Respite Care in Stanford, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Stanford, CA: the local picture

692

residents 65 or older (3.7% of Stanford)

81%

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

14%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Santa Clara County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Stanford ZIP codes

Most older adults in Stanford live with someone: 81% 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 99 Stanford residents aged 65 or older report a disability (14%) (31% in Santa Clara County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Stanford ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Stanford compared with Santa Clara County and California

Census figure	Stanford	Santa Clara County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	14%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	19%	19%	23%
Residents 65 or older	3.7%	15%	16%
Residents 85 or older	0.6%	2.0%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	0.9%	9.4%	12%
Households with no vehicle	33%	6.0%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$250,001	$92,440	—

Older residents in towns around Stanford

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
West Menlo Park, CA	2.0 mi	476	41%
Palo Alto, CA	2.5 mi	13,369	26%
Atherton, CA	2.8 mi	1,793	25%
East Palo Alto, CA	3.4 mi	3,008	38%
Menlo Park, CA	3.8 mi	5,421	27%
North Fair Oaks, CA	3.9 mi	1,662	35%

Hospices serving Stanford

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Pathways Home Health And Hospice	Sunnyvale, CA	8.7 mi	(408) 730-5900
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Hospice-Santa Clara	Santa Clara, CA	12 mi	(408) 342-6699
Mission Hospice & Home Care, Inc.	San Mateo, CA	12 mi	(650) 554-1000
Sutter Care At Home	San Mateo, CA	12 mi	(650) 685-2830
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of California	Milpitas, CA	15 mi	(408) 964-6800

Nursing homes near Stanford (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Vi At Palo Alto	Palo Alto, CA	1.1 mi	5 of 5	44	(650) 853-5001
Palo Alto Post-Acute	Palo Alto, CA	1.2 mi	4 of 5	66	(650) 327-0511
Webster House	Palo Alto, CA	1.6 mi	5 of 5	145	(650) 328-3300
Atherton Park Post-Acute	Menlo Park, CA	2.1 mi	4 of 5	160	(650) 325-8600

Straight-line miles from the center of Stanford. 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 Stanford

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 7% of the $20,833 monthly median income of Stanford 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 Stanford: common questions

Which hospices serve Stanford?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Stanford ZIP codes, including Pathways Home Health And Hospice, Kaiser Foundation Hospital Hospice-Santa Clara, Mission Hospice & Home Care, Inc..

How much does respite care cost in Stanford?

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 7% of the $20,833 monthly median income of Stanford 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 Stanford. 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 Stanford

More senior care near Stanford

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Stanford

More for Stanford 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 Stanford, CA