Respite Care in Alexandria, MN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Alexandria, MN: the local picture

3,590

residents 65 or older (24% of Alexandria)

62%

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

31%

of residents 65+ report a disability (25% in Douglas County)

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve Alexandria ZIP codes

Most older adults in Alexandria live with someone: 62% 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 1,001 Alexandria residents aged 65 or older report a disability (31%) (25% in Douglas County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 16 hospices serving Alexandria ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Alexandria compared with Douglas County and Minnesota

Census figure	Alexandria	Douglas County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	25%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	24%	24%	17%
Residents 85 or older	4.8%	3.2%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	8.7%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	9.1%	5.0%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,867	$57,355	—

Older residents in towns around Alexandria

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Glenwood, MN	15 mi	706	38%
Sauk Centre, MN	23 mi	1,171	41%
Long Prairie, MN	26 mi	887	35%
Melrose, MN	30 mi	850	26%
Morris, MN	32 mi	804	25%
Benson, MN	40 mi	774	51%

Hospices serving Alexandria

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Vivie Hospice	Alexandria, MN	0.4 mi	(320) 759-1275
Moments Hospice Of Alexandria LLC	Alexandria, MN	0.4 mi	(877) 666-3687
Horizon Public Health	Alexandria, MN	0.4 mi	(320) 763-6018
Glacial Ridge Hospice	Glenwood, MN	16 mi	(320) 634-2221
Centracare Hospice	Willmar, MN	53 mi	(320) 231-4470

Nursing homes near Alexandria (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Knute Nelson Care Center	Alexandria, MN	0.3 mi	5 of 5	83	(320) 763-6653
Bethany On The Lake LLC	Alexandria, MN	0.6 mi	3 of 5	83	(320) 762-1567
Galeon	Osakis, MN	11 mi	5 of 5	40	(320) 859-2142
Glenwood Village Care Center	Glenwood, MN	16 mi	2 of 5	64	(320) 634-5131

Straight-line miles from the center of Alexandria. 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 Alexandria

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 38% of the $4,156 monthly median income of Alexandria 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 Alexandria: common questions

Which hospices serve Alexandria?

Medicare lists 16 hospices for Alexandria ZIP codes, including Vivie Hospice, Moments Hospice Of Alexandria LLC, Horizon Public Health.

How much does respite care cost in Alexandria?

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 38% of the $4,156 monthly median income of Alexandria 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 Alexandria. 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 Alexandria

More senior care near Alexandria

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Alexandria

More for Alexandria 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 Alexandria, MN