Respite Care in Santa Barbara, CA for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Santa Barbara, CA: the local picture

18,046

residents 65 or older (21% of Santa Barbara)

69%

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

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Santa Barbara County)

21

Medicare-certified hospices serve Santa Barbara ZIP codes

Most older adults in Santa Barbara 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 4,760 Santa Barbara residents aged 65 or older report a disability (27%) (30% in Santa Barbara County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 21 hospices serving Santa Barbara ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Santa Barbara compared with Santa Barbara County and California

Census figure	Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	26%	23%
Residents 65 or older	21%	17%	16%
Residents 85 or older	3.6%	2.3%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.8%	9.5%	12%
Households with no vehicle	7.9%	5.9%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$83,371	$81,399	—

Older residents in towns around Santa Barbara

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Montecito, CA	4.7 mi	3,021	20%
Eastern Goleta Valley, CA	4.9 mi	6,940	25%
University of California-Santa Barbara, CA	7.6 mi	79	32%
Isla Vista, CA	8.4 mi	326	40%
Goleta, CA	8.6 mi	5,293	26%
Carpinteria, CA	12 mi	3,174	19%

Hospices serving Santa Barbara

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Santa Barbara Hospice And Palliative Care Inc	Santa Barbara, CA	2.5 mi	(888) 415-4159
Vna Health	Santa Barbara, CA	2.5 mi	(805) 965-5555
Aceso Hospice, Inc	Ventura, CA	21 mi	(818) 655-0502
Roze Room Hospice Of Ventura	Ventura, CA	29 mi	(805) 654-0191
Assisted Home Hospice	Ventura, CA	29 mi	(805) 677-7400

Nursing homes near Santa Barbara (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Californian	Santa Barbara, CA	1.9 mi	5 of 5	68	(805) 682-1355
Mission Park Healthcare Center	Santa Barbara, CA	1.9 mi	5 of 5	138	(805) 682-7443
Samarkand Skilled Nursing Facility	Santa Barbara, CA	2.0 mi	5 of 5	63	(805) 687-0701
Valle Verde Health Facility	Santa Barbara, CA	2.5 mi	5 of 5	80	(805) 883-4000

Straight-line miles from the center of Santa Barbara. 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 Santa Barbara

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 21% of the $6,948 monthly median income of Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara: common questions

Which hospices serve Santa Barbara?

Medicare lists 21 hospices for Santa Barbara ZIP codes, including Santa Barbara Hospice And Palliative Care Inc, Vna Health, Aceso Hospice, Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Santa Barbara?

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 21% of the $6,948 monthly median income of Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara. 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 Santa Barbara

More senior care near Santa Barbara

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Santa Barbara

More for Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara, CA