Respite Care in San Francisco, CA for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in San Francisco, CA: the local picture

146,510

residents 65 or older (18% of San Francisco)

69%

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

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability

61

Medicare-certified hospices serve San Francisco ZIP codes

Most older adults in San Francisco live with someone: 69% 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 50,407 San Francisco residents aged 65 or older report a disability (35%). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 61 hospices serving San Francisco ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

San Francisco compared with California

Census figure	San Francisco	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	23%
Residents 65 or older	18%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	12%
Households with no vehicle	30%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$67,096	—

Older residents in towns around San Francisco

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA	29 mi	2,232	17%
Mill Valley, CA	30 mi	3,287	26%
Kentfield, CA	30 mi	1,766	25%
Fairfax, CA	30 mi	1,735	27%
Marin City, CA	30 mi	537	44%
Broadmoor, CA	30 mi	724	29%

Hospices serving San Francisco

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Crossroads Home Health & Hospice	San Francisco, CA	30 mi	(415) 682-2111
By The Bay Health	Larkspur, CA	31 mi	(415) 927-2273
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Hospice-San Francisco	San Francisco, CA	31 mi	(415) 666-1080
Madrona Hospice Care Inc	San Rafael, CA	32 mi	(628) 243-0550
Alliance Hospice	Daly City, CA	33 mi	(650) 000-0000

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

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 26% of the $5,591 monthly median income of San Francisco 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 Francisco: common questions

Which hospices serve San Francisco?

Medicare lists 61 hospices for San Francisco ZIP codes, including Crossroads Home Health & Hospice, By The Bay Health, Kaiser Foundation Hospital Hospice-San Francisco.

How much does respite care cost in San Francisco?

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 26% of the $5,591 monthly median income of San Francisco 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 Francisco. 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 Francisco

More senior care near San Francisco

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in San Francisco

More for San Francisco 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 Francisco, CA