Respite Care in Rhinelander, WI for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Rhinelander, WI: the local picture

1,427

residents 65 or older (17% of Rhinelander)

51%

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

39%

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

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Rhinelander ZIP codes

Most older adults in Rhinelander 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 495 Rhinelander residents aged 65 or older report a disability (39%) (25% in Oneida County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Rhinelander compared with Oneida County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Rhinelander	Oneida County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	25%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	49%	26%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	28%	19%
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	3.1%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	6.9%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	7.7%	4.3%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,929	$55,830	—

Older residents in towns around Rhinelander

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Tomahawk, WI	17 mi	659	22%
Merrill, WI	34 mi	2,041	35%
Antigo, WI	37 mi	2,110	34%
Maine, WI	42 mi	519	17%
Wausau, WI	48 mi	7,741	34%
Iron River, MI	50 mi	553	46%

Hospices serving Rhinelander

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassus Northern Wisconsin	Arbor Vitae, WI	23 mi	(715) 301-7200
Interim Hospice And Palliative Care	Wausau, WI	48 mi	(715) 842-7707
Aspirus At Home	Wausau, WI	48 mi	(715) 847-2424
Heartland Hospice Central Wisconsin	Stevens Point, WI	75 mi	(715) 344-4541
Moments Hospice Of Green Bay	Green Bay, WI	100 mi	(877) 666-3687

Nursing homes near Rhinelander (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Friendly Village Nursing And Rehab Center	Rhinelander, WI	0.4 mi	5 of 5	100	(715) 365-6832
Rennes Health And Rehab Center-Rhinelander	Rhinelander, WI	3.3 mi	2 of 5	122	(715) 420-0728
Tomahawk Health Services	Tomahawk, WI	17 mi	2 of 5	50	(715) 453-2164
Riverview Health Services	Tomahawk, WI	18 mi	3 of 5	50	(715) 453-2511

Straight-line miles from the center of Rhinelander. 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 Rhinelander

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 57% of the $2,661 monthly median income of Rhinelander 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 Rhinelander: common questions

Which hospices serve Rhinelander?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Rhinelander ZIP codes, including Compassus Northern Wisconsin, Interim Hospice And Palliative Care, Aspirus At Home.

How much does respite care cost in Rhinelander?

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 57% of the $2,661 monthly median income of Rhinelander 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 Rhinelander. 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 Rhinelander

More senior care near Rhinelander

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Rhinelander

More for Rhinelander 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 Rhinelander, WI