Respite Care in Meredith, NH: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Meredith, NH: the local picture

797

residents 65 or older (30% of Meredith)

57%

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

30%

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

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Meredith ZIP codes

Most older adults in Meredith 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 204 Meredith residents aged 65 or older report a disability (30%) (31% in Belknap County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Meredith ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Meredith compared with Belknap County and New Hampshire

Census figure	Meredith	Belknap County	New Hampshire
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	31%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	27%	27%
Residents 65 or older	30%	24%	20%
Residents 85 or older	6.8%	2.6%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	9.5%	7.7%
Households with no vehicle	8.9%	4.0%	4.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,728	$61,719	—

Older residents in towns around Meredith

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Laconia, NH	5.3 mi	3,896	31%
Plymouth, NH	12 mi	467	21%
Wolfeboro, NH	15 mi	1,229	25%
Tilton Northfield, NH	15 mi	829	53%
Franklin, NH	16 mi	1,873	35%
Farmington, NH	28 mi	495	49%

Hospices serving Meredith

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Lakes Region Visiting Nurse Association	Meredith, NH	1.5 mi	(603) 279-6611
Quality Care Home Health & Hospice	Center Harbor, NH	4.1 mi	(603) 707-9655
Pemi-Baker Community Health	Plymouth, NH	12 mi	(603) 536-2232
Granite Vna, Inc.	Concord, NH	30 mi	(603) 224-4093
Compassus - Greater Manchester	Bedford, NH	49 mi	(603) 606-7974

Nursing homes near Meredith (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Golden View Health Care Center	Meredith, NH	3.7 mi	4 of 5	131	(603) 279-8111
Belknap County Nursing Home	Laconia, NH	7.6 mi	4 of 5	94	(603) 527-5410
Laconia Rehabilitation Center	Laconia, NH	7.9 mi	1 of 5	120	(603) 524-3340
Saint Francis Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Laconia, NH	9.3 mi	5 of 5	51	(603) 524-0466

Straight-line miles from the center of Meredith. 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 Meredith

At the New Hampshire median aide wage of $18.64 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,615 a month in wages, which is 46% of the $3,477 monthly median income of Meredith households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Hampshire'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 Meredith: common questions

Which hospices serve Meredith?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Meredith ZIP codes, including Lakes Region Visiting Nurse Association, Quality Care Home Health & Hospice, Pemi-Baker Community Health.

How much does respite care cost in Meredith?

At the New Hampshire median aide wage of $18.64 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,615 a month in wages, which is 46% of the $3,477 monthly median income of Meredith households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Hampshire'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 Meredith. 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 New Hampshire.

More near Meredith

More senior care near Meredith

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Meredith

More for Meredith 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 Meredith, NH