Respite Care in Mount Penn, PA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Mount Penn, PA: the local picture

612

residents 65 or older (19% of Mount Penn)

66%

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

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Berks County)

14

Medicare-certified hospices serve Mount Penn ZIP codes

Most older adults in Mount Penn live with someone: 66% 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 171 Mount Penn residents aged 65 or older report a disability (28%) (32% in Berks County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 14 hospices serving Mount Penn ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Mount Penn compared with Berks County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Mount Penn	Berks County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	32%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	28%	30%
Residents 65 or older	19%	18%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	2.4%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.0%	9.3%	9.9%
Households with no vehicle	11%	8.7%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,531	$56,401	—

Older residents in towns around Mount Penn

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Pennside, PA	0.9 mi	992	31%
Reiffton, PA	1.9 mi	943	40%
Reading, PA	2.1 mi	10,184	44%
Jacksonwald, PA	2.8 mi	794	31%
West Reading, PA	3.0 mi	547	31%
Kenhorst, PA	3.2 mi	429	35%

Hospices serving Mount Penn

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Tower Health At Home - Berks	Reading, PA	2.9 mi	(610) 378-0481
Bayada Hospice	Reading, PA	4.7 mi	(610) 367-1608
Heartland Hospice (Allentown)	Wyomissing, PA	4.7 mi	(610) 266-0134
Compassus - Greater Philadelphia	Hamburg, PA	16 mi	(215) 557-7300
Aseracare Hospice	Allentown, PA	23 mi	(610) 336-0711

Nursing homes near Mount Penn (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Fairlane Gardens Nursing And Rehab At Reading	Reading, PA	2.6 mi	1 of 5	124	(610) 779-8522
Spruce Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center	West Reading, PA	3.0 mi	4 of 5	184	(610) 374-5175
Wyomissing Health And Rehabilitation Center	Reading, PA	3.0 mi	4 of 5	103	(610) 376-3991
West Reading Skilled Nursing And Rehabilitation Ce	West Reading, PA	3.1 mi	1 of 5	176	(610) 373-5166

Straight-line miles from the center of Mount Penn. 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 Mount Penn

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,128 monthly median income of Mount Penn households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Mount Penn: common questions

Which hospices serve Mount Penn?

Medicare lists 14 hospices for Mount Penn ZIP codes, including Tower Health At Home - Berks, Bayada Hospice, Heartland Hospice (Allentown).

How much does respite care cost in Mount Penn?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,128 monthly median income of Mount Penn households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Mount Penn. 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 Pennsylvania.

More near Mount Penn

More senior care near Mount Penn

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Mount Penn

More for Mount Penn 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 Mount Penn, PA