Respite Care in San Carlos, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in San Carlos, CA: the local picture

4,894

residents 65 or older (17% of San Carlos)

81%

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

21%

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

30

Medicare-certified hospices serve San Carlos ZIP codes

Most older adults in San Carlos live with someone: 81% 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 1,031 San Carlos residents aged 65 or older report a disability (21%) (28% in San Mateo County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 30 hospices serving San Carlos ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

San Carlos compared with San Mateo County and California

Census figure	San Carlos	San Mateo County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	28%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	19%	21%	23%
Residents 65 or older	17%	18%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	2.5%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	3.5%	9.0%	12%
Households with no vehicle	4.1%	5.8%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$134,297	$103,766	—

Older residents in towns around San Carlos

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Belmont, CA	1.8 mi	3,813	29%
Emerald Lake Hills, CA	2.3 mi	769	16%
Redwood City, CA	3.2 mi	11,387	28%
North Fair Oaks, CA	3.9 mi	1,662	35%
Foster City, CA	4.6 mi	5,759	33%
Atherton, CA	4.7 mi	1,793	25%

Hospices serving San Carlos

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mission Hospice & Home Care, Inc.	San Mateo, CA	4.9 mi	(650) 554-1000
Sutter Care At Home	San Mateo, CA	4.9 mi	(650) 685-2830
Universal Hospice Care LLC	Menlo Park, CA	6.1 mi	(408) 807-1984
Helping Hands Home Health Care & Hospice, Inc.	Burlingame, CA	7.2 mi	(650) 286-9000
Medvista Healthcare, Inc	Burlingame, CA	7.2 mi	(510) 398-8688

Nursing homes near San Carlos (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Belmont Healthcare Center	Belmont, CA	1.4 mi	5 of 5	74	(650) 591-9601
Devonshire Oaks Nursing Center	Redwood City, CA	2.6 mi	5 of 5	38	(650) 366-9503
San Mateo Medical Center D/P SNF	San Mateo, CA	2.8 mi	1 of 5	345	(650) 573-3678
Brookside Skilled Nursing Hospital	San Mateo, CA	3.8 mi	5 of 5	96	(650) 349-2161

Straight-line miles from the center of San Carlos. 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 San Carlos

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 13% of the $11,191 monthly median income of San Carlos 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 San Carlos: common questions

Which hospices serve San Carlos?

Medicare lists 30 hospices for San Carlos ZIP codes, including Mission Hospice & Home Care, Inc., Sutter Care At Home, Universal Hospice Care LLC.

How much does respite care cost in San Carlos?

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 13% of the $11,191 monthly median income of San Carlos 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 San Carlos. 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 San Carlos

More senior care near San Carlos

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in San Carlos

More for San Carlos 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 San Carlos, CA