luke's Hospice	Bethlehem, PA	7.6 mi	(484) 526-1100

Nursing homes near Emmaus (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Cedar Crest Post Acute	Allentown, PA	2.2 mi	4 of 5	166	(610) 776-7522
Lehigh Valley Hospital Tsu	Allentown, PA	3.1 mi	5 of 5	52	(610) 969-4225
Cedarbrook Senior Care And Rehabilitation	Allentown, PA	3.7 mi	5 of 5	670	(610) 395-3727
Complete Care At Lehigh LLC	Macungie, PA	3.9 mi	3 of 5	128	(610) 366-0500

Straight-line miles from the center of Emmaus. 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 Emmaus

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,040 monthly median income of Emmaus households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Emmaus: common questions

Which hospices serve Emmaus?

Medicare lists 15 hospices for Emmaus ZIP codes, including Family Pillars Palliative Care Hospice, LLC, Lehigh Valley Hospice, Aseracare Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Emmaus?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,040 monthly median income of Emmaus households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Emmaus. 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 Pennsylvania.

More near Emmaus

More senior care near Emmaus

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Emmaus

More for Emmaus 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 Emmaus, PA