Respite Care in Waunakee, WI: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Waunakee, WI: the local picture

2,292

residents 65 or older (15% of Waunakee)

76%

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

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Dane County)

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Waunakee ZIP codes

Most older adults in Waunakee 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 580 Waunakee residents aged 65 or older report a disability (27%) (24% in Dane County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 11 hospices serving Waunakee ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Waunakee compared with Dane County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Waunakee	Dane County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	24%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	15%	15%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.7%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	1.0%	6.0%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	3.4%	8.2%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$66,224	$72,639	—

Older residents in towns around Waunakee

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
DeForest, WI	5.9 mi	1,790	24%
Middleton, WI	6.1 mi	3,967	24%
Madison, WI	6.6 mi	36,240	24%
Windsor, WI	9.3 mi	1,284	21%
Lodi, WI	10 mi	877	25%
Sun Prairie, WI	10 mi	5,317	26%

Hospices serving Waunakee

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Brighton Hospice Madison	Middleton, WI	6.2 mi	(608) 820-1646
Agrace Hospicecare	Madison, WI	10 mi	(608) 276-4660
Bristol Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	10 mi	(608) 960-7699
Interim Healthcare Of WI Madison	Madison, WI	10 mi	(608) 238-0268
Heartland Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	10 mi	(608) 819-0033

Nursing homes near Waunakee (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Waunakee Valley Senior Living	Waunakee, WI	1.0 mi	3 of 5	84	(608) 849-5016
Middleton Village Nursing And Rehab	Middleton, WI	6.8 mi	1 of 5	97	(608) 831-8300
Capitol Lakes Health Center	Madison, WI	8.2 mi	4 of 5	49	(608) 283-2000
Oakwood Village East Health And Rehab Center	Madison, WI	8.3 mi	3 of 5	40	(608) 230-4000

Straight-line miles from the center of Waunakee. 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 Waunakee

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,519 monthly median income of Waunakee households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.

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 Waunakee: common questions

Which hospices serve Waunakee?

Medicare lists 11 hospices for Waunakee ZIP codes, including Brighton Hospice Madison, Agrace Hospicecare, Bristol Hospice Madison.

How much does respite care cost in Waunakee?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,519 monthly median income of Waunakee households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 Waunakee. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver covers Wisconsin.

More near Waunakee

More senior care near Waunakee

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waunakee

More for Waunakee 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 Waunakee, WI