Respite Care in Arab, AL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Arab, AL: the local picture

1,347

residents 65 or older (16% of Arab)

60%

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

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Marshall County)

17

Medicare-certified hospices serve Arab ZIP codes

Most older adults in Arab live with someone: 60% 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 472 Arab residents aged 65 or older report a disability (37%) (38% in Marshall County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 17 hospices serving Arab ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Arab compared with Marshall County and Alabama

Census figure	Arab	Marshall County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	38%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	27%	29%
Residents 65 or older	16%	17%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.5%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.3%	12%	12%
Households with no vehicle	4.3%	4.4%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,987	$48,069	—

Older residents in towns around Arab

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Guntersville, AL	14 mi	1,892	37%
New Hope, AL	15 mi	291	35%
Albertville, AL	17 mi	3,464	43%
Owens Cross Roads, AL	18 mi	339	33%
Boaz, AL	22 mi	1,337	45%
Cullman, AL	22 mi	3,585	38%

Hospices serving Arab

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Cullman Regional Hospice	Cullman, AL	17 mi	(256) 739-5185
Shepherd's Cove Hospice	Albertville, AL	18 mi	(256) 891-7724
Hospice Family Care	Huntsville, AL	20 mi	(256) 650-1212
Aveanna Hospice Of Cullman	Cullman, AL	22 mi	(256) 739-4409
Hospice Of North Alabama, LLC	Huntsville, AL	27 mi	(256) 533-4300

Nursing homes near Arab (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Diversicare Of Arab	Arab, AL	1.4 mi	2 of 5	87	(256) 586-3111
Marshall Manor Nursing Home	Guntersville, AL	11 mi	3 of 5	91	(256) 582-6561
Barfield Health Care	Guntersville, AL	15 mi	5 of 5	113	(256) 582-3112
Albertville Nursing Home	Albertville, AL	18 mi	5 of 5	159	(256) 878-1398

Straight-line miles from the center of Arab. 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 Arab

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $3,416 monthly median income of Arab households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (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 Arab: common questions

Which hospices serve Arab?

Medicare lists 17 hospices for Arab ZIP codes, including Cullman Regional Hospice, Shepherd's Cove Hospice, Hospice Family Care.

How much does respite care cost in Arab?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $3,416 monthly median income of Arab households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (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 Arab. 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 Alabama.

More near Arab

More senior care near Arab

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Arab

More for Arab 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 Arab, AL