Respite Care in McFarland, WI: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in McFarland, WI: the local picture

1,488

residents 65 or older (16% of McFarland)

74%

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

20%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Dane County)

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve McFarland ZIP codes

Most older adults in McFarland live with someone: 74% 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 294 McFarland residents aged 65 or older report a disability (20%) (24% in Dane County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 16 hospices serving McFarland ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

McFarland compared with Dane County and Wisconsin

Census figure	McFarland	Dane County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with a disability	20%	24%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	16%	15%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.7%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	3.3%	6.0%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	1.2%	8.2%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$72,500	$72,639	—

Older residents in towns around McFarland

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Monona, WI	3.5 mi	1,869	21%
Cottage Grove, WI	6.4 mi	1,006	21%
Stoughton, WI	7.3 mi	2,591	23%
Fitchburg, WI	7.5 mi	4,966	21%
Oregon, WI	8.4 mi	1,490	20%
Madison, WI	8.8 mi	36,240	24%

Hospices serving McFarland

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Moments Hospice Of Madison	Madison, WI	5.5 mi	(608) 384-3710
Heartland Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	5.5 mi	(608) 819-0033
Bristol Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	5.9 mi	(608) 960-7699
Interim Healthcare Of WI Madison	Madison, WI	5.9 mi	(608) 238-0268
Agrace Hospicecare	Madison, WI	8.6 mi	(608) 276-4660

Nursing homes near McFarland (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Oak Park Nursing And Rehab Center	Madison, WI	4.7 mi	1 of 5	100	(608) 663-8600
Madison Health And Rehabilitation Center	Madison, WI	5.5 mi	1 of 5	83	(608) 249-7391
Capitol Lakes Health Center	Madison, WI	6.3 mi	4 of 5	49	(608) 283-2000
Complete Care At Nazareth LLC	Stoughton, WI	7.3 mi	2 of 5	99	(608) 873-6448

Straight-line miles from the center of McFarland. 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 McFarland

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 25% of the $6,042 monthly median income of McFarland 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 McFarland: common questions

Which hospices serve McFarland?

Medicare lists 16 hospices for McFarland ZIP codes, including Moments Hospice Of Madison, Heartland Hospice Madison, Bristol Hospice Madison.

How much does respite care cost in McFarland?

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 25% of the $6,042 monthly median income of McFarland 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 McFarland. 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 McFarland

More senior care near McFarland

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in McFarland

More for McFarland 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 McFarland, WI