Respite Care in Joshua Tree, CA for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Joshua Tree, CA: the local picture

1,235

residents 65 or older (20% of Joshua Tree)

73%

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

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in San Bernardino County)

22

Medicare-certified hospices serve Joshua Tree ZIP codes

Most older adults in Joshua Tree live with someone: 73% 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 375 Joshua Tree residents aged 65 or older report a disability (34%) (37% in San Bernardino County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 22 hospices serving Joshua Tree ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Joshua Tree compared with San Bernardino County and California

Census figure	Joshua Tree	San Bernardino County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	37%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	20%	23%
Residents 65 or older	20%	13%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	1.3%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	13%	12%
Households with no vehicle	9.6%	4.6%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$28,669	$61,795	—

Older residents in towns around Joshua Tree

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Yucca Valley, CA	6.2 mi	4,557	42%
Homestead Valley, CA	12 mi	704	41%
Twentynine Palms, CA	14 mi	2,097	48%
Morongo Valley, CA	15 mi	680	48%
Desert Edge, CA	16 mi	1,752	30%
Garnet, CA	17 mi	870	32%

Hospices serving Joshua Tree

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hi-Desert Home Health Services-Hospice	Joshua Tree, CA	1.9 mi	(760) 366-6443
Serenity Hospice LLC	Palm Springs, CA	23 mi	(760) 325-8718
Family Hospice Care LLC	Palm Springs, CA	23 mi	(760) 674-3344
Blue Horizon Hospice	Palm Springs, CA	23 mi	(760) 318-0554
Bella Terra Hospice Of The Desert	Palm Desert, CA	25 mi	(760) 904-6070

Nursing homes near Joshua Tree (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Hi-Desert Medical Center D/P SNF	Joshua Tree, CA	2.0 mi	1 of 5	92	(760) 366-6437
Indian Canyon Post Acute	Yucca Valley, CA	5.3 mi	4 of 5	99	(760) 853-4750
Joshua Tree Post Acute	Yucca Valley, CA	6.9 mi	4 of 5	47	(760) 853-4760
California Nursing & Rehabilitation Center	Palm Springs, CA	23 mi	1 of 5	80	(760) 325-2937

Straight-line miles from the center of Joshua Tree. 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 Joshua Tree

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 61% of the $2,389 monthly median income of Joshua Tree households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

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 Joshua Tree: common questions

Which hospices serve Joshua Tree?

Medicare lists 22 hospices for Joshua Tree ZIP codes, including Hi-Desert Home Health Services-Hospice, Serenity Hospice LLC, Family Hospice Care LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Joshua Tree?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 61% of the $2,389 monthly median income of Joshua Tree households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 Joshua Tree. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave covers California.

More near Joshua Tree

More senior care near Joshua Tree

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Joshua Tree

More for Joshua Tree 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 Joshua Tree, CA