Respite Care in Swarthmore, PA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Swarthmore, PA: the local picture

1,046

residents 65 or older (16% of Swarthmore)

63%

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

21%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Delaware County)

13

Medicare-certified hospices serve Swarthmore ZIP codes

Most older adults in Swarthmore live with someone: 63% 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 217 Swarthmore residents aged 65 or older report a disability (21%) (30% in Delaware County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 13 hospices serving Swarthmore ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Swarthmore compared with Delaware County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Swarthmore	Delaware County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	30%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	29%	30%
Residents 65 or older	16%	17%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	2.2%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.3%	9.1%	9.9%
Households with no vehicle	5.4%	9.6%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$64,583	$66,651	—

Older residents in towns around Swarthmore

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Folsom, PA	1.3 mi	1,293	36%
Morton, PA	1.3 mi	527	23%
Woodlyn, PA	1.7 mi	1,620	34%
Ridley Park, PA	2.1 mi	1,344	42%
Media, PA	2.4 mi	1,308	17%
Prospect Park, PA	2.5 mi	897	41%

Hospices serving Swarthmore

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Compassus - Philadelphia	Newtown Square, PA	6.6 mi	(610) 436-1853
Bayada Home Health Care, Inc.	Newtown Square, PA	6.6 mi	(610) 627-2050
Penn Medicine Hospice	Bala Cynwyd, PA	9.7 mi	(610) 617-2400
Holisticare Hospice, LLC	Wayne, PA	11 mi	(610) 995-0100
Main Line Health Homecare & Hospice - Hospice	Radnor, PA	11 mi	(484) 580-1400

Nursing homes near Swarthmore (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Wallingford Skilled Nursing And Rehabilitation Cen	Wallingford, PA	1.3 mi	1 of 5	193	(610) 565-3232
Springfield Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Springfield, PA	1.8 mi	2 of 5	100	(610) 544-2200
Monticello House	Media, PA	1.8 mi	5 of 5	86	(610) 857-6358
Belvedere Center, Genesis Healthcare, The	Chester, PA	2.4 mi	3 of 5	150	(610) 872-5373

Straight-line miles from the center of Swarthmore. 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 Swarthmore

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 23% of the $5,382 monthly median income of Swarthmore 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 Swarthmore: common questions

Which hospices serve Swarthmore?

Medicare lists 13 hospices for Swarthmore ZIP codes, including Hospice Compassus - Philadelphia, Bayada Home Health Care, Inc., Penn Medicine Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Swarthmore?

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 23% of the $5,382 monthly median income of Swarthmore 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 Swarthmore. 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 Swarthmore

More senior care near Swarthmore

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Swarthmore

More for Swarthmore 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 Swarthmore, PA