Respite Care in Albany, MN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Albany, MN: the local picture

519

residents 65 or older (18% of Albany)

58%

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

44%

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

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Albany ZIP codes

Most older adults in Albany live with someone: 58% 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 204 Albany residents aged 65 or older report a disability (44%) (30% in Stearns County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Albany ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Albany compared with Stearns County and Minnesota

Census figure	Albany	Stearns County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	18%	16%	17%
Residents 85 or older	4.0%	2.0%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.5%	11%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	14%	6.0%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,719	$52,464	—

Older residents in towns around Albany

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Melrose, MN	13 mi	850	26%
St. Joseph, MN	13 mi	787	24%
Cold Spring, MN	13 mi	847	30%
Sartell, MN	17 mi	2,993	39%
Waite Park, MN	17 mi	1,523	44%
Paynesville, MN	19 mi	682	37%

Hospices serving Albany

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Centracare Hospice	Waite Park, MN	17 mi	(320) 259-9375
Moments Hospice	Saint Cloud, MN	19 mi	(320) 372-4300
St Croix Hospice	St. Cloud, MN	19 mi	(320) 201-5930
Horizon Health Hospice	Pierz, MN	35 mi	(320) 468-2788
Vivie Hospice	Alexandria, MN	43 mi	(320) 759-1275

Nursing homes near Albany (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Benedictine Living Community Mother Of Mercy	Albany, MN	1.0 mi	2 of 5	76	(320) 845-2195
Cura Of Melrose	Melrose, MN	13 mi	2 of 5	75	(320) 256-4474
Assumption Home	Cold Spring, MN	13 mi	5 of 5	76	(320) 685-3693
Sterling Park Health Care Center	Waite Park, MN	18 mi	2 of 5	40	(320) 252-9595

Straight-line miles from the center of Albany. 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 Albany

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 60% of the $2,643 monthly median income of Albany 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 Albany: common questions

Which hospices serve Albany?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Albany ZIP codes, including Centracare Hospice, Moments Hospice, St Croix Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Albany?

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 60% of the $2,643 monthly median income of Albany 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 Albany. 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 Albany

More senior care near Albany

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Albany

More for Albany 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 Albany, MN