Respite Care in Fresno, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Fresno, CA: the local picture

67,512

residents 65 or older (12% of Fresno)

73%

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

40%

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

69

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fresno ZIP codes

Most older adults in Fresno live with someone: 73% 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 26,504 Fresno residents aged 65 or older report a disability (40%) (39% in Fresno County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 69 hospices serving Fresno ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Fresno compared with Fresno County and California

Census figure	Fresno	Fresno County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	39%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	24%	23%
Residents 65 or older	12%	13%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	1.4%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	14%	12%
Households with no vehicle	8.2%	7.0%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$54,660	$55,987	—

Older residents in towns around Fresno

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Old Fig Garden, CA	1.3 mi	1,143	41%
Mayfair, CA	2.0 mi	502	45%
Tarpey Village, CA	5.2 mi	557	55%
Sunnyside, CA	6.6 mi	808	39%
Clovis, CA	6.9 mi	17,201	37%
Easton, CA	9.0 mi	299	51%

Hospices serving Fresno

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Mary's Hospice Services, Inc	Fresno, CA	2.0 mi	(559) 222-1291
Blessed Hands Hospice Inc	Fresno, CA	2.0 mi	(559) 449-3390
Ardent Hospice Of Fresno	Fresno, CA	2.1 mi	(559) 408-5945
Bright Horizon Hospice Services	Fresno, CA	3.3 mi	(559) 443-0303
Valley Regional Hospice Inc	Fresno, CA	3.3 mi	(559) 431-3333

Nursing homes near Fresno (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Community Subacute And Transitional Care Center	Fresno, CA	0.8 mi	5 of 5	106	(559) 459-1711
Oakwood Gardens Care Center	Fresno, CA	1.3 mi	5 of 5	103	(559) 222-4807
Covenant Post Acute	Fresno, CA	1.3 mi	3 of 5	121	(559) 227-4063
Keystone Post-Acute	Fresno, CA	1.3 mi	3 of 5	65	(559) 227-5383

Straight-line miles from the center of Fresno. 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 Fresno

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 32% of the $4,555 monthly median income of Fresno 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 Fresno: common questions

Which hospices serve Fresno?

Medicare lists 69 hospices for Fresno ZIP codes, including St Mary's Hospice Services, Inc, Blessed Hands Hospice Inc, Ardent Hospice Of Fresno.

How much does respite care cost in Fresno?

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 32% of the $4,555 monthly median income of Fresno 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 Fresno. 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 Fresno

More senior care near Fresno

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fresno

More for Fresno 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 Fresno, CA