Respite Care in Hayward, WI: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Hayward, WI: the local picture

486

residents 65 or older (19% of Hayward)

36%

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

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Washburn County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Hayward ZIP codes

Most older adults in Hayward live with someone: 36% 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 106 Hayward residents aged 65 or older report a disability (27%) (27% in Washburn County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Hayward ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Hayward compared with Washburn County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Hayward	Washburn County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	27%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	64%	25%	30%
Residents 65 or older	19%	28%	19%
Residents 85 or older	3.6%	2.6%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	19%	8.6%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	8.4%	4.3%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$28,264	$54,290	—

Older residents in towns around Hayward

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Rice Lake, WI	38 mi	1,779	44%
Ladysmith, WI	42 mi	862	35%
Barron, WI	45 mi	1,202	27%
Ashland, WI	49 mi	1,658	35%
Superior, WI	55 mi	4,778	37%
Duluth, MN	61 mi	15,068	30%

Hospices serving Hayward

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Marshfield Medical Ctr Rice Lake Hospice	Rice Lake, WI	37 mi	(715) 236-6256
Regional Hospice Services	Ashland, WI	52 mi	(715) 685-5151
Moments Hospice Of Eau Claire	Eau Claire, WI	85 mi	(715) 800-0900
St Croix Hospice Eau Claire	Eau Claire, WI	85 mi	(715) 598-2635
Hospice Touch	Tomah, WI	148 mi	(608) 374-0250

Nursing homes near Hayward (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Hayward Health Services	Hayward, WI	1.1 mi	3 of 5	50	(715) 634-2202
Water's Edge	Hayward, WI	13 mi	4 of 5	50	(715) 934-4300
Dove Healthcare - Spooner	Spooner, WI	23 mi	2 of 5	50	(715) 635-1415

Straight-line miles from the center of Hayward. 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 Hayward

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 64% of the $2,355 monthly median income of Hayward households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.

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 Hayward: common questions

Which hospices serve Hayward?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Hayward ZIP codes, including Marshfield Medical Ctr Rice Lake Hospice, Regional Hospice Services, Moments Hospice Of Eau Claire.

How much does respite care cost in Hayward?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 64% of the $2,355 monthly median income of Hayward households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 Hayward. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver covers Wisconsin.

More near Hayward

More senior care near Hayward

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 Hayward, WI