Respite Care in Fircrest, WA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Fircrest, WA: the local picture

1,314

residents 65 or older (19% of Fircrest)

76%

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

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Pierce County)

8

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fircrest ZIP codes

Most older adults in Fircrest live with someone: 76% 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 452 Fircrest residents aged 65 or older report a disability (34%) (36% in Pierce County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 8 hospices serving Fircrest ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Fircrest compared with Pierce County and Washington

Census figure	Fircrest	Pierce County	Washington
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	36%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	25%	26%
Residents 65 or older	19%	15%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.9%	1.5%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	2.5%	8.8%	8.9%
Households with no vehicle	8.5%	5.4%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$85,809	$70,061	—

Older residents in towns around Fircrest

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
University Place, WA	1.8 mi	6,796	32%
Tacoma, WA	3.0 mi	33,418	38%
Wollochet, WA	4.6 mi	1,739	38%
Lakewood, WA	4.6 mi	10,825	45%
Steilacoom, WA	5.6 mi	1,270	32%
Midland, WA	6.3 mi	1,223	52%

Hospices serving Fircrest

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Franciscan Hospice	University Place, WA	1.1 mi	(253) 534-7000
Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Pierce County	Tacoma, WA	2.4 mi	(517) 256-0946
Puget Sound Hospice	Tacoma, WA	2.4 mi	(253) 581-9410
Envision Hospice	Tacoma, WA	2.7 mi	(360) 350-4875
Multicare Hospice	Tacoma, WA	3.9 mi	(253) 301-6400

Nursing homes near Fircrest (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Orchard Park Health Care & Rehab Center	Tacoma, WA	1.4 mi	1 of 5	147	(253) 475-4611
Park Rose Care Center	Tacoma, WA	1.5 mi	2 of 5	139	(253) 752-5677
Avamere Transitional Care Of Puget Sound	Tacoma, WA	1.7 mi	4 of 5	60	(253) 671-7300
Birch Creek Post Acute & Rehabilitation	Tacoma, WA	1.8 mi	1 of 5	124	(253) 474-8421

Straight-line miles from the center of Fircrest. 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 Fircrest

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 28% of the $7,151 monthly median income of Fircrest 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 Fircrest: common questions

Which hospices serve Fircrest?

Medicare lists 8 hospices for Fircrest ZIP codes, including Franciscan Hospice, Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Pierce County, Puget Sound Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Fircrest?

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 28% of the $7,151 monthly median income of Fircrest 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 Fircrest. 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 Fircrest

More senior care near Fircrest

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fircrest

More for Fircrest 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 Fircrest, WA