Respite Care in Ames, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Ames, IA: the local picture

7,494

residents 65 or older (11% of Ames)

69%

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

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Story County)

15

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ames ZIP codes

Most older adults in Ames live with someone: 69% 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 2,000 Ames residents aged 65 or older report a disability (27%) (26% in Story County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 15 hospices serving Ames ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Ames compared with Story County and Iowa

Census figure	Ames	Story County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	30%	31%
Residents 65 or older	11%	13%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.7%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.5%	5.6%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	7.2%	5.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,689	$69,964	—

Older residents in towns around Ames

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Nevada, IA	7.8 mi	1,242	29%
Huxley, IA	9.1 mi	525	32%
Story City, IA	11 mi	722	26%
Boone, IA	13 mi	2,272	35%
Madrid, IA	15 mi	566	41%
Polk City, IA	18 mi	874	24%

Hospices serving Ames

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heartland Hospice (West Des Moines)	Ames, IA	1.3 mi	(515) 346-3321
Mary Greeley Hospice Services	Ames, IA	4.1 mi	(515) 239-2011
St Croix Hospice	Ankeny, IA	21 mi	(515) 276-2700
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	28 mi	(515) 271-6777
Everystep	Des Moines, IA	29 mi	(515) 274-3400

Nursing homes near Ames (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Accura Healthcare Of Ames, LLC	Ames, IA	2.0 mi	3 of 5	75	(515) 232-3426
Green Hills Health Care Center	Ames, IA	2.0 mi	5 of 5	56	(515) 296-5000
Northridge Village	Ames, IA	2.8 mi	5 of 5	38	(515) 232-1000
Rolling Green Village Care Center	Nevada, IA	8.7 mi	3 of 5	58	(515) 382-6556

Straight-line miles from the center of Ames. 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 Ames

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,974 monthly median income of Ames households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Ames: common questions

Which hospices serve Ames?

Medicare lists 15 hospices for Ames ZIP codes, including Heartland Hospice (West Des Moines), Mary Greeley Hospice Services, St Croix Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Ames?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,974 monthly median income of Ames households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Ames. 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 Iowa.

More near Ames

More senior care near Ames

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ames

More for Ames 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 Ames, IA