Respite Care in Washington, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Washington, IA: the local picture

1,683

residents 65 or older (23% of Washington)

61%

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

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Washington County)

8

Medicare-certified hospices serve Washington ZIP codes

Most older adults in Washington live with someone: 61% 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 565 Washington residents aged 65 or older report a disability (37%) (32% in Washington County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 8 hospices serving Washington ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Washington compared with Washington County and Iowa

Census figure	Washington	Washington County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	28%	31%
Residents 65 or older	23%	20%	18%
Residents 85 or older	3.6%	2.3%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.8%	7.0%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	6.2%	4.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,645	$56,090	—

Older residents in towns around Washington

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Kalona, IA	13 mi	684	21%
Mount Pleasant, IA	24 mi	1,634	35%
Fairfield, IA	25 mi	2,519	16%
Iowa City, IA	26 mi	9,354	30%
Coralville, IA	28 mi	3,097	31%
Tiffin, IA	28 mi	586	21%

Hospices serving Washington

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Washington County	Washington, IA	0.4 mi	(319) 653-7321
Everystep	Mount Pleasant, IA	24 mi	(319) 385-4472
Iowa City Hospice	Iowa City, IA	25 mi	(319) 351-5665
Essence Of Life Hospice	Amana, IA	38 mi	(319) 622-3195
Hospice Compassus - Northeast Iowa	Cedar Rapids, IA	45 mi	(319) 362-2500

Nursing homes near Washington (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Halcyon House	Washington, IA	0.6 mi	4 of 5	54	(319) 653-7264
United Presbyterian Home	Washington, IA	0.8 mi	5 of 5	55	(319) 653-5473
Parkview Home	Wayland, IA	11 mi	5 of 5	34	(319) 256-3525
Pleasantview Home	Kalona, IA	13 mi	3 of 5	66	(319) 656-2421

Straight-line miles from the center of Washington. 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 Washington

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,470 monthly median income of Washington households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Washington: common questions

Which hospices serve Washington?

Medicare lists 8 hospices for Washington ZIP codes, including Hospice Of Washington County, Everystep, Iowa City Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Washington?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,470 monthly median income of Washington households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Washington. 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 Iowa.

More near Washington

More senior care near Washington

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Washington

More for Washington 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 Washington, IA