Respite Care in Wilmington, MA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Wilmington, MA: the local picture

3,647

residents 65 or older (16% of Wilmington)

88%

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

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Middlesex County)

19

Medicare-certified hospices serve Wilmington ZIP codes

Most older adults in Wilmington live with someone: 88% 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 914 Wilmington residents aged 65 or older report a disability (26%) (28% in Middlesex County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 19 hospices serving Wilmington ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Wilmington compared with Middlesex County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Wilmington	Middlesex County	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	12%	28%	29%
Residents 65 or older	16%	16%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	2.0%	2.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	3.2%	9.2%	11%
Households with no vehicle	4.2%	10%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$102,736	$78,342	—

Older residents in towns around Wilmington

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Reading, MA	3.6 mi	5,289	24%
Pinehurst, MA	4.1 mi	1,445	27%
Burlington, MA	4.6 mi	5,764	25%
Woburn, MA	5.3 mi	6,588	34%
Andover, MA	6.4 mi	1,732	35%
Wakefield, MA	6.6 mi	5,268	33%

Hospices serving Wilmington

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassionate Care Hospice	Woburn, MA	5.7 mi	(781) 935-5550
Tufts Medicine Care At Home	Lowell, MA	8.3 mi	(978) 552-4000
Compassus - Southern Massachusetts	North Andover, MA	8.6 mi	(978) 777-8222
Visiting Nurse & Community Care	Arlington, MA	10 mi	(781) 643-6090
Care Dimensions, Inc	Danvers, MA	11 mi	(978) 822-3846

Nursing homes near Wilmington (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Willow Brook Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Wilmington, MA	2.1 mi	2 of 5	142	(978) 909-4586
Care One At Wilmington	Wilmington, MA	2.2 mi	5 of 5	132	(978) 988-0888
Oc Reading Center LLC	Reading, MA	3.1 mi	1 of 5	123	(781) 942-1210
Royal Meadow View Center	North Reading, MA	3.5 mi	4 of 5	113	(978) 276-2000

Straight-line miles from the center of Wilmington. 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 Wilmington

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 20% of the $8,561 monthly median income of Wilmington households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 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 Wilmington: common questions

Which hospices serve Wilmington?

Medicare lists 19 hospices for Wilmington ZIP codes, including Compassionate Care Hospice, Tufts Medicine Care At Home, Compassus - Southern Massachusetts.

How much does respite care cost in Wilmington?

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 20% of the $8,561 monthly median income of Wilmington households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Wilmington. 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 Massachusetts.

More near Wilmington

More senior care near Wilmington

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wilmington

More for Wilmington 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 Wilmington, MA