Respite Care in Ithaca, NY: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Ithaca, NY: the local picture

3,318

residents 65 or older (10% of Ithaca)

61%

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

24%

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

2

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ithaca ZIP codes

Most older adults in Ithaca live with someone: 61% 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 747 Ithaca residents aged 65 or older report a disability (24%) (27% in Tompkins County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Ithaca compared with Tompkins County and New York

Census figure	Ithaca	Tompkins County	New York
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	27%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	30%	29%
Residents 65 or older	10%	16%	18%
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.6%	2.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.8%	7.9%	13%
Households with no vehicle	27%	14%	29%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$76,893	$74,031	—

Older residents in towns around Ithaca

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Cayuga Heights, NY	1.8 mi	1,254	28%
South Hill, NY	2.4 mi	508	38%
Northeast Ithaca, NY	2.6 mi	473	20%
Lansing, NY	3.3 mi	322	1.6%
Munsons Corners, NY	18 mi	410	28%
Cortland, NY	20 mi	2,194	33%

Hospices serving Ithaca

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospicare & Palliative Care Services	Ithaca, NY	0.4 mi	(607) 272-0212
Carefirst / Southern Tier Hospice And Palliative	Painted Post, NY	37 mi	(607) 962-3100

Nursing homes near Ithaca (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Beechtree Center For Rehabilitation And Nursing	Ithaca, NY	0.5 mi	2 of 5	120	(607) 273-4166
Oak Hill Rehabilitation And Nursing Care Center	Ithaca, NY	1.0 mi	2 of 5	60	(607) 272-8282
Cayuga Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Ithaca, NY	2.0 mi	2 of 5	160	(607) 273-8072
Kendal At Ithaca	Ithaca, NY	2.6 mi	4 of 5	48	(607) 266-5300

Straight-line miles from the center of Ithaca. 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 Ithaca

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 26% of the $6,408 monthly median income of Ithaca 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 Ithaca: common questions

Which hospices serve Ithaca?

Medicare lists 2 hospices for Ithaca ZIP codes, including Hospicare & Palliative Care Services, Carefirst / Southern Tier Hospice And Palliative.

How much does respite care cost in Ithaca?

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 26% of the $6,408 monthly median income of Ithaca 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 Ithaca. 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 Ithaca

More senior care near Ithaca

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ithaca

More for Ithaca 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 Ithaca, NY