Respite Care in Ester, AK: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Ester, AK: the local picture

359

residents 65 or older (13% of Ester)

28%

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

1.4%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Fairbanks North Star Borough)

1

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ester ZIP codes

Most older adults in Ester live with someone: 28% 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 Ester residents aged 65 or older report a disability (1.4%) (38% in Fairbanks North Star Borough). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 1 hospice serving Ester ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Ester compared with Fairbanks North Star Borough and Alaska

Census figure	Ester	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Alaska
Residents 65+ with a disability	1.4%	38%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	72%	28%	27%
Residents 65 or older	13%	13%	14%
Residents 85 or older	0.0%	0.9%	0.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	29%	6.3%	8.3%
Households with no vehicle	8.4%	4.6%	9.0%

Older residents in towns around Ester

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Goldstream, AK	4.4 mi	630	42%
Chena Ridge, AK	5.9 mi	639	29%
College, AK	6.6 mi	2,077	28%
Farmers Loop, AK	10 mi	631	35%
Fairbanks, AK	12 mi	3,811	43%
Steele Creek, AK	18 mi	727	31%

Hospices serving Ester

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Hospice Services	Fairbanks, AK	10 mi	(907) 458-3090

Nursing homes near Ester (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Denali Center	Fairbanks, AK	9.5 mi	3 of 5	71	(907) 458-5100

Straight-line miles from the center of Ester. 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 Ester

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 Alaska: consumer-directed personal care.

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 Ester: common questions

Which hospices serve Ester?

Medicare lists 1 hospice for Ester ZIP codes, including Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Hospice Services.

How much does respite care cost in Ester?

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 Ester. 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 Alaska: consumer-directed personal care covers Alaska.

More near Ester

More senior care near Ester

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ester

More for Ester families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); 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 Ester, AK