Respite Care in Tulare, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Tulare, CA: the local picture

6,660

residents 65 or older (9.4% of Tulare)

76%

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

46%

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

32

Medicare-certified hospices serve Tulare ZIP codes

Most older adults in Tulare live with someone: 76% 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 2,969 Tulare residents aged 65 or older report a disability (46%) (38% in Tulare County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 32 hospices serving Tulare ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Tulare compared with Tulare County and California

Census figure	Tulare	Tulare County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	38%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	20%	23%
Residents 65 or older	9.4%	12%	16%
Residents 85 or older	0.8%	1.3%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	14%	12%
Households with no vehicle	3.9%	4.5%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,000	$55,844	—

Older residents in towns around Tulare

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Visalia, CA	8.9 mi	19,467	34%
Tipton, CA	10.0 mi	133	61%
Farmersville, CA	10 mi	904	47%
Goshen, CA	11 mi	387	35%
Exeter, CA	13 mi	1,428	34%
Lindsay, CA	14 mi	1,348	56%

Hospices serving Tulare

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Kaweah Health Hospice	Visalia, CA	11 mi	(559) 733-0642
Infinite Heart Hospice	Visalia, CA	11 mi	(559) 409-7500
American Qlh	Visalia, CA	11 mi	(559) 409-2665
Adventist Health Home Care Services	Hanford, CA	20 mi	(559) 585-3425
Ardent Hospice Of The Valley	Delano, CA	30 mi	(661) 586-5729

Nursing homes near Tulare (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Grand Oaks Care	Tulare, CA	1.4 mi	3 of 5	99	(559) 687-1340
Tulare Healthcare & Wellness Center, LP	Tulare, CA	1.5 mi	2 of 5	97	(559) 686-8581
Orchards At Tulare	Tulare, CA	1.5 mi	1 of 5	99	(559) 686-1601
Sequoia Vista	Visalia, CA	8.3 mi	1 of 5	99	(559) 732-2244

Straight-line miles from the center of Tulare. 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 Tulare

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 44% of the $3,333 monthly median income of Tulare 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 Tulare: common questions

Which hospices serve Tulare?

Medicare lists 32 hospices for Tulare ZIP codes, including Kaweah Health Hospice, Infinite Heart Hospice, American Qlh.

How much does respite care cost in Tulare?

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 44% of the $3,333 monthly median income of Tulare 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 Tulare. 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 Tulare

More senior care near Tulare

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Tulare

More for Tulare 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 Tulare, CA