Respite Care in Erie, PA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Erie, PA: the local picture

15,350

residents 65 or older (16% of Erie)

57%

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

38%

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

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Erie ZIP codes

Most older adults in Erie live with someone: 57% 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 5,554 Erie residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%) (33% in Erie County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 10 hospices serving Erie ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Erie compared with Erie County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Erie	Erie County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	33%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	33%	30%
Residents 65 or older	16%	20%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	2.2%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	10%	9.9%
Households with no vehicle	17%	9.9%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,676	$47,768	—

Older residents in towns around Erie

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Wesleyville, PA	3.4 mi	498	58%
Lawrence Park, PA	3.5 mi	585	23%
Northwest Harborcreek, PA	4.6 mi	2,354	31%
Fairview, PA	11 mi	749	34%
North East, PA	14 mi	782	34%
Girard, PA	15 mi	545	32%

Hospices serving Erie

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Family Hospice	Erie, PA	1.2 mi	(814) 877-6120
Interim Healthcare Hospice Of Erie	Erie, PA	4.1 mi	(814) 836-0214
Lakeland Area Hospice, LP	Erie, PA	4.1 mi	(814) 838-0511
Vna Hospice Services Of Erie County	Erie, PA	4.8 mi	(814) 454-2831
Aseracare Hospice	Waterford, PA	11 mi	(814) 836-5255

Nursing homes near Erie (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lecom At Village Square, LLC	Erie, PA	0.3 mi	4 of 5	110	(814) 452-3271
Sarah Reed Senior Living	Erie, PA	0.4 mi	5 of 5	106	(814) 878-2600
Nightingale Nursing And Rehab Center	Erie, PA	0.7 mi	3 of 5	139	(814) 459-0621
Pennsylvania Soldiers And Sailors Home	Erie, PA	1.4 mi	5 of 5	107	(814) 871-4531

Straight-line miles from the center of Erie. 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 Erie

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 39% of the $3,140 monthly median income of Erie 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 Erie: common questions

Which hospices serve Erie?

Medicare lists 10 hospices for Erie ZIP codes, including Family Hospice, Interim Healthcare Hospice Of Erie, Lakeland Area Hospice, LP.

How much does respite care cost in Erie?

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 39% of the $3,140 monthly median income of Erie 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 Erie. 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 Erie

More senior care near Erie

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Erie

More for Erie 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 Erie, PA