Respite Care in Sonoma, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Sonoma, CA: the local picture

3,659

residents 65 or older (34% of Sonoma)

70%

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

31%

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

15

Medicare-certified hospices serve Sonoma ZIP codes

Most older adults in Sonoma live with someone: 70% 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 1,090 Sonoma residents aged 65 or older report a disability (31%) (28% in Sonoma County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 15 hospices serving Sonoma ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Sonoma compared with Sonoma County and California

Census figure	Sonoma	Sonoma County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	28%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	28%	23%
Residents 65 or older	34%	22%	16%
Residents 85 or older	5.6%	2.5%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.6%	8.7%	12%
Households with no vehicle	4.4%	4.8%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$78,766	$78,329	—

Older residents in towns around Sonoma

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
El Verano, CA	1.8 mi	686	29%
Boyes Hot Springs, CA	2.2 mi	1,198	14%
Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente, CA	3.0 mi	441	26%
Napa, CA	8.6 mi	14,802	32%
Yountville, CA	8.8 mi	1,701	39%
Petaluma, CA	9.7 mi	13,071	30%

Hospices serving Sonoma

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Anchor Health	Petaluma, CA	8.9 mi	(415) 598-0944
Providence At Home With Compassus Hospice And Palliative Care Napa Valley	Napa, CA	9.5 mi	(707) 258-9080
Providence At Home With Compassus Hospice Care, Sonoma County	Petaluma, CA	12 mi	(707) 778-6242
Athome Hospice Care LLC	American Canyon, CA	14 mi	(619) 274-1392
Care Must Hospice	Napa, CA	16 mi	(707) 690-0909

Nursing homes near Sonoma (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Sonoma Post Acute	Sonoma, CA	0.1 mi	4 of 5	83	(707) 938-1096
Valley Of The Moon Post Acute	Sonoma, CA	0.6 mi	3 of 5	27	(707) 935-5122
Broadway Villa Post Acute	Sonoma, CA	0.8 mi	5 of 5	144	(707) 938-8406
The Meadows Of Napa Valley	Napa, CA	8.7 mi	5 of 5	69	(707) 257-7885

Straight-line miles from the center of Sonoma. 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 Sonoma

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 $6,564 monthly median income of Sonoma 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 Sonoma: common questions

Which hospices serve Sonoma?

Medicare lists 15 hospices for Sonoma ZIP codes, including Anchor Health, Providence At Home With Compassus Hospice And Palliative Care Napa Valley, Providence At Home With Compassus Hospice Care, Sonoma County.

How much does respite care cost in Sonoma?

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 $6,564 monthly median income of Sonoma 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 Sonoma. 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 Sonoma

More senior care near Sonoma

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Sonoma

More for Sonoma 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 Sonoma, CA