Respite Care in Santa Cruz, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Santa Cruz, CA: the local picture

9,295

residents 65 or older (15% of Santa Cruz)

69%

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

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Santa Cruz County)

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Santa Cruz ZIP codes

Most older adults in Santa Cruz 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 2,706 Santa Cruz residents aged 65 or older report a disability (29%) (28% in Santa Cruz County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 9 hospices serving Santa Cruz ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Santa Cruz compared with Santa Cruz County and California

Census figure	Santa Cruz	Santa Cruz County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	28%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	26%	23%
Residents 65 or older	15%	19%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	2.1%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.6%	12%
Households with no vehicle	8.0%	5.2%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$73,566	$85,666	—

Older residents in towns around Santa Cruz

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Twin Lakes, CA	2.6 mi	1,001	21%
Live Oak, CA	3.1 mi	3,465	30%
Pleasure Point, CA	3.7 mi	1,200	34%
Capitola, CA	4.5 mi	2,401	33%
Soquel, CA	5.1 mi	2,426	27%
Felton, CA	5.1 mi	811	24%

Hospices serving Santa Cruz

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Santa Cruz County	Scotts Valley, CA	6.0 mi	(831) 430-3000
Bridge Hospice	Salinas, CA	25 mi	(831) 216-5585
Care Must Hospice Inc	San Jose, CA	27 mi	(408) 755-1216
Universal Health Net Monterey, Inc	Monterey, CA	29 mi	(831) 920-6345
Home Connect Hospice, LLC	Fremont, CA	38 mi	(408) 858-7580

Nursing homes near Santa Cruz (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Santa Cruz Post Acute	Santa Cruz, CA	2.5 mi	2 of 5	149	(831) 475-4055
Driftwood Healthcare Center - Santa Cruz	Santa Cruz, CA	3.1 mi	3 of 5	92	(831) 475-6323
Redwood Grove Post Acute	Santa Cruz, CA	3.2 mi	2 of 5	144	(831) 479-9000
Pacific Coast Manor	Capitola, CA	4.2 mi	5 of 5	99	(831) 476-0770

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

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 $6,131 monthly median income of Santa Cruz 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 Cruz: common questions

Which hospices serve Santa Cruz?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Santa Cruz ZIP codes, including Hospice Of Santa Cruz County, Bridge Hospice, Care Must Hospice Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Santa Cruz?

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 $6,131 monthly median income of Santa Cruz 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 Cruz. 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 Cruz

More senior care near Santa Cruz

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Santa Cruz

More for Santa Cruz 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 Cruz, CA