Respite Care in Lewistown, PA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Lewistown, PA: the local picture

1,365

residents 65 or older (16% of Lewistown)

57%

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

42%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Mifflin County)

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Lewistown ZIP codes

Most older adults in Lewistown 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 577 Lewistown residents aged 65 or older report a disability (42%) (34% in Mifflin County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 10 hospices serving Lewistown ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Lewistown compared with Mifflin County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Lewistown	Mifflin County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	34%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	16%	22%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	2.7%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	8.6%	9.9%
Households with no vehicle	15%	10%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$33,359	$44,931	—

Older residents in towns around Lewistown

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Boalsburg, PA	16 mi	1,013	23%
State College, PA	20 mi	2,786	29%
Pleasant Gap, PA	21 mi	466	36%
Park Forest Village, PA	23 mi	1,348	25%
Toftrees, PA	23 mi	716	48%
Huntingdon, PA	24 mi	1,335	18%

Hospices serving Lewistown

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Centre Crossings Hospice	State College, PA	20 mi	(814) 237-7400
365 Hospice LLC	State College, PA	20 mi	(814) 946-5017
Homeland Hospice	Harrisburg, PA	41 mi	(717) 221-7890
Wellspan Hospice Services	Lewisburg, PA	43 mi	(570) 522-2550
Aseracare Hospice	Altoona, PA	44 mi	(814) 941-2900

Nursing homes near Lewistown (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Greenwood Center For Rehabilitation And Nursing	Lewistown, PA	0.3 mi	3 of 5	134	(717) 242-1416
William Penn Nursing And Rehab	Lewistown, PA	1.6 mi	4 of 5	121	(717) 248-3941
Valley View Haven, Inc	Belleville, PA	7.1 mi	5 of 5	155	(717) 935-2105
Locust Grove Retirement Village	Mifflin, PA	8.7 mi	3 of 5	104	(717) 436-8921

Straight-line miles from the center of Lewistown. 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 Lewistown

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 44% of the $2,780 monthly median income of Lewistown households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 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 Lewistown: common questions

Which hospices serve Lewistown?

Medicare lists 10 hospices for Lewistown ZIP codes, including Centre Crossings Hospice, 365 Hospice LLC, Homeland Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Lewistown?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 44% of the $2,780 monthly median income of Lewistown households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Lewistown. 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 Pennsylvania.

More near Lewistown

More senior care near Lewistown

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Lewistown

More for Lewistown 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 Lewistown, PA