Respite Care in Portage, WI: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Portage, WI: the local picture

1,520

residents 65 or older (15% of Portage)

59%

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

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (25% in Columbia County)

13

Medicare-certified hospices serve Portage ZIP codes

Most older adults in Portage live with someone: 59% 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 530 Portage residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%) (25% in Columbia County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 13 hospices serving Portage ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Portage compared with Columbia County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Portage	Columbia County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	25%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	15%	20%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	1.9%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.9%	7.7%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	7.0%	4.4%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,264	$57,885	—

Older residents in towns around Portage

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Poynette, WI	11 mi	379	25%
Lake Wisconsin, WI	14 mi	1,234	14%
Baraboo, WI	15 mi	2,610	38%
Lake Delton, WI	16 mi	781	28%
Lodi, WI	17 mi	877	25%
Wisconsin Dells, WI	17 mi	555	28%

Hospices serving Portage

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Croix Hospice Baraboo	Baraboo, WI	15 mi	(608) 448-4200
Ssm Health At Home Hospice	Baraboo, WI	15 mi	(877) 356-4514
Hillside Hospice	Beaver Dam, WI	32 mi	(920) 887-4050
Heartland Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	33 mi	(608) 819-0033
Moments Hospice Of Madison	Madison, WI	33 mi	(608) 384-3710

Nursing homes near Portage (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Columbia Health Care Center	Wyocena, WI	8.5 mi	5 of 5	75	(608) 429-2181
Complete Care At Jefferson Meadows LLC	Baraboo, WI	14 mi	3 of 5	102	(608) 356-4838
Wisconsin Dells Health Services	Wisconsin Dells, WI	16 mi	4 of 5	90	(608) 254-2574
Dove Healthcare - Lodi	Lodi, WI	16 mi	3 of 5	50	(608) 592-3241

Straight-line miles from the center of Portage. 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 Portage

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,189 monthly median income of Portage households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.

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 Portage: common questions

Which hospices serve Portage?

Medicare lists 13 hospices for Portage ZIP codes, including St Croix Hospice Baraboo, Ssm Health At Home Hospice, Hillside Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Portage?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,189 monthly median income of Portage households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 Portage. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver covers Wisconsin.

More near Portage

More senior care near Portage

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Portage

More for Portage 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 Portage, WI