Respite Care in Tonkawa, OK: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Tonkawa, OK: the local picture

567

residents 65 or older (19% of Tonkawa)

44%

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

42%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Kay County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Tonkawa ZIP codes

Most older adults in Tonkawa live with someone: 44% 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 220 Tonkawa residents aged 65 or older report a disability (42%) (38% in Kay County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Tonkawa ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Tonkawa compared with Kay County and Oklahoma

Census figure	Tonkawa	Kay County	Oklahoma
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	38%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	56%	33%	30%
Residents 65 or older	19%	19%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	2.2%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.1%	12%	11%
Households with no vehicle	3.9%	6.0%	5.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,563	$49,025	—

Older residents in towns around Tonkawa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Blackwell, OK	9.1 mi	1,304	38%
Ponca City, OK	14 mi	4,312	38%
Perry, OK	27 mi	784	61%
Arkansas City, KS	32 mi	1,935	41%
Enid, OK	36 mi	8,087	42%
Stillwater, OK	40 mi	5,127	37%

Hospices serving Tonkawa

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of North Central Oklahoma, Inc.	Ponca City, OK	13 mi	(580) 762-9102
Traditions Health Of Oklahoma City	Enid, OK	36 mi	(580) 366-0120
Stillwater Medical At Home	Stillwater, OK	42 mi	(405) 533-4500
Acg Hospice Ii	Oklahoma City, OK	77 mi	(405) 242-2788
Complete Hospice Care Of Oklahoma City	Oklahoma City, OK	90 mi	(405) 879-3470

Nursing homes near Tonkawa (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Hillcrest Manor Nursing Center	Blackwell, OK	8.5 mi	2 of 5	137	(580) 363-3244
Ponca City Nursing & Rehabilitation Center	Ponca City, OK	12 mi	4 of 5	157	(580) 762-6668
Shawn Manor Nursing Home	Ponca City, OK	15 mi	5 of 5	96	(580) 765-3364
Bradbury Commons	Ponca City, OK	16 mi	4 of 5	68	(580) 370-7132

Straight-line miles from the center of Tonkawa. 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 Tonkawa

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $4,297 monthly median income of Tonkawa households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma'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 Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

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 Tonkawa: common questions

Which hospices serve Tonkawa?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Tonkawa ZIP codes, including Hospice Of North Central Oklahoma, Inc., Traditions Health Of Oklahoma City, Stillwater Medical At Home.

How much does respite care cost in Tonkawa?

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $4,297 monthly median income of Tonkawa households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma'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 Tonkawa. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers Oklahoma.

More near Tonkawa

More senior care near Tonkawa

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Tonkawa

More for Tonkawa 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 Tonkawa, OK