Respite Care in Alma, GA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Alma, GA: the local picture

714

residents 65 or older (21% of Alma)

63%

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

55%

of residents 65+ report a disability (47% in Bacon County)

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Alma ZIP codes

Most older adults in Alma live with someone: 63% 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 345 Alma residents aged 65 or older report a disability (55%) (47% in Bacon County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Alma compared with Bacon County and Georgia

Census figure	Alma	Bacon County	Georgia
Residents 65+ with a disability	55%	47%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	33%	26%
Residents 65 or older	21%	18%	15%
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	1.7%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	16%	11%
Households with no vehicle	10%	7.7%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,128	$38,942	—

Older residents in towns around Alma

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Nicholls, GA	9.7 mi	263	46%
Baxley, GA	17 mi	998	52%
Blackshear, GA	22 mi	727	46%
Douglas, GA	22 mi	1,671	43%
Hazlehurst, GA	23 mi	587	56%
Waycross, GA	24 mi	2,423	49%

Hospices serving Alma

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Comfort Care Hospice	Baxley, GA	18 mi	(912) 367-4146
Hospice Satilla Of Mem Hosp	Waycross, GA	23 mi	(912) 285-2340
Georgia Hospice Care	Jesup, GA	35 mi	(912) 427-3202
Hospice Of South Georgia, Inc.	Jesup, GA	35 mi	(912) 588-0080
Coastal Hospice Of Georgia	Brunswick, GA	59 mi	(912) 434-9810

Nursing homes near Alma (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Twin Oaks Convalescent Center	Alma, GA	0.7 mi	5 of 5	88	(912) 632-7293
Appling Nursing And Rehabilitation Pavilion	Baxley, GA	17 mi	1 of 5	101	(912) 367-9841
Waycross Health And Rehabilitation	Waycross, GA	23 mi	5 of 5	92	(912) 285-4721
Harborview Satilla	Waycross, GA	23 mi	1 of 5	174	(912) 283-1182

Straight-line miles from the center of Alma. 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 Alma

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $3,344 monthly median income of Alma households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Alma: common questions

Which hospices serve Alma?

Medicare lists 10 hospices for Alma ZIP codes, including Comfort Care Hospice, Hospice Satilla Of Mem Hosp, Georgia Hospice Care.

How much does respite care cost in Alma?

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $3,344 monthly median income of Alma households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Alma. 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 Georgia.

More near Alma

More senior care near Alma

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Alma

More for Alma 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 Alma, GA