Respite Care in Milwaukee, WI: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Milwaukee, WI: the local picture

67,890

residents 65 or older (12% of Milwaukee)

60%

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

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Milwaukee County)

44

Medicare-certified hospices serve Milwaukee ZIP codes

Most older adults in Milwaukee live with someone: 60% 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 23,653 Milwaukee residents aged 65 or older report a disability (36%) (33% in Milwaukee County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 44 hospices serving Milwaukee ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Milwaukee compared with Milwaukee County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Milwaukee	Milwaukee County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	33%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	38%	30%
Residents 65 or older	12%	15%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	1.8%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	15%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	16%	13%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,004	$48,974	—

Older residents in towns around Milwaukee

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Wauwatosa, WI	3.5 mi	8,626	29%
West Milwaukee, WI	3.5 mi	538	58%
Shorewood, WI	4.5 mi	2,376	24%
Glendale, WI	4.8 mi	3,793	25%
Whitefish Bay, WI	4.8 mi	2,107	17%
West Allis, WI	5.0 mi	10,331	31%

Hospices serving Milwaukee

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Aurora At Home	Wauwatosa, WI	2.0 mi	(414) 615-5900
Compassus Milwaukee Metro	Milwaukee, WI	3.9 mi	(414) 455-9510
Accent Care Hospice And Palliative Care Of WI	West Allis, WI	3.9 mi	(414) 203-8310
St Camillus Hospice	Wauwatosa, WI	3.9 mi	(414) 258-2418
Heartland Hospice Milwaukee	Milwaukee, WI	3.9 mi	(414) 944-2000

Nursing homes near Milwaukee (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Milwaukee Health And Rehab	Milwaukee, WI	1.5 mi	4 of 5	95	(414) 344-6515
Lutheran Home	Wauwatosa, WI	2.0 mi	4 of 5	160	(414) 258-6170
St. Anne's Salvatorian Campus	Milwaukee, WI	3.4 mi	1 of 5	50	(414) 463-7570
Mercy Health Services	Milwaukee, WI	3.6 mi	3 of 5	60	(414) 383-3699

Straight-line miles from the center of Milwaukee. 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 Milwaukee

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 43% of the $3,500 monthly median income of Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee: common questions

Which hospices serve Milwaukee?

Medicare lists 44 hospices for Milwaukee ZIP codes, including Aurora At Home, Compassus Milwaukee Metro, Accent Care Hospice And Palliative Care Of WI.

How much does respite care cost in Milwaukee?

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 43% of the $3,500 monthly median income of Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee. 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 Milwaukee

More senior care near Milwaukee

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Milwaukee

More for Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee, WI