Respite Care in Santa Maria, CA for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Santa Maria, CA: the local picture

12,155

residents 65 or older (11% of Santa Maria)

77%

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

44%

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

13

Medicare-certified hospices serve Santa Maria ZIP codes

Most older adults in Santa Maria live with someone: 77% 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 5,258 Santa Maria residents aged 65 or older report a disability (44%) (30% in Santa Barbara County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 13 hospices serving Santa Maria ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Santa Maria compared with Santa Barbara County and California

Census figure	Santa Maria	Santa Barbara County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	26%	23%
Residents 65 or older	11%	17%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	2.3%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	9.5%	12%
Households with no vehicle	6.3%	5.9%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$62,269	$81,399	—

Older residents in towns around Santa Maria

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Orcutt, CA	4.6 mi	6,343	32%
Nipomo, CA	7.4 mi	2,746	31%
Guadalupe, CA	7.7 mi	724	31%
Vandenberg AFB, CA	15 mi	8	0.0%
Oceano, CA	15 mi	1,956	41%
Vandenberg Village, CA	15 mi	1,445	40%

Hospices serving Santa Maria

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Dignity Health Hospice	Santa Maria, CA	1.6 mi	(805) 739-3830
Santa Maria Hospice, Inc	Santa Maria, CA	3.3 mi	(805) 361-0264
Superior Hospice Inc	Lompoc, CA	19 mi	(805) 742-4519
Central Coast Home Health, Inc	San Luis Obispo, CA	26 mi	(805) 543-2244
Santa Barbara Hospice And Palliative Care Inc	Santa Barbara, CA	53 mi	(888) 415-4159

Nursing homes near Santa Maria (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Santa Maria Post Acute	Santa Maria, CA	1.2 mi	2 of 5	55	(805) 925-8877
Villa Maria Post Acute	Santa Maria, CA	1.8 mi	5 of 5	81	(805) 922-3558
Valley Oaks Post Acute	Santa Maria, CA	2.0 mi	4 of 5	59	(805) 922-6657
Marian Regional Medical Center D/P SNF	Santa Maria, CA	2.3 mi	5 of 5	95	(805) 739-3650

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

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 28% of the $5,189 monthly median income of Santa Maria 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 Maria: common questions

Which hospices serve Santa Maria?

Medicare lists 13 hospices for Santa Maria ZIP codes, including Dignity Health Hospice, Santa Maria Hospice, Inc, Superior Hospice Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Santa Maria?

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 28% of the $5,189 monthly median income of Santa Maria 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 Maria. 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 Maria

More senior care near Santa Maria

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Santa Maria

More for Santa Maria 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 Maria, CA