Respite Care in Wendell, ID: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Wendell, ID: the local picture

489

residents 65 or older (16% of Wendell)

71%

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

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Gooding County)

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Wendell ZIP codes

Most older adults in Wendell live with someone: 71% 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 179 Wendell residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%) (39% in Gooding County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 7 hospices serving Wendell ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Wendell compared with Gooding County and Idaho

Census figure	Wendell	Gooding County	Idaho
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	39%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	27%	24%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.2%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	13%	8.9%
Households with no vehicle	9.0%	2.9%	3.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,083	$42,434	—

Older residents in towns around Wendell

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Jerome, ID	10 mi	1,168	40%
Gooding, ID	11 mi	687	42%
Buhl, ID	13 mi	803	42%
Filer, ID	15 mi	528	57%
Twin Falls, ID	19 mi	8,967	36%
Kimberly, ID	24 mi	545	31%

Hospices serving Wendell

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Harrison's Hope Twin Falls	Twin Falls, ID	19 mi	(208) 286-1300
A Bridge Home LLC	Twin Falls, ID	19 mi	(208) 423-8694
Idaho Home Health & Hospice	Twin Falls, ID	19 mi	(208) 887-9283
Horizon Hospice Magic Valley	Twin Falls, ID	19 mi	(208) 344-6500
Hospice Visions	Twin Falls, ID	19 mi	(208) 735-0121

Nursing homes near Wendell (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Bennett Hills Rehabilitation And Care Center	Gooding, ID	11 mi	2 of 5	80	(208) 934-5601
Cascades At Desert View	Buhl, ID	13 mi	1 of 5	57	(208) 543-6401
Serenity Transitional Care	Twin Falls, ID	17 mi	3 of 5	60	(208) 644-7100
Lincoln County Care Center	Shoshone, ID	19 mi	3 of 5	36	(208) 886-2228

Straight-line miles from the center of Wendell. 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 Wendell

At the Idaho median aide wage of $16.72 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,449 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,090 monthly median income of Wendell households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Idaho'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 Wendell: common questions

Which hospices serve Wendell?

Medicare lists 7 hospices for Wendell ZIP codes, including Harrison's Hope Twin Falls, A Bridge Home LLC, Idaho Home Health & Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Wendell?

At the Idaho median aide wage of $16.72 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,449 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,090 monthly median income of Wendell households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Idaho'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 Wendell. 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 Idaho.

More near Wendell

More senior care near Wendell

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wendell

More for Wendell 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 Wendell, ID