Respite Care in Sumner, WA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Sumner, WA: the local picture

1,730

residents 65 or older (16% of Sumner)

68%

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

46%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Pierce County)

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Sumner ZIP codes

Most older adults in Sumner live with someone: 68% 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 786 Sumner residents aged 65 or older report a disability (46%) (36% in Pierce County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 9 hospices serving Sumner ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Sumner compared with Pierce County and Washington

Census figure	Sumner	Pierce County	Washington
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	36%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	25%	26%
Residents 65 or older	16%	15%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.2%	1.5%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	8.8%	8.9%
Households with no vehicle	4.9%	5.4%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,607	$70,061	—

Older residents in towns around Sumner

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Edgewood, WA	2.3 mi	1,809	19%
Pacific, WA	2.5 mi	853	53%
Lake Tapps, WA	3.1 mi	2,194	24%
Alderton, WA	3.6 mi	583	36%
Algona, WA	3.8 mi	205	32%
Bonney Lake, WA	3.9 mi	2,436	27%

Hospices serving Sumner

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Multicare Hospice	Tacoma, WA	9.8 mi	(253) 301-6400
Wesley Homes Hospice, LLC	Kent, WA	11 mi	(206) 870-1127
Envision Hospice	Tacoma, WA	11 mi	(360) 350-4875
Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Pierce County	Tacoma, WA	12 mi	(517) 256-0946
Puget Sound Hospice	Tacoma, WA	12 mi	(253) 581-9410

Nursing homes near Sumner (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Linden Grove Health Care Center	Puyallup, WA	2.4 mi	1 of 5	130	(253) 840-4400
Rainier Rehabilitation	Puyallup, WA	3.8 mi	5 of 5	117	(253) 841-3422
Canterbury House	Auburn, WA	3.9 mi	2 of 5	100	(253) 939-0090
Life Care Center Of Puyallup	Puyallup, WA	4.0 mi	2 of 5	102	(253) 845-7566

Straight-line miles from the center of Sumner. 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 Sumner

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 46% of the $4,301 monthly median income of Sumner households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 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 Sumner: common questions

Which hospices serve Sumner?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Sumner ZIP codes, including Multicare Hospice, Wesley Homes Hospice, LLC, Envision Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Sumner?

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 46% of the $4,301 monthly median income of Sumner households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 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 Sumner. 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 Washington.

More near Sumner

More senior care near Sumner

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Sumner

More for Sumner 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 Sumner, WA