Respite Care in Wasilla, AK: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Wasilla, AK: the local picture

1,659

residents 65 or older (17% of Wasilla)

51%

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

48%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Matanuska-Susitna Borough)

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Wasilla ZIP codes

Most older adults in Wasilla live with someone: 51% 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 757 Wasilla residents aged 65 or older report a disability (48%) (34% in Matanuska-Susitna Borough). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 3 hospices serving Wasilla ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Wasilla compared with Matanuska-Susitna Borough and Alaska

Census figure	Wasilla	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Alaska
Residents 65+ with a disability	48%	34%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	49%	26%	27%
Residents 65 or older	17%	14%	14%
Residents 85 or older	3.4%	0.9%	0.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	19%	9.4%	8.3%
Households with no vehicle	14%	3.8%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,303	$63,354	—

Older residents in towns around Wasilla

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
South Lakes, AK	4.8 mi	728	25%
Tanaina, AK	5.4 mi	964	34%
North Lakes, AK	5.6 mi	1,321	29%
Meadow Lakes, AK	6.3 mi	1,113	37%
Knik-Fairview, AK	7.4 mi	2,183	28%
Gateway, AK	7.9 mi	648	38%

Hospices serving Wasilla

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Ancora Home Health & Hospice, LLC	Wasilla, AK	2.3 mi	(907) 561-9240
Providence At Home With Compassus Hospice Care, Anchorage	Anchorage, AK	28 mi	(907) 563-0130
Enhabit Hospice	Anchorage, AK	31 mi	(907) 272-1275

Nursing homes near Wasilla (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Maple Springs Of Wasilla	Wasilla, AK	3.3 mi	5 of 5	67	(907) 841-1217
Maple Springs Of Palmer	Palmer, AK	11 mi	2 of 5	67	(907) 802-6641

Straight-line miles from the center of Wasilla. 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 Wasilla

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages, which is 48% of the $3,442 monthly median income of Wasilla households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 Alaska: consumer-directed personal care.

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 Wasilla: common questions

Which hospices serve Wasilla?

Medicare lists 3 hospices for Wasilla ZIP codes, including Ancora Home Health & Hospice, LLC, Providence At Home With Compassus Hospice Care, Anchorage, Enhabit Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Wasilla?

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages, which is 48% of the $3,442 monthly median income of Wasilla households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 Wasilla. 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 Alaska: consumer-directed personal care covers Alaska.

More near Wasilla

More senior care near Wasilla

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 Wasilla, AK