Respite Care in Friday Harbor, WA for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Friday Harbor, WA: the local picture

537

residents 65 or older (20% of Friday Harbor)

56%

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

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (21% in San Juan County)

1

Medicare-certified hospices serve Friday Harbor ZIP codes

Most older adults in Friday Harbor live with someone: 56% 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 126 Friday Harbor residents aged 65 or older report a disability (26%) (21% in San Juan County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Friday Harbor compared with San Juan County and Washington

Census figure	Friday Harbor	San Juan County	Washington
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	21%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	24%	26%
Residents 65 or older	20%	36%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.8%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	8.6%	8.9%
Households with no vehicle	9.5%	3.6%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,000	$75,313	—

Older residents in towns around Friday Harbor

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Anacortes, WA	18 mi	5,751	27%
Oak Harbor, WA	24 mi	3,118	39%
Marietta-Alderwood, WA	28 mi	836	22%
Bellingham, WA	29 mi	15,407	29%
Ferndale, WA	29 mi	2,516	31%
Birch Bay, WA	30 mi	2,626	26%

Hospices serving Friday Harbor

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of The Northwest	Mount Vernon, WA	38 mi	(360) 814-5550

Nursing homes near Friday Harbor (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Soundview Rehabilitation And Health Care Inc	Anacortes, WA	19 mi	2 of 5	44	(360) 293-3174

Straight-line miles from the center of Friday Harbor. 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 Friday Harbor

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 45% of the $4,417 monthly median income of Friday Harbor 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 Friday Harbor: common questions

Which hospices serve Friday Harbor?

Medicare lists 1 hospice for Friday Harbor ZIP codes, including Hospice Of The Northwest.

How much does respite care cost in Friday Harbor?

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 45% of the $4,417 monthly median income of Friday Harbor 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 Friday Harbor. 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 Friday Harbor

More senior care near Friday Harbor

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Friday Harbor

More for Friday Harbor 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 Friday Harbor, WA