Respite Care in Ponca City, OK: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Ponca City, OK: the local picture

4,312

residents 65 or older (18% of Ponca City)

66%

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

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Kay County)

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ponca City ZIP codes

Most older adults in Ponca City live with someone: 66% 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 1,586 Ponca City residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%) (38% in Kay County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Ponca City compared with Kay County and Oklahoma

Census figure	Ponca City	Kay County	Oklahoma
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	38%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	33%	30%
Residents 65 or older	18%	19%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	2.2%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	12%	11%
Households with no vehicle	7.4%	6.0%	5.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,996	$49,025	—

Older residents in towns around Ponca City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Blackwell, OK	14 mi	1,304	38%
Tonkawa, OK	14 mi	567	42%
Arkansas City, KS	24 mi	1,935	41%
Perry, OK	33 mi	784	61%
Winfield, KS	36 mi	2,411	43%
Stillwater, OK	41 mi	5,127	37%

Hospices serving Ponca City

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of North Central Oklahoma, Inc.	Ponca City, OK	1.4 mi	(580) 762-9102
Stillwater Medical At Home	Stillwater, OK	43 mi	(405) 533-4500
Traditions Health Of Oklahoma City	Enid, OK	49 mi	(580) 366-0120
Elara Caring Vii	Enid, OK	52 mi	(580) 213-3334
Traditions Health Of Tulsa	Tulsa, OK	75 mi	(888) 819-2119

Nursing homes near Ponca City (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Shawn Manor Nursing Home	Ponca City, OK	0.7 mi	5 of 5	96	(580) 765-3364
Bradbury Commons	Ponca City, OK	1.6 mi	4 of 5	68	(580) 370-7132
Ponca City Nursing & Rehabilitation Center	Ponca City, OK	1.9 mi	4 of 5	157	(580) 762-6668
Hillcrest Manor Nursing Center	Blackwell, OK	13 mi	2 of 5	137	(580) 363-3244

Straight-line miles from the center of Ponca City. 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 Ponca City

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $3,666 monthly median income of Ponca City households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma'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 Ponca City: common questions

Which hospices serve Ponca City?

Medicare lists 16 hospices for Ponca City ZIP codes, including Hospice Of North Central Oklahoma, Inc., Stillwater Medical At Home, Traditions Health Of Oklahoma City.

How much does respite care cost in Ponca City?

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $3,666 monthly median income of Ponca City households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma'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 Ponca City. 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 Oklahoma.

More near Ponca City

More senior care near Ponca City

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ponca City

More for Ponca City 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 Ponca City, OK