Respite Care in Gettysburg, PA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Gettysburg, PA: the local picture

1,048

residents 65 or older (13% of Gettysburg)

51%

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

32%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Adams County)

15

Medicare-certified hospices serve Gettysburg ZIP codes

Most older adults in Gettysburg live with someone: 51% 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 340 Gettysburg residents aged 65 or older report a disability (32%) (29% in Adams County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 15 hospices serving Gettysburg ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Gettysburg compared with Adams County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Gettysburg	Adams County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	29%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	49%	24%	30%
Residents 65 or older	13%	22%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	2.4%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	6.1%	9.9%
Households with no vehicle	11%	4.5%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,926	$61,403	—

Older residents in towns around Gettysburg

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Lake Heritage, PA	3.1 mi	723	21%
Emmitsburg, MD	9.8 mi	636	27%
Carroll Valley, PA	9.8 mi	832	27%
Littlestown, PA	9.8 mi	810	30%
McSherrystown, PA	12 mi	487	33%
Taneytown, MD	12 mi	1,718	24%

Hospices serving Gettysburg

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Program/Vna Of Hanover And Spring Grove	Hanover, PA	14 mi	(717) 637-1227
Bridginglife, Inc.	Westminster, MD	23 mi	(410) 871-8000
Spiritrust Lutheran Home Care & Hospice	Chambersburg, PA	24 mi	(717) 264-8178
Amedisys Hospice Of York	York, PA	27 mi	(717) 845-8599
Residential Hospice Of Carlisle, LLC	Mechanicsburg, PA	29 mi	(717) 601-5375

Nursing homes near Gettysburg (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Transitions Healthcare Gettysburg	Gettysburg, PA	0.8 mi	3 of 5	135	(717) 334-6249
Gettysburg Center	Gettysburg, PA	1.3 mi	1 of 5	118	(717) 337-3238
Gardens At Gettysburg, The	Gettysburg, PA	1.4 mi	4 of 5	102	(717) 334-6764
Concordia At Spiritrust Gettysburg	Gettysburg, PA	1.6 mi	5 of 5	60	(717) 334-6204

Straight-line miles from the center of Gettysburg. 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 Gettysburg

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $3,911 monthly median income of Gettysburg households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Gettysburg: common questions

Which hospices serve Gettysburg?

Medicare lists 15 hospices for Gettysburg ZIP codes, including Hospice Program/Vna Of Hanover And Spring Grove, Bridginglife, Inc., Spiritrust Lutheran Home Care & Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Gettysburg?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $3,911 monthly median income of Gettysburg households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Gettysburg. 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 Pennsylvania.

More near Gettysburg

More senior care near Gettysburg

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gettysburg

More for Gettysburg 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 Gettysburg, PA