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

Local figures

Respite Care in San Mateo, CA: the local picture

17,563

residents 65 or older (17% of San Mateo)

71%

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

33%

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

48

Medicare-certified hospices serve San Mateo ZIP codes

Most older adults in San Mateo live with someone: 71% 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 5,688 San Mateo residents aged 65 or older report a disability (33%) (28% in San Mateo County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 48 hospices serving San Mateo ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

San Mateo compared with San Mateo County and California

Census figure	San Mateo	San Mateo County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	28%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	21%	23%
Residents 65 or older	17%	18%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.9%	2.5%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	9.0%	12%
Households with no vehicle	6.8%	5.8%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$79,791	$103,766	—

Older residents in towns around San Mateo

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Hillsborough, CA	2.6 mi	2,262	18%
Foster City, CA	3.3 mi	5,759	33%
Belmont, CA	3.3 mi	3,813	29%
Burlingame, CA	3.5 mi	4,983	23%
San Carlos, CA	4.8 mi	4,894	21%
Millbrae, CA	5.7 mi	4,599	27%

Hospices serving San Mateo

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mission Hospice & Home Care, Inc.	San Mateo, CA	1.1 mi	(650) 554-1000
Sutter Care At Home	San Mateo, CA	1.1 mi	(650) 685-2830
Helping Hands Home Health Care & Hospice, Inc.	Burlingame, CA	3.2 mi	(650) 286-9000
Medvista Healthcare, Inc	Burlingame, CA	3.2 mi	(510) 398-8688
American Carequest Hospice	Burlingame, CA	3.2 mi	(415) 885-9100

Nursing homes near San Mateo (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Brookside Skilled Nursing Hospital	San Mateo, CA	1.2 mi	5 of 5	96	(650) 349-2161
San Mateo Medical Center D/P SNF	San Mateo, CA	2.2 mi	1 of 5	345	(650) 573-3678
Belmont Healthcare Center	Belmont, CA	3.7 mi	5 of 5	74	(650) 591-9601
Peninsula Post-Acute	Burlingame, CA	4.4 mi	4 of 5	62	(650) 652-3969

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

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 $6,649 monthly median income of San Mateo 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 Mateo: common questions

Which hospices serve San Mateo?

Medicare lists 48 hospices for San Mateo ZIP codes, including Mission Hospice & Home Care, Inc., Sutter Care At Home, Helping Hands Home Health Care & Hospice, Inc..

How much does respite care cost in San Mateo?

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 $6,649 monthly median income of San Mateo 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 Mateo. 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 Mateo

More senior care near San Mateo

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in San Mateo

More for San Mateo 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 Mateo, CA