Respite Care in Americus, GA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Americus, GA: the local picture

2,362

residents 65 or older (15% of Americus)

66%

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

31%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Sumter County)

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Americus ZIP codes

Most older adults in Americus live with someone: 66% 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 693 Americus residents aged 65 or older report a disability (31%) (34% in Sumter County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 9 hospices serving Americus ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Americus compared with Sumter County and Georgia

Census figure	Americus	Sumter County	Georgia
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	34%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	26%	26%
Residents 65 or older	15%	18%	15%
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.0%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	15%	11%
Households with no vehicle	14%	12%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$39,877	$38,511	—

Older residents in towns around Americus

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Montezuma, GA	19 mi	548	38%
Leesburg, GA	24 mi	395	33%
Dawson, GA	25 mi	810	38%
Vienna, GA	26 mi	733	33%
Cordele, GA	28 mi	1,594	63%
Unadilla, GA	31 mi	370	70%

Hospices serving Americus

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Phoebe Sumter Hospice	Americus, GA	2.4 mi	(229) 928-4000
Crisp Regional Hospice And Palliative Care	Cordele, GA	27 mi	(229) 273-6282
Pruitthealth Hospice-Cordele	Cordele, GA	27 mi	(229) 271-0300
Affinis Hospice, LLC	Albany, GA	33 mi	(229) 435-2109
Georgia Hospice Care	Albany, GA	35 mi	(229) 349-6390

Nursing homes near Americus (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Magnolia Manor Methodist Nsg C	Americus, GA	1.9 mi	3 of 5	238	(229) 924-9352
Lillian Carter Health Center By Harborview	Plains, GA	10 mi	2 of 5	100	(229) 824-7796
Montezuma Health And Rehabilitation	Montezuma, GA	19 mi	3 of 5	100	(478) 472-8168
4ANGELS Of Byromville Healthcare Center	Byromville, GA	20 mi	3 of 5	—	(470) 349-4507

Straight-line miles from the center of Americus. 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 Americus

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 37% of the $3,323 monthly median income of Americus 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 Americus: common questions

Which hospices serve Americus?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Americus ZIP codes, including Phoebe Sumter Hospice, Crisp Regional Hospice And Palliative Care, Pruitthealth Hospice-Cordele.

How much does respite care cost in Americus?

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 37% of the $3,323 monthly median income of Americus 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 Americus. 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 Americus

More senior care near Americus

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Americus

More for Americus 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 Americus, GA