Respite Care in Altus, OK: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Altus, OK: the local picture

2,575

residents 65 or older (14% of Altus)

57%

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

54%

of residents 65+ report a disability (49% in Jackson County)

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Altus ZIP codes

Most older adults in Altus live with someone: 57% 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 1,268 Altus residents aged 65 or older report a disability (54%) (49% in Jackson County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 7 hospices serving Altus ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Altus compared with Jackson County and Oklahoma

Census figure	Altus	Jackson County	Oklahoma
Residents 65+ with a disability	54%	49%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	37%	30%
Residents 65 or older	14%	16%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	2.2%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	14%	11%
Households with no vehicle	8.0%	6.4%	5.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,250	$50,278	—

Older residents in towns around Altus

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Mangum, OK	19 mi	437	40%
Frederick, OK	28 mi	658	41%
Hobart, OK	28 mi	602	47%
Vernon, TX	35 mi	1,928	45%
Cache, OK	39 mi	483	42%
Sayre, OK	48 mi	379	38%

Hospices serving Altus

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Jackson County Memorial Hospital Authority	Altus, OK	0.9 mi	(580) 379-6900
Elk City Comforting Hands Hospice LLC	Elk City, OK	52 mi	(580) 225-1738
Complete Hospice Care Of Southern Oklahoma	Lawton, OK	54 mi	(580) 351-6565
Elara Caring Xxiv	Chickasha, OK	81 mi	(855) 527-7473
Choice Health At Home - Central Oklahoma Hospice	Chickasha, OK	81 mi	(405) 360-2400

Nursing homes near Altus (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
English Village Skilled Nursing And Therapy	Altus, OK	0.5 mi	4 of 5	128	(580) 477-1133
Magnolia Creek Skilled Nursing And Therapy	Altus, OK	0.8 mi	4 of 5	158	(580) 480-1800
Mangum Skilled Nursing And Therapy	Mangum, OK	19 mi	5 of 5	140	(580) 782-3346
Ayers Nursing Home	Snyder, OK	20 mi	3 of 5	97	(580) 569-2258

Straight-line miles from the center of Altus. 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 Altus

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,021 monthly median income of Altus households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Altus: common questions

Which hospices serve Altus?

Medicare lists 7 hospices for Altus ZIP codes, including Jackson County Memorial Hospital Authority, Elk City Comforting Hands Hospice LLC, Complete Hospice Care Of Southern Oklahoma.

How much does respite care cost in Altus?

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,021 monthly median income of Altus households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Altus. 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 Oklahoma.

More near Altus

More senior care near Altus

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Altus

More for Altus 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 Altus, OK