Respite Care in Tempe, AZ: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Tempe, AZ: the local picture

20,951

residents 65 or older (11% of Tempe)

75%

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

31%

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

94

Medicare-certified hospices serve Tempe ZIP codes

Most older adults in Tempe live with someone: 75% 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 6,328 Tempe residents aged 65 or older report a disability (31%) (31% in Maricopa County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 94 hospices serving Tempe ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Tempe compared with Maricopa County and Arizona

Census figure	Tempe	Maricopa County	Arizona
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	31%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	25%	25%	25%
Residents 65 or older	11%	16%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	1.8%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.3%	9.7%	10%
Households with no vehicle	7.7%	5.1%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$79,993	$66,038	—

Older residents in towns around Tempe

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Guadalupe, AZ	2.4 mi	800	31%
Chandler, AZ	8.6 mi	38,167	31%
Paradise Valley, AZ	11 mi	4,118	18%
Gilbert, AZ	12 mi	30,955	29%
Mesa, AZ	12 mi	89,374	33%
Sun Lakes, AZ	13 mi	10,984	28%

Hospices serving Tempe

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Optimal Hospice Inc	Tempe, AZ	0.5 mi	(623) 887-8837
Celebrity Home Health & Hospice	Tempe, AZ	0.5 mi	(480) 966-8888
Otium Hospice Inc	Tempe, AZ	0.5 mi	(602) 844-8245
Emblem Hospice	Tempe, AZ	0.5 mi	(480) 444-7800
In My Home Hospice Care	Tempe, AZ	1.5 mi	(480) 590-6556

Nursing homes near Tempe (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Tempe Post Acute	Tempe, AZ	1.5 mi	4 of 5	60	(480) 831-8660
Mirabella At Asu	Tempe, AZ	2.4 mi	3 of 5	21	(602) 777-7701
Friendship Village Of Tempe	Tempe, AZ	3.0 mi	3 of 5	128	(480) 831-3184
River Park Post Acute	Chandler, AZ	3.9 mi	5 of 5	66	(480) 345-8500

Straight-line miles from the center of Tempe. 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 Tempe

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 23% of the $6,666 monthly median income of Tempe 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 Tempe: common questions

Which hospices serve Tempe?

Medicare lists 94 hospices for Tempe ZIP codes, including Optimal Hospice Inc, Celebrity Home Health & Hospice, Otium Hospice Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Tempe?

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 23% of the $6,666 monthly median income of Tempe 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 Tempe. 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 Tempe

More senior care near Tempe

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Tempe

More for Tempe 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 Tempe, AZ