Respite Care in Ronkonkoma, NY: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Ronkonkoma, NY: the local picture

2,560

residents 65 or older (14% of Ronkonkoma)

77%

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

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Suffolk County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ronkonkoma ZIP codes

Most older adults in Ronkonkoma live with someone: 77% 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 832 Ronkonkoma residents aged 65 or older report a disability (33%) (28% in Suffolk County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Ronkonkoma compared with Suffolk County and New York

Census figure	Ronkonkoma	Suffolk County	New York
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	28%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	23%	29%
Residents 65 or older	14%	18%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	2.2%	2.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	3.0%	7.3%	13%
Households with no vehicle	8.0%	5.1%	29%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$77,147	$87,077	—

Older residents in towns around Ronkonkoma

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Bohemia, NY	1.9 mi	1,609	28%
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY	1.9 mi	3,378	34%
Islandia, NY	2.4 mi	623	20%
Holbrook, NY	2.9 mi	4,527	26%
Nesconset, NY	3.3 mi	1,813	20%
Lake Grove, NY	3.8 mi	1,946	23%

Hospices serving Ronkonkoma

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Nyu Langone Hospital - Suffolk Hospice	Patchogue, NY	7.8 mi	(631) 687-2960
Vns And Hospice Of Suffolk, Inc	East Northport, NY	11 mi	(631) 930-9399
Good Shepherd Hospice	Farmingdale, NY	17 mi	(631) 465-6300
Hospice Care Of Long Island, Queens, South Shore	Woodbury, NY	18 mi	(516) 832-7100
East End Hospice, Inc	Westhampton Beach, NY	25 mi	(631) 288-8400

Nursing homes near Ronkonkoma (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Hamlet Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center At	Nesconset, NY	3.6 mi	5 of 5	240	(631) 361-8800
Sayville Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Sayville, NY	4.1 mi	5 of 5	180	(631) 567-9300
Affinity Skilled Living And Rehabilitation Center	Oakdale, NY	4.2 mi	2 of 5	280	(631) 218-5900
Brookside Multicare Nursing Center	Smithtown, NY	5.1 mi	5 of 5	353	(631) 724-2200

Straight-line miles from the center of Ronkonkoma. 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 Ronkonkoma

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,429 monthly median income of Ronkonkoma households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 Ronkonkoma: common questions

Which hospices serve Ronkonkoma?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Ronkonkoma ZIP codes, including Nyu Langone Hospital - Suffolk Hospice, Vns And Hospice Of Suffolk, Inc, Good Shepherd Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Ronkonkoma?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,429 monthly median income of Ronkonkoma households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 Ronkonkoma. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member covers New York.

More near Ronkonkoma

More senior care near Ronkonkoma

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ronkonkoma

More for Ronkonkoma 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 Ronkonkoma, NY