Respite Care in Ripon, WI: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Ripon, WI: the local picture

1,814

residents 65 or older (23% of Ripon)

60%

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

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Fond du Lac County)

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ripon ZIP codes

Most older adults in Ripon live with someone: 60% 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 610 Ripon residents aged 65 or older report a disability (36%) (24% in Fond du Lac County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 10 hospices serving Ripon ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Ripon compared with Fond du Lac County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Ripon	Fond du Lac County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	24%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	23%	20%	19%
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.2%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	9.6%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	3.1%	5.6%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,563	$55,400	—

Older residents in towns around Ripon

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Berlin, WI	10 mi	1,059	43%
Omro, WI	14 mi	787	19%
Waupun, WI	15 mi	1,585	37%
North Fond du Lac, WI	18 mi	925	17%
Oshkosh, WI	18 mi	10,291	37%
Winneconne, WI	20 mi	557	47%

Hospices serving Ripon

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heartland Hospice Fond Du Lac	Fond Du Lac, WI	13 mi	(920) 926-1144
Ssm Health At Home Hospice	Fond Du Lac, WI	13 mi	(920) 923-7950
Generations Hospice	Fond Du Lac, WI	21 mi	(920) 922-0134
Compassus Neenah	Neenah, WI	29 mi	(920) 727-2000
Thedacare At Home	Appleton, WI	37 mi	(920) 969-0919

Nursing homes near Ripon (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Whispering Pines Nursing And Rehab, LLC	Ripon, WI	0.9 mi	2 of 5	50	(920) 748-5638
Juliette Manor	Berlin, WI	11 mi	4 of 5	37	(920) 361-3092
Markesan Resident Home	Markesan, WI	12 mi	5 of 5	50	(920) 398-2751
Edenbrook Omro	Omro, WI	14 mi	4 of 5	50	(920) 685-2755

Straight-line miles from the center of Ripon. 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 Ripon

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 44% of the $3,464 monthly median income of Ripon 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 Ripon: common questions

Which hospices serve Ripon?

Medicare lists 10 hospices for Ripon ZIP codes, including Heartland Hospice Fond Du Lac, Ssm Health At Home Hospice, Generations Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Ripon?

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 44% of the $3,464 monthly median income of Ripon 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 Ripon. 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 Ripon

More senior care near Ripon

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ripon

More for Ripon 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 Ripon, WI