Respite Care in Sunbury, PA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Sunbury, PA: the local picture

2,156

residents 65 or older (22% of Sunbury)

62%

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

47%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Northumberland County)

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Sunbury ZIP codes

Most older adults in Sunbury live with someone: 62% 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 924 Sunbury residents aged 65 or older report a disability (47%) (34% in Northumberland County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 7 hospices serving Sunbury ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Sunbury compared with Northumberland County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Sunbury	Northumberland County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability	47%	34%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	22%	22%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	2.5%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	11%	9.9%
Households with no vehicle	16%	9.2%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$29,558	$43,530	—

Older residents in towns around Sunbury

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Northumberland, PA	2.5 mi	804	26%
Selinsgrove, PA	5.9 mi	1,017	35%
Lewisburg, PA	8.9 mi	911	32%
Milton, PA	10 mi	1,072	27%
Danville, PA	11 mi	1,048	46%
Shamokin, PA	13 mi	1,133	47%

Hospices serving Sunbury

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Wellspan Hospice Services	Lewisburg, PA	9.9 mi	(570) 522-2550
Geisinger Hospice	Danville, PA	12 mi	(570) 784-1723
Crossings Hospice	Shamokin, PA	13 mi	(570) 648-8989
Family Hospice	Williamsport, PA	29 mi	(570) 320-7690
Residential Hospice Of Carlisle, LLC	Mechanicsburg, PA	47 mi	(717) 601-5375

Nursing homes near Sunbury (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nursing And Rehabilitation At The Mansion	Sunbury, PA	0.2 mi	3 of 5	70	(570) 286-6922
Sunbury Skilled Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Sunbury, PA	0.2 mi	3 of 5	126	(570) 286-7121
Nottingham Village	Northumberland, PA	3.4 mi	3 of 5	121	(570) 473-8366
Manor At Penn Village, The	Selinsgrove, PA	5.3 mi	2 of 5	159	(570) 374-8181

Straight-line miles from the center of Sunbury. 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 Sunbury

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 50% of the $2,463 monthly median income of Sunbury households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Sunbury: common questions

Which hospices serve Sunbury?

Medicare lists 7 hospices for Sunbury ZIP codes, including Wellspan Hospice Services, Geisinger Hospice, Crossings Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Sunbury?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 50% of the $2,463 monthly median income of Sunbury households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Sunbury. 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 Pennsylvania.

More near Sunbury

More senior care near Sunbury

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Sunbury

More for Sunbury 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 Sunbury, PA