Respite Care in Lancaster, WI: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Lancaster, WI: the local picture

935

residents 65 or older (24% of Lancaster)

76%

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

24%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Grant County)

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Lancaster ZIP codes

Most older adults in Lancaster live with someone: 76% 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 212 Lancaster residents aged 65 or older report a disability (24%) (26% in Grant County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 3 hospices serving Lancaster ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Lancaster compared with Grant County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Lancaster	Grant County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	26%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	28%	30%
Residents 65 or older	24%	19%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.9%	2.2%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.4%	8.6%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	4.2%	4.9%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,125	$53,912	—

Older residents in towns around Lancaster

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Fennimore, WI	9.6 mi	468	30%
Platteville, WI	15 mi	1,286	33%
Boscobel, WI	21 mi	533	28%
Asbury, IA	23 mi	887	13%
Dubuque, IA	24 mi	12,258	27%
Prairie du Chien, WI	26 mi	1,374	33%

Hospices serving Lancaster

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Grant County Hospice	Lancaster, WI	0.3 mi	(608) 723-6416
Agrace Hospicecare	Madison, WI	65 mi	(608) 276-4660
St Croix Hospice Baraboo	Baraboo, WI	65 mi	(608) 448-4200

Nursing homes near Lancaster (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lancaster Health Services	Lancaster, WI	0.7 mi	2 of 5	50	(608) 723-4143
Orchard Manor	Lancaster, WI	1.8 mi	5 of 5	74	(608) 723-2113
Dove Healthcare - Fennimore	Fennimore, WI	9.6 mi	2 of 5	50	(608) 822-6100
Edenbrook Of Platteville	Platteville, WI	14 mi	4 of 5	80	(608) 348-2453

Straight-line miles from the center of Lancaster. 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 Lancaster

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,427 monthly median income of Lancaster households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin's minimum wage is $7.25 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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.

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 Lancaster: common questions

Which hospices serve Lancaster?

Medicare lists 3 hospices for Lancaster ZIP codes, including Grant County Hospice, Agrace Hospicecare, St Croix Hospice Baraboo.

How much does respite care cost in Lancaster?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,427 monthly median income of Lancaster households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Lancaster. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver covers Wisconsin.

More near Lancaster

More senior care near Lancaster

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Lancaster

More for Lancaster 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 Lancaster, WI