Respite Care in Plains, PA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Plains, PA: the local picture

967

residents 65 or older (23% of Plains)

72%

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

42%

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

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Plains ZIP codes

Most older adults in Plains live with someone: 72% 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 406 Plains residents aged 65 or older report a disability (42%) (32% in Luzerne County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 9 hospices serving Plains ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Plains compared with Luzerne County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Plains	Luzerne County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	32%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	33%	30%
Residents 65 or older	23%	20%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	2.5%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	11%	9.9%
Households with no vehicle	4.5%	9.5%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$62,341	$49,926	—

Older residents in towns around Plains

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Forty Fort, PA	1.1 mi	698	22%
Kingston, PA	2.0 mi	2,496	31%
Swoyersville, PA	2.1 mi	1,373	19%
Wyoming, PA	2.1 mi	705	23%
Wilkes-Barre, PA	2.4 mi	6,791	35%
Luzerne, PA	2.5 mi	735	48%

Hospices serving Plains

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Pathways Healthcare	Kingston, PA	2.0 mi	(570) 288-1013
Commonwealth Hospice Of Berwick	Forty Fort, PA	2.0 mi	(570) 231-5407
Hospice Of The Sacred Heart	Moosic, PA	11 mi	(570) 706-2400
Residential Healthcare Of NE Pa, LLC	Moosic, PA	11 mi	(888) 923-5842
Allied Services Hospice LLC	Clarks Summit, PA	17 mi	(570) 341-4320

Nursing homes near Plains (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Third Avenue Health & Rehab Center	Kingston, PA	1.7 mi	4 of 5	65	(570) 283-5848
Riverstreet Manor	Wilkes-Barre, PA	1.8 mi	2 of 5	122	(570) 825-5611
Maple Ridge Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center	Kingston, PA	1.9 mi	3 of 5	92	(570) 288-5496
Edenbrook On Second Ave	Kingston, PA	2.2 mi	1 of 5	160	(570) 288-9315

Straight-line miles from the center of Plains. 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 Plains

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 24% of the $5,195 monthly median income of Plains 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 Plains: common questions

Which hospices serve Plains?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Plains ZIP codes, including Pathways Healthcare, Commonwealth Hospice Of Berwick, Hospice Of The Sacred Heart.

How much does respite care cost in Plains?

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 24% of the $5,195 monthly median income of Plains 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 Plains. 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 Plains

More senior care near Plains

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Plains

More for Plains 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 Plains, PA