Respite Care in Los Altos, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Los Altos, CA: the local picture

6,377

residents 65 or older (21% of Los Altos)

82%

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

22%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Santa Clara County)

27

Medicare-certified hospices serve Los Altos ZIP codes

Most older adults in Los Altos live with someone: 82% 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 1,380 Los Altos residents aged 65 or older report a disability (22%) (31% in Santa Clara County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 27 hospices serving Los Altos ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Los Altos compared with Santa Clara County and California

Census figure	Los Altos	Santa Clara County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	18%	19%	23%
Residents 65 or older	21%	15%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	2.0%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.0%	9.4%	12%
Households with no vehicle	3.1%	6.0%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$144,952	$92,440	—

Older residents in towns around Los Altos

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Loyola, CA	1.3 mi	806	19%
Los Altos Hills, CA	2.3 mi	2,590	23%
Mountain View, CA	2.4 mi	10,012	29%
Palo Alto, CA	3.2 mi	13,369	26%
Sunnyvale, CA	4.0 mi	19,985	26%
Cupertino, CA	4.4 mi	8,923	27%

Hospices serving Los Altos

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gold Star Hospice, LLC	Sunnyvale, CA	4.5 mi	(650) 814-0056
Pathways Home Health And Hospice	Sunnyvale, CA	4.5 mi	(408) 730-5900
Universal Hospice Care LLC	Menlo Park, CA	7.0 mi	(408) 807-1984
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Hospice-Santa Clara	Santa Clara, CA	7.6 mi	(408) 342-6699
Sutter Care At Home	Saratoga, CA	7.8 mi	(408) 559-5600

Nursing homes near Los Altos (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Villa Siena	Mountain View, CA	0.5 mi	1 of 5	30	(650) 961-6484
Mountain View Healthcare Center	Mountain View, CA	0.9 mi	3 of 5	129	(650) 961-6161
Los Altos Post-Acute	Los Altos, CA	0.9 mi	3 of 5	152	(650) 941-5255
Camino Ridge Post-Acute	Mountain View, CA	1.0 mi	1 of 5	102	(650) 968-2990

Straight-line miles from the center of Los Altos. 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 Los Altos

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 12% of the $12,079 monthly median income of Los Altos 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 Los Altos: common questions

Which hospices serve Los Altos?

Medicare lists 27 hospices for Los Altos ZIP codes, including Gold Star Hospice, LLC, Pathways Home Health And Hospice, Universal Hospice Care LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Los Altos?

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 12% of the $12,079 monthly median income of Los Altos 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 Los Altos. 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 Los Altos

More senior care near Los Altos

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Los Altos

More for Los Altos 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 Los Altos, CA