Respite Care in Palmdale, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Palmdale, CA: the local picture

18,344

residents 65 or older (11% of Palmdale)

85%

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

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Los Angeles County)

307

Medicare-certified hospices serve Palmdale ZIP codes

Most older adults in Palmdale live with someone: 85% 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 6,627 Palmdale residents aged 65 or older report a disability (36%) (34% in Los Angeles County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 307 hospices serving Palmdale ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Palmdale compared with Los Angeles County and California

Census figure	Palmdale	Los Angeles County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	34%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	15%	22%	23%
Residents 65 or older	11%	15%	16%
Residents 85 or older	0.8%	1.9%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	15%	12%
Households with no vehicle	4.8%	8.9%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$63,176	$64,269	—

Older residents in towns around Palmdale

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Desert View Highlands, CA	2.7 mi	462	19%
Quartz Hill, CA	7.6 mi	1,802	32%
Acton, CA	7.9 mi	1,799	25%
Lancaster, CA	8.1 mi	20,413	34%
Sun Village, CA	8.7 mi	1,455	38%
Agua Dulce, CA	14 mi	703	23%

Hospices serving Palmdale

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Alden Hospice	Palmdale, CA	7.2 mi	(661) 272-0001
Graceful Palms Hospice And Palliative Care Corp.	Palmdale, CA	7.2 mi	(661) 538-1435
Anthem Hospice	Lancaster, CA	7.3 mi	(661) 310-3256
Valley's Best Hospice - Av	Lancaster, CA	7.3 mi	(818) 353-0042
Bristol Hospice- Lancaster	Lancaster, CA	7.3 mi	(661) 674-3300

Nursing homes near Palmdale (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Ellison John Transitional Care Center	Lancaster, CA	6.6 mi	1 of 5	170	(661) 494-8600
Desert Canyon Post Acute, LLC	Lancaster, CA	7.5 mi	2 of 5	99	(661) 942-8463
Mirage Post Acute	Lancaster, CA	7.5 mi	1 of 5	299	(661) 948-7501
Antelope Valley Care Center	Lancaster, CA	7.6 mi	2 of 5	199	(661) 949-5524

Straight-line miles from the center of Palmdale. 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 Palmdale

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 28% of the $5,265 monthly median income of Palmdale 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 Palmdale: common questions

Which hospices serve Palmdale?

Medicare lists 307 hospices for Palmdale ZIP codes, including Alden Hospice, Graceful Palms Hospice And Palliative Care Corp., Anthem Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Palmdale?

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 28% of the $5,265 monthly median income of Palmdale 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 Palmdale. 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 Palmdale

More senior care near Palmdale

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Palmdale

More for Palmdale 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 Palmdale, CA