Respite Care in Taft, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Taft, CA: the local picture

1,027

residents 65 or older (14% of Taft)

62%

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

61%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Kern County)

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve Taft ZIP codes

Most older adults in Taft 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 612 Taft residents aged 65 or older report a disability (61%) (37% in Kern County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 16 hospices serving Taft ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Taft compared with Kern County and California

Census figure	Taft	Kern County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	61%	37%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	23%	23%
Residents 65 or older	14%	12%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.1%	1.2%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	15%	12%
Households with no vehicle	11%	6.7%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$72,775	$51,607	—

Older residents in towns around Taft

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
South Taft, CA	1.9 mi	121	62%
Ford City, CA	3.3 mi	341	49%
Rosedale, CA	22 mi	2,538	36%
Pine Mountain Club, CA	24 mi	714	37%
Greenacres, CA	25 mi	785	44%
Old Stine, CA	26 mi	399	39%

Hospices serving Taft

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hoffmann Hospice	Bakersfield, CA	22 mi	(661) 410-1010
Gentiva	Bakersfield, CA	25 mi	(661) 324-1232
Lenus Care LLC	Bakersfield, CA	25 mi	(800) 552-6054
American Compassionate Hospice Care Inc	Bakersfield, CA	25 mi	(661) 619-1271
Traditions Health	Bakersfield, CA	25 mi	(661) 864-0490

Nursing homes near Taft (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Bayshire Riverwalk Post-Acute	Bakersfield, CA	23 mi	1 of 5	120	(661) 587-0182

Straight-line miles from the center of Taft. 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 Taft

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $6,065 monthly median income of Taft households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

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 Taft: common questions

Which hospices serve Taft?

Medicare lists 16 hospices for Taft ZIP codes, including Hoffmann Hospice, Gentiva, Lenus Care LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Taft?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $6,065 monthly median income of Taft households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 Taft. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave covers California.

More near Taft

More senior care near Taft

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Taft

More for Taft 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 Taft, CA