Respite Care in Summit, NJ: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Summit, NJ: the local picture

3,305

residents 65 or older (15% of Summit)

74%

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

24%

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

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve Summit ZIP codes

Most older adults in Summit live with someone: 74% 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 778 Summit residents aged 65 or older report a disability (24%) (28% in Union County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 16 hospices serving Summit ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Summit compared with Union County and New Jersey

Census figure	Summit	Union County	New Jersey
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	26%	27%
Residents 65 or older	15%	15%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.8%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	2.9%	9.8%	9.7%
Households with no vehicle	5.8%	10%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$91,932	$72,306	—

Older residents in towns around Summit

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Chatham, NJ	2.0 mi	957	27%
Mountainside, NJ	2.4 mi	1,709	32%
New Providence, NJ	2.5 mi	3,187	20%
Short Hills, NJ	2.5 mi	1,749	21%
Madison, NJ	4.0 mi	2,183	17%
Vauxhall, NJ	4.2 mi	769	19%

Hospices serving Summit

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Homeside Hospice LLC	Cranford, NJ	5.2 mi	(732) 381-3444
Center For Hope Hospice And Palliative Care	Scotch Plains, NJ	5.4 mi	(908) 889-7780
Life Hospice	Livingston, NJ	5.6 mi	(973) 607-4930
Barnabas Health Home Care And Hospice	West Orange, NJ	7.4 mi	(855) 619-4448
Atlantic Visiting Nurse	Morristown, NJ	8.5 mi	(973) 379-8400

Nursing homes near Summit (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Spring Grove Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	New Providence, NJ	2.2 mi	3 of 5	106	(908) 464-8600
Continuing Care At Lantern Hill	New Providence, NJ	2.7 mi	3 of 5	40	(908) 516-9400
Mountainside Skilled Nursing And Rehab	Mountainside, NJ	2.8 mi	3 of 5	151	(908) 654-0020
Childrens Specialized Hospital Mountainside	Mountainside, NJ	3.2 mi	5 of 5	64	(908) 233-3720

Straight-line miles from the center of Summit. 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 Summit

At the New Jersey median aide wage of $17.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,545 a month in wages, which is 20% of the $7,661 monthly median income of Summit households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Jersey's minimum wage is $15.92 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 Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

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 Summit: common questions

Which hospices serve Summit?

Medicare lists 16 hospices for Summit ZIP codes, including Homeside Hospice LLC, Center For Hope Hospice And Palliative Care, Life Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Summit?

At the New Jersey median aide wage of $17.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,545 a month in wages, which is 20% of the $7,661 monthly median income of Summit households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Jersey's minimum wage is $15.92 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 Summit. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers New Jersey.

More near Summit

More senior care near Summit

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Summit

More for Summit 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 Summit, NJ