Respite Care in Novato, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Novato, CA: the local picture

12,612

residents 65 or older (24% of Novato)

74%

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

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Marin County)

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve Novato ZIP codes

Most older adults in Novato live with someone: 74% 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 3,383 Novato residents aged 65 or older report a disability (27%) (24% in Marin County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 16 hospices serving Novato ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Novato compared with Marin County and California

Census figure	Novato	Marin County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	24%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	30%	23%
Residents 65 or older	24%	24%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	2.8%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.7%	7.5%	12%
Households with no vehicle	5.0%	4.9%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$90,361	$107,563	—

Older residents in towns around Novato

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CA	3.4 mi	1,763	20%
Sleepy Hollow, CA	5.5 mi	788	25%
Santa Venetia, CA	6.0 mi	1,238	38%
Fairfax, CA	7.1 mi	1,735	27%
San Anselmo, CA	7.2 mi	2,745	18%
San Rafael, CA	7.5 mi	12,299	27%

Hospices serving Novato

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
By The Bay Health	Larkspur, CA	10 mi	(415) 927-2273
Anchor Health	Petaluma, CA	12 mi	(415) 598-0944
Providence At Home With Compassus Hospice Care, Sonoma County	Petaluma, CA	13 mi	(707) 778-6242
Athome Hospice Care LLC	American Canyon, CA	17 mi	(619) 274-1392
Cherishaven Hospice	Alameda, CA	27 mi	(628) 224-5007

Nursing homes near Novato (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Novato Healthcare Center	Novato, CA	1.9 mi	1 of 5	181	(415) 897-6161
Smith Ranch Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Cente	San Rafael, CA	4.6 mi	3 of 5	80	(415) 499-1000
Pine Ridge Care Center	San Rafael, CA	5.1 mi	5 of 5	101	(415) 479-3610
Northgate Postacute Care	San Rafael, CA	5.1 mi	2 of 5	52	(415) 479-1230

Straight-line miles from the center of Novato. 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 Novato

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 19% of the $7,530 monthly median income of Novato 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 Novato: common questions

Which hospices serve Novato?

Medicare lists 16 hospices for Novato ZIP codes, including By The Bay Health, Anchor Health, Providence At Home With Compassus Hospice Care, Sonoma County.

How much does respite care cost in Novato?

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 19% of the $7,530 monthly median income of Novato 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 Novato. 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 Novato

More senior care near Novato

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Novato

More for Novato 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 Novato, CA