Respite Care in Wichita, KS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Wichita, KS: the local picture

62,611

residents 65 or older (16% of Wichita)

68%

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

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Sedgwick County)

34

Medicare-certified hospices serve Wichita ZIP codes

Most older adults in Wichita live with someone: 68% 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 21,054 Wichita residents aged 65 or older report a disability (35%) (34% in Sedgwick County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 34 hospices serving Wichita ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Wichita compared with Sedgwick County and Kansas

Census figure	Wichita	Sedgwick County	Kansas
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	34%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	16%	16%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.9%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.7%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	6.4%	5.7%	5.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$54,481	$56,161	—

Older residents in towns around Wichita

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Oaklawn-Sunview, KS	6.2 mi	440	35%
Bel Aire, KS	8.0 mi	1,417	32%
Park City, KS	8.2 mi	860	36%
Kechi, KS	8.4 mi	489	24%
Maize, KS	8.5 mi	774	53%
Haysville, KS	8.6 mi	1,640	41%

Hospices serving Wichita

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassus Wichita	Wichita, KS	0.6 mi	(316) 221-3786
Rivercross Hospice LLC	Wichita, KS	0.6 mi	(316) 260-9690
Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice	Wichita, KS	0.6 mi	(316) 265-9441
Ennoble Care	Wichita, KS	1.4 mi	(316) 219-8208
Serene Palliative Care & Hospice, Inc.	Wichita, KS	1.4 mi	(316) 223-4466

Nursing homes near Wichita (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Ascension Living Via Christi Village Mclean	Wichita, KS	1.5 mi	5 of 5	36	(316) 942-7000
Meridian Rehabilitation And Health Care Center	Wichita, KS	2.0 mi	3 of 5	106	(316) 942-8471
Homestead Health Center	Wichita, KS	2.5 mi	2 of 5	45	(316) 262-4473
Lakepoint Wichita, LLC	Wichita, KS	2.7 mi	2 of 5	110	(316) 943-1295

Straight-line miles from the center of Wichita. 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 Wichita

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $4,540 monthly median income of Wichita households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Wichita: common questions

Which hospices serve Wichita?

Medicare lists 34 hospices for Wichita ZIP codes, including Compassus Wichita, Rivercross Hospice LLC, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Wichita?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $4,540 monthly median income of Wichita households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Wichita. 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 Kansas.

More near Wichita

More senior care near Wichita

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wichita

More for Wichita 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 Wichita, KS