Respite Care in Homer, NY: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Homer, NY: the local picture

695

residents 65 or older (22% of Homer)

62%

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

31%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Cortland County)

2

Medicare-certified hospices serve Homer ZIP codes

Most older adults in Homer live with someone: 62% 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 212 Homer residents aged 65 or older report a disability (31%) (31% in Cortland County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 2 hospices serving Homer ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Homer compared with Cortland County and New York

Census figure	Homer	Cortland County	New York
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	31%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	31%	29%
Residents 65 or older	22%	17%	18%
Residents 85 or older	3.3%	1.7%	2.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.9%	8.1%	13%
Households with no vehicle	4.6%	12%	29%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$52,037	$54,506	—

Older residents in towns around Homer

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Cortland, NY	2.5 mi	2,194	33%
Munsons Corners, NY	4.5 mi	410	28%
Northeast Ithaca, NY	18 mi	473	20%
Lansing, NY	18 mi	322	1.6%
Cayuga Heights, NY	19 mi	1,254	28%
Ithaca, NY	21 mi	3,318	24%

Hospices serving Homer

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospicare & Palliative Care Services	Ithaca, NY	21 mi	(607) 272-0212
Hospice Of Central New York	Liverpool, NY	33 mi	(315) 634-1100

Nursing homes near Homer (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Cortland Park Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Cortland, NY	2.0 mi	4 of 5	120	(607) 756-9921
Guthrie Cortland Medical Center	Cortland, NY	2.1 mi	2 of 5	80	(607) 756-3909
Crown Park Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Cortland, NY	3.1 mi	1 of 5	200	(607) 753-9631
Groton Community Health Care Ctr Res Care Fac	Groton, NY	10 mi	1 of 5	80	(607) 898-5876

Straight-line miles from the center of Homer. 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 Homer

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $4,336 monthly median income of Homer households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 Homer: common questions

Which hospices serve Homer?

Medicare lists 2 hospices for Homer ZIP codes, including Hospicare & Palliative Care Services, Hospice Of Central New York.

How much does respite care cost in Homer?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $4,336 monthly median income of Homer households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 Homer. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member covers New York.

More near Homer

More senior care near Homer

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Homer

More for Homer 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 Homer, NY