Respite Care in Ephrata, WA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Ephrata, WA: the local picture

1,151

residents 65 or older (13% of Ephrata)

63%

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

39%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Grant County)

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ephrata ZIP codes

Most older adults in Ephrata 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 440 Ephrata residents aged 65 or older report a disability (39%) (39% in Grant County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Ephrata compared with Grant County and Washington

Census figure	Ephrata	Grant County	Washington
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	39%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	28%	26%
Residents 65 or older	13%	15%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	1.3%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	10%	8.9%
Households with no vehicle	3.0%	5.1%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,948	$46,220	—

Older residents in towns around Ephrata

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Moses Lake North, WA	13 mi	542	50%
Cascade Valley, WA	15 mi	750	43%
Quincy, WA	16 mi	1,072	25%
Moses Lake, WA	18 mi	3,475	53%
Warden, WA	33 mi	389	41%
East Wenatchee, WA	36 mi	2,176	42%

Hospices serving Ephrata

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Assured Hospice	Moses Lake, WA	17 mi	(509) 766-2580
Central Washington Hospital Homecare Services	Wenatchee, WA	38 mi	(509) 433-3700
Kittitas Valley Home Health & Hospice	Ellensburg, WA	51 mi	(509) 962-7438

Nursing homes near Ephrata (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Columbia Basin Hospital	Ephrata, WA	0.3 mi	3 of 5	12	(509) 754-4631
Mckay Healthcare & Rehab Ctr	Soap Lake, WA	5.6 mi	4 of 5	42	(509) 246-1111
Lake Ridge Center	Moses Lake, WA	18 mi	2 of 5	74	(509) 765-7835
Columbia Crest Center	Moses Lake, WA	19 mi	2 of 5	111	(509) 765-6788

Straight-line miles from the center of Ephrata. 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 Ephrata

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 75% of the $2,662 monthly median income of Ephrata 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 Ephrata: common questions

Which hospices serve Ephrata?

Medicare lists 3 hospices for Ephrata ZIP codes, including Assured Hospice, Central Washington Hospital Homecare Services, Kittitas Valley Home Health & Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Ephrata?

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 75% of the $2,662 monthly median income of Ephrata 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 Ephrata. 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 Ephrata

More senior care near Ephrata

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ephrata

More for Ephrata 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 Ephrata, WA