Respite Care in Fulton, MD: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Fulton, MD: the local picture

441

residents 65 or older (7.8% of Fulton)

83%

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

18%

of residents 65+ report a disability (25% in Howard County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fulton ZIP codes

Most older adults in Fulton live with someone: 83% 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 71 Fulton residents aged 65 or older report a disability (18%) (25% in Howard County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Fulton ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Fulton compared with Howard County and Maryland

Census figure	Fulton	Howard County	Maryland
Residents 65+ with a disability	18%	25%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	17%	19%	27%
Residents 65 or older	7.8%	15%	17%
Residents 85 or older	0.6%	1.6%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	0.3%	5.7%	9.5%
Households with no vehicle	2.2%	3.6%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$119,597	$110,656	—

Older residents in towns around Fulton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Scaggsville, MD	1.8 mi	1,886	24%
Burtonsville, MD	2.6 mi	1,753	19%
West Laurel, MD	2.8 mi	710	23%
North Laurel, MD	3.9 mi	2,791	15%
Columbia, MD	4.4 mi	18,042	29%
Ashton-Sandy Spring, MD	4.7 mi	1,568	14%

Hospices serving Fulton

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Maryland	Columbia, MD	5.6 mi	(410) 689-7400
Holy Cross Home Care And Hospice	Silver Spring, MD	11 mi	(301) 557-4663
Heartland Hospice (Baltimore)	Windsor Mill, MD	14 mi	(410) 247-2900
Stella Maris Inc	Timonium, MD	24 mi	(410) 252-4500
Gilchrist Hospice Care, Inc	Hunt Valley, MD	26 mi	(443) 849-8200

Nursing homes near Fulton (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lorien Health Systems - Columbia	Columbia, MD	3.4 mi	2 of 5	205	(410) 531-5300
Autumn Lake Healthcare At Oak Manor	Burtonsville, MD	4.2 mi	4 of 5	145	(240) 970-5600
Autumn Lake Healthcare At Patuxent River	Laurel, MD	5.1 mi	3 of 5	153	(410) 792-4717
Autumn Lake Healthcare At Cherry Lane	Laurel, MD	5.7 mi	5 of 5	155	(301) 498-8558

Straight-line miles from the center of Fulton. 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 Fulton

At the Maryland median aide wage of $18.29 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,585 a month in wages, which is 16% of the $9,966 monthly median income of Fulton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maryland's minimum wage is $15.00 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 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 Fulton: common questions

Which hospices serve Fulton?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Fulton ZIP codes, including Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Maryland, Holy Cross Home Care And Hospice, Heartland Hospice (Baltimore).

How much does respite care cost in Fulton?

At the Maryland median aide wage of $18.29 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,585 a month in wages, which is 16% of the $9,966 monthly median income of Fulton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maryland's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Fulton. 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 Maryland.

More near Fulton

More senior care near Fulton

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fulton

More for Fulton 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 Fulton, MD