Respite Care in La Mesa, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in La Mesa, CA: the local picture

9,437

residents 65 or older (16% of La Mesa)

67%

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

31%

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

67

Medicare-certified hospices serve La Mesa ZIP codes

Most older adults in La Mesa live with someone: 67% 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 2,711 La Mesa residents aged 65 or older report a disability (31%) (31% in San Diego County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 67 hospices serving La Mesa ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

La Mesa compared with San Diego County and California

Census figure	La Mesa	San Diego County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	22%	23%
Residents 65 or older	16%	15%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	1.8%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.8%	9.5%	12%
Households with no vehicle	6.1%	5.5%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$68,482	$78,324	—

Older residents in towns around La Mesa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Lemon Grove, CA	2.6 mi	4,042	40%
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CA	3.1 mi	4,223	30%
Spring Valley, CA	3.8 mi	4,345	32%
La Presa, CA	4.1 mi	5,288	36%
El Cajon, CA	4.2 mi	15,161	43%
Bostonia, CA	5.8 mi	2,400	36%

Hospices serving La Mesa

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Together Hospice Care LLC	La Mesa, CA	1.0 mi	(760) 743-3055
Anc Corporation	La Mesa, CA	1.0 mi	(619) 741-5814
Mission Hospice Services Of San Diego LLC	San Diego, CA	6.5 mi	(855) 848-5433
Kaiser Foundation Hospital San Diego Hospice	San Diego, CA	6.5 mi	(619) 641-4100
Apreva Hospice	San Diego, CA	6.5 mi	(619) 450-4414

Nursing homes near La Mesa (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Parkway Hills Nursing & Rehabilitation	La Mesa, CA	0.6 mi	3 of 5	60	(619) 469-0124
Arbor Hills Nursing Center	La Mesa, CA	0.6 mi	5 of 5	100	(619) 460-2330
Grossmont Gardens Healthcare Center	La Mesa, CA	0.6 mi	not rated	—	(619) 463-0281
Community Care Center	La Mesa, CA	0.7 mi	4 of 5	119	(619) 465-0702

Straight-line miles from the center of La Mesa. 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 La Mesa

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 26% of the $5,707 monthly median income of La Mesa 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 La Mesa: common questions

Which hospices serve La Mesa?

Medicare lists 67 hospices for La Mesa ZIP codes, including Together Hospice Care LLC, Anc Corporation, Mission Hospice Services Of San Diego LLC.

How much does respite care cost in La Mesa?

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 26% of the $5,707 monthly median income of La Mesa 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 La Mesa. 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 La Mesa

More senior care near La Mesa

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in La Mesa

More for La Mesa 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 La Mesa, CA