Respite Care in Wausau, WI: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Wausau, WI: the local picture

7,741

residents 65 or older (19% of Wausau)

62%

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

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Marathon County)

15

Medicare-certified hospices serve Wausau ZIP codes

Most older adults in Wausau live with someone: 62% 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 2,500 Wausau residents aged 65 or older report a disability (34%) (30% in Marathon County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 15 hospices serving Wausau ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Wausau compared with Marathon County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Wausau	Marathon County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	29%	30%
Residents 65 or older	19%	19%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	2.4%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	9.2%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	9.0%	4.8%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,828	$53,258	—

Older residents in towns around Wausau

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Rib Mountain, WI	4.8 mi	1,821	25%
Rothschild, WI	6.2 mi	999	30%
Weston, WI	6.8 mi	3,060	30%
Maine, WI	6.9 mi	519	17%
Kronenwetter, WI	10 mi	1,040	28%
Mosinee, WI	12 mi	689	31%

Hospices serving Wausau

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Interim Hospice And Palliative Care	Wausau, WI	2.9 mi	(715) 842-7707
Aspirus At Home	Wausau, WI	2.9 mi	(715) 847-2424
St Croix Hospice Wausau	Wausau, WI	2.9 mi	(715) 318-6607
Le Royer Hospice	Antigo, WI	27 mi	(715) 623-2331
Heartland Hospice Central Wisconsin	Stevens Point, WI	29 mi	(715) 344-4541

Nursing homes near Wausau (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Wausau Manor Health Services	Wausau, WI	1.5 mi	4 of 5	68	(715) 842-0575
Amethyst Health Of Wausau	Wausau, WI	1.8 mi	1 of 5	80	(715) 842-2028
Wood Aven Health And Rehabilitation	Wausau, WI	1.9 mi	3 of 5	82	(715) 675-9451
North Central Health Care	Wausau, WI	2.3 mi	2 of 5	159	(715) 841-5178

Straight-line miles from the center of Wausau. 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 Wausau

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 43% of the $3,486 monthly median income of Wausau 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 Wausau: common questions

Which hospices serve Wausau?

Medicare lists 15 hospices for Wausau ZIP codes, including Interim Hospice And Palliative Care, Aspirus At Home, St Croix Hospice Wausau.

How much does respite care cost in Wausau?

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 43% of the $3,486 monthly median income of Wausau 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 Wausau. 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 Wausau

More senior care near Wausau

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wausau

More for Wausau 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 Wausau, WI