Respite Care in Empire, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Empire, CA: the local picture

552

residents 65 or older (16% of Empire)

98%

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

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Stanislaus County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Empire ZIP codes

Most older adults in Empire live with someone: 98% 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 199 Empire residents aged 65 or older report a disability (36%) (38% in Stanislaus County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Empire ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Empire compared with Stanislaus County and California

Census figure	Empire	Stanislaus County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	38%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	2.1%	23%	23%
Residents 65 or older	16%	14%	16%
Residents 85 or older	0.3%	1.7%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	32%	14%	12%
Households with no vehicle	1.4%	5.6%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,563	$57,323	—

Older residents in towns around Empire

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Hughson, CA	3.6 mi	1,353	52%
Bystrom, CA	4.4 mi	339	50%
Ceres, CA	4.5 mi	5,891	36%
Modesto, CA	5.3 mi	31,578	36%
Keyes, CA	5.9 mi	635	17%
Bret Harte, CA	6.0 mi	239	42%

Hospices serving Empire

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Community Hospice, Inc - Hospice	Modesto, CA	7.6 mi	(209) 578-6300
Seva Hospice, Inc	Salida, CA	11 mi	(209) 846-9488
National Hospice And Palliative Care	Manteca, CA	20 mi	(925) 207-8101
Infinity Care Services Hospice	Stockton, CA	30 mi	(800) 294-1461
Bristol Hospice- Stockton	Stockton, CA	36 mi	(209) 670-8000

Nursing homes near Empire (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
River View Post Acute	Modesto, CA	3.5 mi	1 of 5	99	(209) 523-5667
Crestwood Manor	Modesto, CA	4.0 mi	5 of 5	194	(209) 526-8050
Ceres Postacute Care	Ceres, CA	4.4 mi	3 of 5	46	(209) 537-4581
Golden Modesto Care Center	Modesto, CA	4.4 mi	2 of 5	120	(209) 526-1775

Straight-line miles from the center of Empire. 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 Empire

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 34% of the $4,297 monthly median income of Empire 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 Empire: common questions

Which hospices serve Empire?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Empire ZIP codes, including Community Hospice, Inc - Hospice, Seva Hospice, Inc, National Hospice And Palliative Care.

How much does respite care cost in Empire?

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 34% of the $4,297 monthly median income of Empire 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 Empire. 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 Empire

More senior care near Empire

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Empire

More for Empire 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 Empire, CA