Respite Care in St. James, NY: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in St. James, NY: the local picture

2,997

residents 65 or older (23% of St. James)

71%

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

24%

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

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve St. James ZIP codes

Most older adults in St. James live with someone: 71% 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 656 St. James residents aged 65 or older report a disability (24%) (28% in Suffolk County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 3 hospices serving St. James ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

St. James compared with Suffolk County and New York

Census figure	St. James	Suffolk County	New York
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	28%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	23%	29%
Residents 65 or older	23%	18%	18%
Residents 85 or older	3.9%	2.2%	2.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.2%	7.3%	13%
Households with no vehicle	4.9%	5.1%	29%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$85,729	$87,077	—

Older residents in towns around St. James

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Nesconset, NY	2.0 mi	1,813	20%
Lake Grove, NY	2.2 mi	1,946	23%
Stony Brook, NY	2.5 mi	2,867	17%
Stony Brook University, NY	2.8 mi	285	—
Smithtown, NY	3.6 mi	4,640	29%
Centereach, NY	3.7 mi	4,757	31%

Hospices serving St. James

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Vns And Hospice Of Suffolk, Inc	East Northport, NY	8.6 mi	(631) 930-9399
Hospice Care Of Long Island, Queens, South Shore	Woodbury, NY	17 mi	(516) 832-7100
Good Shepherd Hospice	Farmingdale, NY	18 mi	(631) 465-6300

Nursing homes near St. James (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
St James Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center	St James, NY	0.6 mi	4 of 5	230	(631) 862-8000
Luxor Nursing & Rehabilitation At Mills Pond	St James, NY	0.6 mi	5 of 5	252	(631) 862-8990
Smithtown Center For Rehabilitation & Nursing Care	Smithtown, NY	1.0 mi	2 of 5	162	(631) 361-2020
The Hamlet Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center At	Nesconset, NY	1.9 mi	5 of 5	240	(631) 361-8800

Straight-line miles from the center of St. James. 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 St. James

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 23% of the $7,144 monthly median income of St. James households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 St. James: common questions

Which hospices serve St. James?

Medicare lists 3 hospices for St. James ZIP codes, including Vns And Hospice Of Suffolk, Inc, Hospice Care Of Long Island, Queens, South Shore, Good Shepherd Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in St. James?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 23% of the $7,144 monthly median income of St. James households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 St. James. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member covers New York.

More near St. James

More senior care near St. James

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in St. James

More for St. James 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 St. James, NY