Respite Care in Tomahawk, WI: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Tomahawk, WI: the local picture

659

residents 65 or older (19% of Tomahawk)

56%

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

22%

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

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Tomahawk ZIP codes

Most older adults in Tomahawk live with someone: 56% 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 130 Tomahawk residents aged 65 or older report a disability (22%) (30% in Lincoln County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 9 hospices serving Tomahawk ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Tomahawk compared with Lincoln County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Tomahawk	Lincoln County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	29%	30%
Residents 65 or older	19%	24%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.9%	2.9%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.7%	12%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	7.0%	4.7%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$52,740	$51,661	—

Older residents in towns around Tomahawk

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Rhinelander, WI	17 mi	1,427	39%
Merrill, WI	21 mi	2,041	35%
Maine, WI	29 mi	519	17%
Antigo, WI	36 mi	2,110	34%
Wausau, WI	36 mi	7,741	34%
Medford, WI	39 mi	1,084	33%

Hospices serving Tomahawk

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassus Northern Wisconsin	Arbor Vitae, WI	30 mi	(715) 301-7200
Interim Hospice And Palliative Care	Wausau, WI	36 mi	(715) 842-7707
Aspirus At Home	Wausau, WI	36 mi	(715) 847-2424
St Croix Hospice Wausau	Wausau, WI	36 mi	(715) 318-6607
Hope Hospice And Palliative Care	Medford, WI	38 mi	(715) 748-3434

Nursing homes near Tomahawk (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Riverview Health Services	Tomahawk, WI	0.7 mi	3 of 5	50	(715) 453-2511
Tomahawk Health Services	Tomahawk, WI	1.6 mi	2 of 5	50	(715) 453-2164
Friendly Village Nursing And Rehab Center	Rhinelander, WI	17 mi	5 of 5	100	(715) 365-6832
Pine Crest Health And Memory Care	Merrill, WI	20 mi	3 of 5	120	(715) 536-0355

Straight-line miles from the center of Tomahawk. 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 Tomahawk

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,395 monthly median income of Tomahawk households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.

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 Tomahawk: common questions

Which hospices serve Tomahawk?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Tomahawk ZIP codes, including Compassus Northern Wisconsin, Interim Hospice And Palliative Care, Aspirus At Home.

How much does respite care cost in Tomahawk?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,395 monthly median income of Tomahawk households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 Tomahawk. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver covers Wisconsin.

More near Tomahawk

More senior care near Tomahawk

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Tomahawk

More for Tomahawk 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 Tomahawk, WI