Respite Care in Visalia, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Visalia, CA: the local picture

19,467

residents 65 or older (14% of Visalia)

78%

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

34%

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

36

Medicare-certified hospices serve Visalia ZIP codes

Most older adults in Visalia live with someone: 78% 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 6,451 Visalia residents aged 65 or older report a disability (34%) (38% in Tulare County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 36 hospices serving Visalia ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Visalia compared with Tulare County and California

Census figure	Visalia	Tulare County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	38%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	22%	20%	23%
Residents 65 or older	14%	12%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.3%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.9%	14%	12%
Households with no vehicle	3.5%	4.5%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$61,627	$55,844	—

Older residents in towns around Visalia

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Goshen, CA	5.3 mi	387	35%
Farmersville, CA	6.9 mi	904	47%
Ivanhoe, CA	7.1 mi	545	44%
Tulare, CA	8.9 mi	6,660	46%
Exeter, CA	10 mi	1,428	34%
Cutler, CA	14 mi	262	21%

Hospices serving Visalia

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Kaweah Health Hospice	Visalia, CA	2.4 mi	(559) 733-0642
Seva Hospice	Visalia, CA	2.4 mi	(559) 625-1043
Infinite Heart Hospice	Visalia, CA	2.4 mi	(559) 409-7500
American Qlh	Visalia, CA	2.4 mi	(559) 409-2665
Adventist Health Home Care Services	Hanford, CA	18 mi	(559) 585-3425

Nursing homes near Visalia (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Sequoia Vista	Visalia, CA	0.6 mi	1 of 5	99	(559) 732-2244
Linwood Meadows Care Center	Visalia, CA	0.8 mi	3 of 5	98	(559) 627-1241
Westgate Gardens Care Center	Visalia, CA	0.8 mi	4 of 5	140	(559) 733-0901
Delta Healthcare & Wellness Center, LP	Visalia, CA	2.2 mi	5 of 5	44	(559) 732-8614

Straight-line miles from the center of Visalia. 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 Visalia

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 $5,136 monthly median income of Visalia 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 Visalia: common questions

Which hospices serve Visalia?

Medicare lists 36 hospices for Visalia ZIP codes, including Kaweah Health Hospice, Seva Hospice, Infinite Heart Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Visalia?

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 $5,136 monthly median income of Visalia 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 Visalia. 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 Visalia

More senior care near Visalia

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Visalia

More for Visalia 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 Visalia, CA