Respite Care in Merrick, NY: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Merrick, NY: the local picture

3,991

residents 65 or older (18% of Merrick)

85%

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

21%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Nassau County)

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Merrick ZIP codes

Most older adults in Merrick live with someone: 85% 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 833 Merrick residents aged 65 or older report a disability (21%) (27% in Nassau County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 7 hospices serving Merrick ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Merrick compared with Nassau County and New York

Census figure	Merrick	Nassau County	New York
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	27%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	15%	20%	29%
Residents 65 or older	18%	19%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	2.6%	2.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.0%	6.7%	13%
Households with no vehicle	2.1%	6.8%	29%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$123,203	$100,301	—

Older residents in towns around Merrick

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Bellmore, NY	1.4 mi	2,428	34%
Freeport, NY	1.7 mi	6,672	25%
Wantagh, NY	2.4 mi	2,921	26%
Roosevelt, NY	2.4 mi	1,965	30%
North Merrick, NY	2.5 mi	2,497	23%
North Bellmore, NY	2.7 mi	3,441	24%

Hospices serving Merrick

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Good Shepherd Hospice	Farmingdale, NY	8.3 mi	(631) 465-6300
Hospice Care Of Long Island, Queens, South Shore	Woodbury, NY	12 mi	(516) 832-7100
Vns And Hospice Of Suffolk, Inc	East Northport, NY	19 mi	(631) 930-9399
Calvary Home Health Agency And Hospice Care	Bronx, NY	20 mi	(718) 518-2465
Hospice Of New York, LLC	Long Island City, NY	21 mi	(718) 472-1999

Nursing homes near Merrick (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
South Shore Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Freeport, NY	2.1 mi	3 of 5	100	(516) 623-4000
Meadowbrook Care Center	Freeport, NY	2.3 mi	5 of 5	280	(516) 377-8200
Belair Care Center Inc	Bellmore, NY	2.7 mi	5 of 5	102	(516) 826-1160
A Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility	Uniondale, NY	3.4 mi	1 of 5	589	(516) 572-1400

Straight-line miles from the center of Merrick. 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 Merrick

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 16% of the $10,267 monthly median income of Merrick households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 Merrick: common questions

Which hospices serve Merrick?

Medicare lists 7 hospices for Merrick ZIP codes, including Good Shepherd Hospice, Hospice Care Of Long Island, Queens, South Shore, Vns And Hospice Of Suffolk, Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Merrick?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 16% of the $10,267 monthly median income of Merrick households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 Merrick. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member covers New York.

More near Merrick

More senior care near Merrick

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Merrick

More for Merrick 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 Merrick, NY