Respite Care in Afton, MN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Afton, MN: the local picture

772

residents 65 or older (26% of Afton)

83%

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

20%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Washington County)

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Afton ZIP codes

Most older adults in Afton live with someone: 83% 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 154 Afton residents aged 65 or older report a disability (20%) (27% in Washington County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 10 hospices serving Afton ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Afton compared with Washington County and Minnesota

Census figure	Afton	Washington County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability	20%	27%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	17%	26%	30%
Residents 65 or older	26%	17%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	1.8%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	1.7%	6.7%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	0.5%	3.8%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$125,398	$75,658	—

Older residents in towns around Afton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Woodbury, MN	5.1 mi	10,738	26%
Hudson, WI	6.3 mi	2,918	33%
North Hudson, WI	7.4 mi	686	21%
Cottage Grove, MN	7.5 mi	5,760	27%
Lake Elmo, MN	7.6 mi	2,217	31%
Bayport, MN	8.3 mi	497	25%

Hospices serving Afton

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of The Midwest	Woodbury, MN	6.3 mi	(651) 344-1040
St Croix Hospice	Oakdale, MN	9.0 mi	(651) 735-3656
Lakeview Hospice	Oak Park Heights, MN	11 mi	(651) 430-3320
Presbyterian Homes Hospice Inc	Roseville, MN	18 mi	(651) 631-6406
Healthpartners Hospice And Palliatice Care	Bloomington, MN	21 mi	(952) 883-6877

Nursing homes near Afton (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Christian Community Home	Hudson, WI	6.4 mi	5 of 5	50	(715) 386-9303
St Therese Of Woodbury LLC	Woodbury, MN	6.6 mi	4 of 5	56	(651) 209-9100
Woodbury Health Care Center	Woodbury, MN	7.1 mi	1 of 5	155	(651) 735-6000
Norris Square	Cottage Grove, MN	8.6 mi	5 of 5	72	(651) 769-6650

Straight-line miles from the center of Afton. 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 Afton

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 15% of the $10,450 monthly median income of Afton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Afton: common questions

Which hospices serve Afton?

Medicare lists 10 hospices for Afton ZIP codes, including Hospice Of The Midwest, St Croix Hospice, Lakeview Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Afton?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 15% of the $10,450 monthly median income of Afton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Afton. 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 Minnesota.

More near Afton

More senior care near Afton

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Afton

More for Afton 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 Afton, MN