Respite Care in Thousand Palms, CA for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Thousand Palms, CA: the local picture

1,677

residents 65 or older (22% of Thousand Palms)

75%

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

46%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Riverside County)

29

Medicare-certified hospices serve Thousand Palms ZIP codes

Most older adults in Thousand Palms 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 764 Thousand Palms residents aged 65 or older report a disability (46%) (35% in Riverside County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 29 hospices serving Thousand Palms ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Thousand Palms compared with Riverside County and California

Census figure	Thousand Palms	Riverside County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	35%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	25%	21%	23%
Residents 65 or older	22%	15%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	1.7%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.0%	11%	12%
Households with no vehicle	3.0%	4.3%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$61,667	$65,477	—

Older residents in towns around Thousand Palms

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Desert Palms, CA	4.1 mi	5,546	34%
Palm Desert, CA	5.4 mi	19,598	29%
Rancho Mirage, CA	5.6 mi	9,243	29%
Bermuda Dunes, CA	6.3 mi	1,513	26%
Cathedral City, CA	6.4 mi	9,923	32%
Indian Wells, CA	8.1 mi	2,759	27%

Hospices serving Thousand Palms

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bella Terra Hospice Of The Desert	Palm Desert, CA	3.6 mi	(760) 904-6070
Gentiva	Palm Desert, CA	3.6 mi	(760) 346-2816
Suncrest Hospice Care	Palm Desert, CA	3.6 mi	(760) 699-0053
Palm Springs Hospice And Palliative Care Inc	Rancho Mirage, CA	5.2 mi	(800) 917-6090
Mission Hospice Services Of Rancho Mirage, LLC	Rancho Mirage, CA	5.2 mi	(760) 636-4488

Nursing homes near Thousand Palms (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Rancho Mirage Health And Rehabilitation Center	Rancho Mirage, CA	4.7 mi	3 of 5	99	(760) 340-0053
The Springs Healthcare Center At The Carlotta	Palm Desert, CA	4.8 mi	5 of 5	59	(760) 610-0295
Bayshire Rancho Mirage	Rancho Mirage, CA	6.3 mi	4 of 5	45	(760) 340-5999
Monterey Palms Health Care Center	Palm Desert, CA	6.5 mi	3 of 5	99	(760) 776-7700

Straight-line miles from the center of Thousand Palms. 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 Thousand Palms

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 29% of the $5,139 monthly median income of Thousand Palms 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 Thousand Palms: common questions

Which hospices serve Thousand Palms?

Medicare lists 29 hospices for Thousand Palms ZIP codes, including Bella Terra Hospice Of The Desert, Gentiva, Suncrest Hospice Care.

How much does respite care cost in Thousand Palms?

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 29% of the $5,139 monthly median income of Thousand Palms 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 Thousand Palms. 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 Thousand Palms

More senior care near Thousand Palms

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Thousand Palms

More for Thousand Palms 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 Thousand Palms, CA