Respite Care in Pennington, NJ: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Pennington, NJ: the local picture

649

residents 65 or older (23% of Pennington)

69%

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

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Mercer County)

15

Medicare-certified hospices serve Pennington ZIP codes

Most older adults in Pennington live with someone: 69% 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 157 Pennington residents aged 65 or older report a disability (26%) (29% in Mercer County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 15 hospices serving Pennington ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Pennington compared with Mercer County and New Jersey

Census figure	Pennington	Mercer County	New Jersey
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	31%	27%
Residents 65 or older	23%	16%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.6%	2.1%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	2.2%	9.6%	9.7%
Households with no vehicle	4.1%	11%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$146,042	$69,906	—

Older residents in towns around Pennington

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Lawrenceville, NJ	3.1 mi	898	8.6%
The College of New Jersey, NJ	3.9 mi	0	—
Yardley, PA	6.4 mi	494	20%
Princeton, NJ	6.8 mi	3,999	25%
Trenton, NJ	7.1 mi	10,831	37%
Mercerville, NJ	8.0 mi	2,871	39%

Hospices serving Pennington

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Greenwood House Hospice Services Inc	Lawrence Township, NJ	7.8 mi	(609) 883-6026
Penn Medicine Hospice Princeton Health	Princeton, NJ	8.3 mi	(609) 497-4900
Serenity Hospice Care	Trenton, NJ	9.4 mi	(609) 227-2400
Amedisys Hospice	Burlington, NJ	18 mi	(609) 245-0095
Vitality Hospice And Palliative Care	Burlington, NJ	18 mi	(877) 288-0042

Nursing homes near Pennington (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lawrence Rehab & Hcc/The Meadows At Lawrence	Lawrenceville, NJ	3.7 mi	2 of 5	180	(609) 896-0006
Lawrence Rehabilitation Hospital	Lawrenceville, NJ	3.8 mi	2 of 5	56	(609) 896-9500
Greenwood House Home For The Jewish Aged	Trenton, NJ	4.4 mi	2 of 5	137	(609) 883-5391
Preferred Care At Mercer	Ewing, NJ	4.4 mi	4 of 5	100	(609) 882-6900

Straight-line miles from the center of Pennington. 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 Pennington

At the New Jersey median aide wage of $17.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,545 a month in wages, which is 13% of the $12,170 monthly median income of Pennington households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Jersey's minimum wage is $15.92 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 Pennington: common questions

Which hospices serve Pennington?

Medicare lists 15 hospices for Pennington ZIP codes, including Greenwood House Hospice Services Inc, Penn Medicine Hospice Princeton Health, Serenity Hospice Care.

How much does respite care cost in Pennington?

At the New Jersey median aide wage of $17.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,545 a month in wages, which is 13% of the $12,170 monthly median income of Pennington households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Jersey's minimum wage is $15.92 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 Pennington. 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 New Jersey.

More near Pennington

More senior care near Pennington

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Pennington

More for Pennington 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 Pennington, NJ