Respite Care in Ridgecrest, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Ridgecrest, CA: the local picture

3,494

residents 65 or older (12% of Ridgecrest)

61%

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

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Kern County)

33

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ridgecrest ZIP codes

Most older adults in Ridgecrest live with someone: 61% 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 1,267 Ridgecrest residents aged 65 or older report a disability (37%) (37% in Kern County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 33 hospices serving Ridgecrest ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Ridgecrest compared with Kern County and California

Census figure	Ridgecrest	Kern County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	37%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	23%	23%
Residents 65 or older	12%	12%	16%
Residents 85 or older	0.7%	1.2%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	15%	12%
Households with no vehicle	6.8%	6.7%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$62,118	$51,607	—

Older residents in towns around Ridgecrest

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
China Lake Acres, CA	5.8 mi	392	35%
California City, CA	35 mi	1,875	47%
Boron, CA	42 mi	376	59%
Wofford Heights, CA	46 mi	787	25%
Lake Isabella, CA	46 mi	757	37%
Mojave, CA	52 mi	450	57%

Hospices serving Ridgecrest

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Ridgecrest Regional Hospice	Ridgecrest, CA	0.6 mi	(760) 499-3617
Anthem Hospice	Lancaster, CA	70 mi	(661) 310-3256
Oasis Hospice	Lancaster, CA	70 mi	(661) 402-2221
Alden Hospice	Palmdale, CA	78 mi	(661) 272-0001
Aasta Hospice	Bakersfield, CA	78 mi	(661) 523-3686

Nursing homes near Ridgecrest (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Ridgecrest Regional Transitional Care And Rehabili	Ridgecrest, CA	0.9 mi	3 of 5	124	(760) 446-3551

Straight-line miles from the center of Ridgecrest. 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 Ridgecrest

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,177 monthly median income of Ridgecrest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

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 Ridgecrest: common questions

Which hospices serve Ridgecrest?

Medicare lists 33 hospices for Ridgecrest ZIP codes, including Ridgecrest Regional Hospice, Anthem Hospice, Oasis Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Ridgecrest?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,177 monthly median income of Ridgecrest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 Ridgecrest. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave covers California.

More near Ridgecrest

More senior care near Ridgecrest

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ridgecrest

More for Ridgecrest 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 Ridgecrest, CA