Respite Care in Felton, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Felton, CA: the local picture

811

residents 65 or older (20% of Felton)

72%

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

24%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Santa Cruz County)

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Felton ZIP codes

Most older adults in Felton live with someone: 72% 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 197 Felton residents aged 65 or older report a disability (24%) (28% in Santa Cruz County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 4 hospices serving Felton ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Felton compared with Santa Cruz County and California

Census figure	Felton	Santa Cruz County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	28%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	26%	23%
Residents 65 or older	20%	19%	16%
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	2.1%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	1.2%	9.6%	12%
Households with no vehicle	2.0%	5.2%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$90,057	$85,666	—

Older residents in towns around Felton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Ben Lomond, CA	2.7 mi	1,476	39%
Bonny Doon, CA	3.1 mi	714	16%
Scotts Valley, CA	4.0 mi	2,784	28%
Santa Cruz, CA	5.1 mi	9,295	29%
Live Oak, CA	6.6 mi	3,465	30%
Boulder Creek, CA	7.0 mi	1,385	22%

Hospices serving Felton

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Santa Cruz County	Scotts Valley, CA	3.9 mi	(831) 430-3000
Bridge Hospice	Salinas, CA	30 mi	(831) 216-5585
Home Connect Hospice, LLC	Fremont, CA	34 mi	(408) 858-7580
Madrone Hospice, Inc	Yreka, CA	325 mi	(530) 842-3160

Nursing homes near Felton (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Santa Cruz Post Acute	Santa Cruz, CA	6.6 mi	2 of 5	149	(831) 475-4055
Redwood Grove Post Acute	Santa Cruz, CA	6.7 mi	2 of 5	144	(831) 479-9000
Driftwood Healthcare Center - Santa Cruz	Santa Cruz, CA	7.6 mi	3 of 5	92	(831) 475-6323
Pacific Coast Manor	Capitola, CA	7.9 mi	5 of 5	99	(831) 476-0770

Straight-line miles from the center of Felton. 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 Felton

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 20% of the $7,505 monthly median income of Felton 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 Felton: common questions

Which hospices serve Felton?

Medicare lists 4 hospices for Felton ZIP codes, including Hospice Of Santa Cruz County, Bridge Hospice, Home Connect Hospice, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Felton?

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 20% of the $7,505 monthly median income of Felton 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 Felton. 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 Felton

More senior care near Felton

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Felton

More for Felton 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 Felton, CA