Respite Care in Nanticoke, PA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Nanticoke, PA: the local picture

1,823

residents 65 or older (17% of Nanticoke)

66%

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

34%

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

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Nanticoke ZIP codes

Most older adults in Nanticoke 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 591 Nanticoke residents aged 65 or older report a disability (34%) (32% in Luzerne County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 10 hospices serving Nanticoke ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Nanticoke compared with Luzerne County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Nanticoke	Luzerne County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	32%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	33%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	20%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	2.5%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	11%	9.9%
Households with no vehicle	12%	9.5%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$45,714	$49,926	—

Older residents in towns around Nanticoke

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Plymouth, PA	3.7 mi	898	47%
Ashley, PA	5.3 mi	448	27%
Larksville, PA	5.7 mi	979	26%
Edwardsville, PA	6.2 mi	760	46%
Mountain Top, PA	6.7 mi	2,076	16%
Wilkes-Barre, PA	7.2 mi	6,791	35%

Hospices serving Nanticoke

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Pathways Healthcare	Kingston, PA	7.6 mi	(570) 288-1013
Commonwealth Hospice Of Berwick	Forty Fort, PA	7.6 mi	(570) 231-5407
Hospice Of The Sacred Heart	Moosic, PA	20 mi	(570) 706-2400
Residential Healthcare Of NE Pa, LLC	Moosic, PA	20 mi	(888) 923-5842
Allied Services Hospice LLC	Clarks Summit, PA	25 mi	(570) 341-4320

Nursing homes near Nanticoke (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Birchwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center	Nanticoke, PA	0.9 mi	1 of 5	121	(570) 735-2973
Lakewood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center	Nanticoke, PA	1.1 mi	1 of 5	110	(570) 735-7300
Edenbrook At Hampton	Wilkes Barre, PA	3.2 mi	3 of 5	104	(570) 825-8725
Mountain Top Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center	Mountain Top, PA	6.4 mi	2 of 5	106	(570) 474-6377

Straight-line miles from the center of Nanticoke. 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 Nanticoke

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 32% of the $3,810 monthly median income of Nanticoke 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 Nanticoke: common questions

Which hospices serve Nanticoke?

Medicare lists 10 hospices for Nanticoke ZIP codes, including Pathways Healthcare, Commonwealth Hospice Of Berwick, Hospice Of The Sacred Heart.

How much does respite care cost in Nanticoke?

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 32% of the $3,810 monthly median income of Nanticoke 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 Nanticoke. 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 Nanticoke

More senior care near Nanticoke

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Nanticoke

More for Nanticoke 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 Nanticoke, PA