Respite Care in Shafter, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Shafter, CA: the local picture

1,590

residents 65 or older (7.5% of Shafter)

73%

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

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Kern County)

23

Medicare-certified hospices serve Shafter ZIP codes

Most older adults in Shafter live with someone: 73% 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 559 Shafter residents aged 65 or older report a disability (36%) (37% in Kern County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 23 hospices serving Shafter ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Shafter compared with Kern County and California

Census figure	Shafter	Kern County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	37%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	23%	23%
Residents 65 or older	7.5%	12%	16%
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.2%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	15%	12%
Households with no vehicle	4.0%	6.7%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,438	$51,607	—

Older residents in towns around Shafter

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Rosedale, CA	6.3 mi	2,538	36%
Greenacres, CA	8.1 mi	785	44%
Oildale, CA	10 mi	4,505	45%
Wasco, CA	12 mi	1,692	29%
Old Stine, CA	13 mi	399	39%
Bakersfield, CA	13 mi	46,672	37%

Hospices serving Shafter

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Aasta Hospice	Bakersfield, CA	12 mi	(661) 523-3686
Bakersfield Community Hospice, Inc	Bakersfield, CA	12 mi	(661) 327-9800
Solace Hospice Care Inc	Bakersfield, CA	12 mi	(661) 843-7643
Gentiva	Bakersfield, CA	13 mi	(661) 324-1232
Lenus Care LLC	Bakersfield, CA	13 mi	(800) 552-6054

Nursing homes near Shafter (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Shafter Nursing Care	Shafter, CA	4.8 mi	4 of 5	99	(661) 746-3912
Bayshire Riverwalk Post-Acute	Bakersfield, CA	6.6 mi	1 of 5	120	(661) 587-0182
Kern River Transitional Care	Bakersfield, CA	9.5 mi	1 of 5	140	(661) 325-9900
San Joaquin Nursing Center And Rehabilitation Cent	Bakersfield, CA	12 mi	3 of 5	99	(661) 323-2894

Straight-line miles from the center of Shafter. 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 Shafter

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 46% of the $3,203 monthly median income of Shafter 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 Shafter: common questions

Which hospices serve Shafter?

Medicare lists 23 hospices for Shafter ZIP codes, including Aasta Hospice, Bakersfield Community Hospice, Inc, Solace Hospice Care Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Shafter?

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 46% of the $3,203 monthly median income of Shafter 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 Shafter. 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 Shafter

More senior care near Shafter

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Shafter

More for Shafter 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 Shafter, CA