Respite Care in Kelso, WA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Kelso, WA: the local picture

2,194

residents 65 or older (17% of Kelso)

63%

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

45%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Cowlitz County)

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Kelso ZIP codes

Most older adults in Kelso live with someone: 63% 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 978 Kelso residents aged 65 or older report a disability (45%) (39% in Cowlitz County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 4 hospices serving Kelso ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Kelso compared with Cowlitz County and Washington

Census figure	Kelso	Cowlitz County	Washington
Residents 65+ with a disability	45%	39%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	29%	26%
Residents 65 or older	17%	20%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	2.0%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	7.6%	8.9%
Households with no vehicle	5.7%	6.2%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,712	$54,222	—

Older residents in towns around Kelso

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Longview, WA	4.2 mi	7,663	41%
Lexington, WA	5.2 mi	765	39%
Longview Heights, WA	5.4 mi	634	18%
Kalama, WA	7.2 mi	590	46%
Woodland, WA	15 mi	1,246	37%
St. Helens, OR	18 mi	2,253	38%

Hospices serving Kelso

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Peacehealth Southwest Hospice	Vancouver, WA	35 mi	(360) 696-5100
Assured Home Health, Hospice & Home Care	Centralia, WA	42 mi	(360) 330-2640
Eden Hospice	Oregon City, OR	56 mi	(971) 256-6642
Providence At Home With Compassus, Puget Sound South	Lacey, WA	63 mi	(206) 459-8311

Nursing homes near Kelso (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Frontier Rehabilitation And Extended Care	Longview, WA	2.1 mi	4 of 5	140	(360) 423-8800
Americana Health And Rehabilitation	Longview, WA	2.2 mi	4 of 5	74	(360) 425-5910
Beacon Hill Rehabilitation	Longview, WA	4.2 mi	5 of 5	67	(360) 423-4060
Woodland Convalescent Center	Woodland, WA	16 mi	2 of 5	62	(360) 225-9443

Straight-line miles from the center of Kelso. 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 Kelso

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 44% of the $4,476 monthly median income of Kelso households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 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 Kelso: common questions

Which hospices serve Kelso?

Medicare lists 4 hospices for Kelso ZIP codes, including Peacehealth Southwest Hospice, Assured Home Health, Hospice & Home Care, Eden Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Kelso?

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 44% of the $4,476 monthly median income of Kelso households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 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 Kelso. 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 Washington.

More near Kelso

More senior care near Kelso

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Kelso

More for Kelso 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 Kelso, WA