Respite Care in Surprise, AZ: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Surprise, AZ: the local picture

34,432

residents 65 or older (22% of Surprise)

79%

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

28%

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

107

Medicare-certified hospices serve Surprise ZIP codes

Most older adults in Surprise live with someone: 79% 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 9,697 Surprise residents aged 65 or older report a disability (28%) (31% in Maricopa County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 107 hospices serving Surprise ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Surprise compared with Maricopa County and Arizona

Census figure	Surprise	Maricopa County	Arizona
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	31%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	21%	25%	25%
Residents 65 or older	22%	16%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	1.8%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.4%	9.7%	10%
Households with no vehicle	3.3%	5.1%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$68,950	$66,038	—

Older residents in towns around Surprise

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Sun City West, AZ	5.5 mi	23,316	29%
El Mirage, AZ	9.1 mi	3,636	36%
Citrus Park, AZ	9.5 mi	1,055	29%
Youngtown, AZ	10 mi	1,270	46%
Sun City, AZ	10 mi	28,020	33%
Peoria, AZ	12 mi	38,580	34%

Hospices serving Surprise

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Savior Hospice	Surprise, AZ	7.5 mi	(605) 210-1254
Lilycare Of Arizona LLC	Surprise, AZ	7.5 mi	(480) 757-9758
Canyon Home Care & Hospice	Glendale, AZ	12 mi	(602) 314-6246
Mountain View Hospice, LLC	Peoria, AZ	14 mi	(623) 230-3698
Billet Hospice Inc- Peoria	Peoria, AZ	14 mi	(833) 224-5538

Nursing homes near Surprise (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Sun Health Grandview Care Center	Sun City West, AZ	4.2 mi	5 of 5	72	(623) 975-8100
Sante Of Surprise	Surprise, AZ	4.2 mi	4 of 5	70	(623) 594-5050
Surprise Health And Rehabilitation Center	Surprise, AZ	4.4 mi	5 of 5	110	(623) 546-5030
Sun West Choice Healthcare & Rehab	Sun City West, AZ	5.4 mi	5 of 5	140	(623) 584-6161

Straight-line miles from the center of Surprise. 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 Surprise

At the Arizona median aide wage of $17.51 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,518 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $5,746 monthly median income of Surprise households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arizona's minimum wage is $15.15 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 ALTCS family caregiver rules: how to get paid to care for a family member in Arizona.

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 Surprise: common questions

Which hospices serve Surprise?

Medicare lists 107 hospices for Surprise ZIP codes, including Savior Hospice, Lilycare Of Arizona LLC, Canyon Home Care & Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Surprise?

At the Arizona median aide wage of $17.51 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,518 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $5,746 monthly median income of Surprise households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arizona's minimum wage is $15.15 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 Surprise. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide ALTCS family caregiver rules: how to get paid to care for a family member in Arizona covers Arizona.

More near Surprise

More senior care near Surprise

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Surprise

More for Surprise 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 Surprise, AZ