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

Local figures

Respite Care in San Diego, CA: the local picture

203,132

residents 65 or older (15% of San Diego)

76%

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

31%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in San Diego County)

201

Medicare-certified hospices serve San Diego ZIP codes

Most older adults in San Diego live with someone: 76% 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 62,858 San Diego residents aged 65 or older report a disability (31%) (31% in San Diego County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 201 hospices serving San Diego ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

San Diego compared with San Diego County and California

Census figure	San Diego	San Diego County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	22%	23%
Residents 65 or older	15%	15%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.8%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	9.5%	12%
Households with no vehicle	6.6%	5.5%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$80,124	$78,324	—

Older residents in towns around San Diego

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
La Mesa, CA	7.3 mi	9,437	31%
Lemon Grove, CA	8.2 mi	4,042	40%
Santee, CA	9.1 mi	9,812	38%
El Cajon, CA	10 mi	15,161	43%
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CA	10 mi	4,223	30%
La Presa, CA	10 mi	5,288	36%

Hospices serving San Diego

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Suncrest Hospice San Diego	San Diego, CA	1.2 mi	(818) 434-2414
Bristol Hospice - San Diego	San Diego, CA	1.2 mi	(888) 976-0396
Blessed Hospice California Inc	San Diego, CA	1.2 mi	(858) 430-6656
Anchor Hospice & Palliative Care	San Diego, CA	1.2 mi	(714) 463-6528
Avalon Hospice & Palliative Care	San Diego, CA	1.2 mi	(858) 751-0315

Nursing homes near San Diego (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Helen Bernardy Center D/P SNF	San Diego, CA	1.3 mi	5 of 5	43	(858) 966-5833
The Shores Post-Acute	San Diego, CA	1.7 mi	3 of 5	305	(858) 277-6460
Kearny Mesa Convalescent And Nursing Home	San Diego, CA	2.2 mi	5 of 5	98	(858) 278-8121
Hillcrest Heights Healthcare Center	San Diego, CA	4.9 mi	5 of 5	96	(619) 297-4086

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

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 22% of the $6,677 monthly median income of San Diego 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 Diego: common questions

Which hospices serve San Diego?

Medicare lists 201 hospices for San Diego ZIP codes, including Suncrest Hospice San Diego, Bristol Hospice - San Diego, Blessed Hospice California Inc.

How much does respite care cost in San Diego?

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 22% of the $6,677 monthly median income of San Diego 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 Diego. 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 Diego

More senior care near San Diego

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in San Diego

More for San Diego 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 Diego, CA