Respite Care in Montecito, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Montecito, CA: the local picture

3,021

residents 65 or older (33% of Montecito)

78%

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

20%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Santa Barbara County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Montecito ZIP codes

Most older adults in Montecito live with someone: 78% 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 606 Montecito residents aged 65 or older report a disability (20%) (30% in Santa Barbara County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Montecito compared with Santa Barbara County and California

Census figure	Montecito	Santa Barbara County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	20%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	22%	26%	23%
Residents 65 or older	33%	17%	16%
Residents 85 or older	5.2%	2.3%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	2.5%	9.5%	12%
Households with no vehicle	2.9%	5.9%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$231,491	$81,399	—

Older residents in towns around Montecito

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Santa Barbara, CA	4.7 mi	18,046	27%
Carpinteria, CA	7.9 mi	3,174	19%
Eastern Goleta Valley, CA	8.9 mi	6,940	25%
University of California-Santa Barbara, CA	12 mi	79	32%
Goleta, CA	13 mi	5,293	26%
Isla Vista, CA	13 mi	326	40%

Hospices serving Montecito

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Vna Health	Santa Barbara, CA	2.9 mi	(805) 965-5555
Assisted Home Hospice	Ventura, CA	25 mi	(805) 677-7400
Community Care And Hospice, LLC	Camarillo, CA	39 mi	(805) 667-8558
Dignity Health Hospice	Santa Maria, CA	59 mi	(805) 739-3830
Central Coast Home Health, Inc	San Luis Obispo, CA	82 mi	(805) 543-2244

Nursing homes near Montecito (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Casa Dorinda	Santa Barbara, CA	0.9 mi	4 of 5	52	(805) 969-8051
The Californian	Santa Barbara, CA	5.0 mi	5 of 5	68	(805) 682-1355
Mission Park Healthcare Center	Santa Barbara, CA	5.6 mi	5 of 5	138	(805) 682-7443
Samarkand Skilled Nursing Facility	Santa Barbara, CA	5.6 mi	5 of 5	63	(805) 687-0701

Straight-line miles from the center of Montecito. 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 Montecito

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 8% of the $19,291 monthly median income of Montecito 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 Montecito: common questions

Which hospices serve Montecito?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Montecito ZIP codes, including Vna Health, Assisted Home Hospice, Community Care And Hospice, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Montecito?

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 8% of the $19,291 monthly median income of Montecito 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 Montecito. 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 Montecito

More senior care near Montecito

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Montecito

More for Montecito 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 Montecito, CA