Respite Care in Palmerton, PA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Palmerton, PA: the local picture

1,500

residents 65 or older (27% of Palmerton)

51%

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

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Carbon County)

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Palmerton ZIP codes

Most older adults in Palmerton live with someone: 51% 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 511 Palmerton residents aged 65 or older report a disability (35%) (35% in Carbon County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 11 hospices serving Palmerton ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Palmerton compared with Carbon County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Palmerton	Carbon County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	35%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	49%	33%	30%
Residents 65 or older	27%	23%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	2.3%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	25%	9.3%	9.9%
Households with no vehicle	19%	6.4%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,213	$47,069	—

Older residents in towns around Palmerton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Slatington, PA	3.5 mi	624	39%
Lehighton, PA	5.4 mi	870	33%
Jim Thorpe, PA	9.1 mi	1,003	38%
Schnecksville, PA	9.2 mi	729	27%
Egypt, PA	9.3 mi	633	26%
Northampton, PA	10 mi	1,860	28%

Hospices serving Palmerton

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassus - Allentown	Allentown, PA	15 mi	(610) 336-8000
Family Pillars Hospice Inc	Bethlehem, PA	15 mi	(610) 372-4400
The Care Team Hospice	Bethlehem, PA	15 mi	(610) 841-4410
Lehigh Valley Hospice	Allentown, PA	17 mi	(610) 402-7800
St Luke's Hospice	Bethlehem, PA	19 mi	(484) 526-1100

Nursing homes near Palmerton (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Mahoning Operating LLC	Lehighton, PA	7.9 mi	3 of 5	142	(570) 386-5522
Fellowship Manor	Whitehall, PA	13 mi	5 of 5	121	(610) 799-3000
Brookmont Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Effort, PA	13 mi	4 of 5	119	(610) 681-4070
Forest Hills Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center	Weatherly, PA	14 mi	1 of 5	200	(570) 427-8683

Straight-line miles from the center of Palmerton. 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 Palmerton

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 41% of the $3,018 monthly median income of Palmerton 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 Palmerton: common questions

Which hospices serve Palmerton?

Medicare lists 11 hospices for Palmerton ZIP codes, including Compassus - Allentown, Family Pillars Hospice Inc, The Care Team Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Palmerton?

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 41% of the $3,018 monthly median income of Palmerton 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 Palmerton. 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 Palmerton

More senior care near Palmerton

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Palmerton

More for Palmerton 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 Palmerton, PA