Respite Care in Merced, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Merced, CA: the local picture

9,545

residents 65 or older (10% of Merced)

74%

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

46%

of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in Merced County)

21

Medicare-certified hospices serve Merced ZIP codes

Most older adults in Merced 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 4,335 Merced residents aged 65 or older report a disability (46%) (40% in Merced County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 21 hospices serving Merced ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Merced compared with Merced County and California

Census figure	Merced	Merced County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	40%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	24%	23%
Residents 65 or older	10%	12%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	1.3%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	16%	12%
Households with no vehicle	8.9%	7.3%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,092	$44,830	—

Older residents in towns around Merced

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Franklin, CA	3.3 mi	1,046	42%
McSwain, CA	6.0 mi	564	35%
Atwater, CA	7.4 mi	3,993	43%
Planada, CA	8.7 mi	573	29%
Winton, CA	9.4 mi	1,127	48%
Livingston, CA	15 mi	1,537	31%

Hospices serving Merced

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bristol Hospice-California, LLC	Merced, CA	0.9 mi	(209) 384-1415
Covenant Care Hospice	Turlock, CA	24 mi	(209) 664-2550
Progressive Hospice Care	Modesto, CA	36 mi	(209) 505-1035
Global Hospice And Pallative Care, Inc	Modesto, CA	36 mi	(310) 784-0422
Community Hospice, Inc - Hospice	Modesto, CA	41 mi	(209) 578-6300

Nursing homes near Merced (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Merced Nursing & Rehabilitation Ctr	Merced, CA	0.3 mi	4 of 5	79	(209) 723-2911
La Sierra Care Center	Merced, CA	0.3 mi	3 of 5	68	(209) 723-4224
Golden Merced Care Center	Merced, CA	0.5 mi	3 of 5	121	(209) 723-1056
Franciscan Post-Acute Care Center	Merced, CA	1.1 mi	4 of 5	71	(209) 722-6231

Straight-line miles from the center of Merced. 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 Merced

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 40% of the $3,674 monthly median income of Merced 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 Merced: common questions

Which hospices serve Merced?

Medicare lists 21 hospices for Merced ZIP codes, including Bristol Hospice-California, LLC, Covenant Care Hospice, Progressive Hospice Care.

How much does respite care cost in Merced?

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 40% of the $3,674 monthly median income of Merced 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 Merced. 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 Merced

More senior care near Merced

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Merced

More for Merced 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 Merced, CA