Respite Care in Ketchikan, AK: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Ketchikan, AK: the local picture

1,226

residents 65 or older (15% of Ketchikan)

57%

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

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Ketchikan Gateway Borough)

1

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ketchikan ZIP codes

Most older adults in Ketchikan live with someone: 57% 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 458 Ketchikan residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%) (36% in Ketchikan Gateway Borough). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 1 hospice serving Ketchikan ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Ketchikan compared with Ketchikan Gateway Borough and Alaska

Census figure	Ketchikan	Ketchikan Gateway Borough	Alaska
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	36%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	28%	27%
Residents 65 or older	15%	18%	14%
Residents 85 or older	0.8%	0.8%	0.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.7%	5.6%	8.3%
Households with no vehicle	15%	11%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,813	$76,563	—

Hospices serving Ketchikan

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Peacehealth Hospice	Ketchikan, AK	1.1 mi	(907) 228-7600

Nursing homes near Ketchikan (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Ketchikan Med Ctr New Horizons Transitional Care	Ketchikan, AK	4.6 mi	1 of 5	29	(907) 225-5171

Straight-line miles from the center of Ketchikan. 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 Ketchikan

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $4,984 monthly median income of Ketchikan households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 Alaska: consumer-directed personal care.

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 Ketchikan: common questions

Which hospices serve Ketchikan?

Medicare lists 1 hospice for Ketchikan ZIP codes, including Peacehealth Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Ketchikan?

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $4,984 monthly median income of Ketchikan households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 Ketchikan. 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 Alaska: consumer-directed personal care covers Alaska.

More near Ketchikan

More senior care near Ketchikan

Other care in Ketchikan

More for Ketchikan 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 Ketchikan, AK