Respite Care in Syracuse, NY: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Syracuse, NY: the local picture

21,063

residents 65 or older (14% of Syracuse)

54%

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

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Onondaga County)

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Syracuse ZIP codes

Most older adults in Syracuse live with someone: 54% 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 6,871 Syracuse residents aged 65 or older report a disability (36%) (29% in Onondaga County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 4 hospices serving Syracuse ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Syracuse compared with Onondaga County and New York

Census figure	Syracuse	Onondaga County	New York
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	29%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	46%	34%	29%
Residents 65 or older	14%	19%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	2.4%	2.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	10%	13%
Households with no vehicle	26%	12%	29%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,156	$58,273	—

Older residents in towns around Syracuse

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Lyncourt, NY	3.0 mi	687	25%
De Witt, NY	3.0 mi	2,397	23%
Solvay, NY	3.6 mi	1,253	32%
Westvale, NY	3.7 mi	1,108	20%
Galeville, NY	3.9 mi	985	26%
Mattydale, NY	4.0 mi	803	28%

Hospices serving Syracuse

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Central New York	Liverpool, NY	5.2 mi	(315) 634-1100
Hospice And Palliative Care Inc New Hartford	New Hartford, NY	43 mi	(315) 735-6484
Hospicare & Palliative Care Services	Ithaca, NY	45 mi	(607) 272-0212
Community Hospice, Inc, The	Albany, NY	120 mi	(518) 724-0200

Nursing homes near Syracuse (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Central Park Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Syracuse, NY	0.6 mi	1 of 5	160	(315) 475-1641
Bishop Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Syracuse, NY	1.2 mi	1 of 5	440	(315) 474-1561
Loretto Health And Rehabilitation Center	Syracuse, NY	2.2 mi	1 of 5	583	(315) 469-5570
Upstate University Hosp At Community General T C U	Syracuse, NY	2.6 mi	5 of 5	20	(315) 492-5786

Straight-line miles from the center of Syracuse. 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 Syracuse

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 53% of the $3,096 monthly median income of Syracuse households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 Syracuse: common questions

Which hospices serve Syracuse?

Medicare lists 4 hospices for Syracuse ZIP codes, including Hospice Of Central New York, Hospice And Palliative Care Inc New Hartford, Hospicare & Palliative Care Services.

How much does respite care cost in Syracuse?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 53% of the $3,096 monthly median income of Syracuse households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 Syracuse. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member covers New York.

More near Syracuse

More senior care near Syracuse

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Syracuse

More for Syracuse 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 Syracuse, NY