Respite Care in San Luis Obispo, CA for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in San Luis Obispo, CA: the local picture

7,210

residents 65 or older (15% of San Luis Obispo)

66%

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

34%

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

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve San Luis Obispo ZIP codes

Most older adults in San Luis Obispo live with someone: 66% 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 2,377 San Luis Obispo residents aged 65 or older report a disability (34%) (31% in San Luis Obispo County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 4 hospices serving San Luis Obispo ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

San Luis Obispo compared with San Luis Obispo County and California

Census figure	San Luis Obispo	San Luis Obispo County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	25%	23%
Residents 65 or older	15%	22%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	2.4%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.8%	7.2%	12%
Households with no vehicle	6.8%	3.8%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$74,409	$80,261	—

Older residents in towns around San Luis Obispo

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
California Polytechnic State University, CA	2.8 mi	6	0.0%
Pismo Beach, CA	7.8 mi	2,621	31%
Los Osos, CA	9.2 mi	4,107	22%
Grover Beach, CA	10 mi	2,249	47%
Arroyo Grande, CA	11 mi	5,035	37%
Oceano, CA	12 mi	1,956	41%

Hospices serving San Luis Obispo

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Central Coast Home Health, Inc	San Luis Obispo, CA	1.0 mi	(805) 543-2244
Dignity Health Hospice	Santa Maria, CA	25 mi	(805) 739-3830
Haycare Hospice	Burbank, CA	154 mi	(747) 877-2007
Hospice Of The Foothills	Grass Valley, CA	273 mi	(530) 272-5739

Nursing homes near San Luis Obispo (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
San Luis Transitional Care	San Luis Obispo, CA	1.2 mi	5 of 5	23	(805) 545-7575
Mission View Health Center	San Luis Obispo, CA	1.6 mi	5 of 5	162	(805) 543-0210
San Luis Post Acute Center	San Luis Obispo, CA	1.6 mi	5 of 5	162	(805) 544-5100
Bayside Care Center	Morro Bay, CA	11 mi	5 of 5	145	(805) 772-2237

Straight-line miles from the center of San Luis Obispo. 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 Luis Obispo

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 24% of the $6,201 monthly median income of San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo: common questions

Which hospices serve San Luis Obispo?

Medicare lists 4 hospices for San Luis Obispo ZIP codes, including Central Coast Home Health, Inc, Dignity Health Hospice, Haycare Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in San Luis Obispo?

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 24% of the $6,201 monthly median income of San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo. 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 Luis Obispo

More senior care near San Luis Obispo

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in San Luis Obispo

More for San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo, CA