Respite Care in Rochester, WA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Rochester, WA: the local picture

1,061

residents 65 or older (18% of Rochester)

84%

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

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Thurston County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Rochester ZIP codes

Most older adults in Rochester live with someone: 84% 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 285 Rochester residents aged 65 or older report a disability (27%) (34% in Thurston County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Rochester ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Rochester compared with Thurston County and Washington

Census figure	Rochester	Thurston County	Washington
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	34%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	16%	25%	26%
Residents 65 or older	18%	19%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.9%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.4%	7.4%	8.9%
Households with no vehicle	1.9%	4.7%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,327	$74,569	—

Older residents in towns around Rochester

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Grand Mound, WA	2.9 mi	543	27%
Centralia, WA	8.1 mi	3,901	42%
Chehalis, WA	12 mi	1,019	59%
Tumwater, WA	14 mi	4,204	31%
Olympia, WA	17 mi	11,040	37%
Lacey, WA	20 mi	11,337	38%

Hospices serving Rochester

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Assured Home Health, Hospice & Home Care	Centralia, WA	8.1 mi	(360) 330-2640
Puget Sound Hospice	Tumwater, WA	16 mi	(253) 581-9410
Providence At Home With Compassus, Puget Sound South	Lacey, WA	19 mi	(206) 459-8311
Harbors Home Health And Hospice	Hoquiam, WA	40 mi	(360) 532-5454
Pnw Hospice LLC	Tacoma, WA	42 mi	(253) 301-6490

Nursing homes near Rochester (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Sharon Care Center	Centralia, WA	6.9 mi	3 of 5	42	(360) 736-0112
South Creek Post Acute	Centralia, WA	8.3 mi	4 of 5	128	(360) 736-9384
Three Rivers Care	Centralia, WA	8.3 mi	5 of 5	83	(360) 754-9792
Puget Sound Care	Olympia, WA	16 mi	4 of 5	108	(360) 754-9792

Straight-line miles from the center of Rochester. 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 Rochester

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $4,944 monthly median income of Rochester households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 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 Rochester: common questions

Which hospices serve Rochester?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Rochester ZIP codes, including Assured Home Health, Hospice & Home Care, Puget Sound Hospice, Providence At Home With Compassus, Puget Sound South.

How much does respite care cost in Rochester?

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $4,944 monthly median income of Rochester households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 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 Rochester. 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 Washington.

More near Rochester

More senior care near Rochester

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Rochester

More for Rochester 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 Rochester, WA