Respite Care in Atchison, KS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Atchison, KS: the local picture

1,522

residents 65 or older (14% of Atchison)

71%

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

43%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Atchison County)

17

Medicare-certified hospices serve Atchison ZIP codes

Most older adults in Atchison live with someone: 71% 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 596 Atchison residents aged 65 or older report a disability (43%) (36% in Atchison County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Atchison compared with Atchison County and Kansas

Census figure	Atchison	Atchison County	Kansas
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	36%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	14%	18%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.5%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	12%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	11%	7.7%	5.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,375	$50,047	—

Older residents in towns around Atchison

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Leavenworth, KS	20 mi	4,880	35%
St. Joseph, MO	22 mi	11,999	39%
Platte City, MO	25 mi	824	26%
Lansing, KS	25 mi	1,765	25%
Country Club, MO	26 mi	470	26%
Hiawatha, KS	29 mi	605	30%

Hospices serving Atchison

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Amberwell Hospice	Atchison, KS	0.4 mi	(913) 360-5520
Hospice Of NE KS Multi-County	Hiawatha, KS	22 mi	(785) 742-1966
Aseracare Hospice	Savannah, MO	30 mi	(816) 324-1250
Monarch Hospice & Palliative Care	Shawnee, KS	42 mi	(913) 730-8080
Prairie Wind Hospice LLC	Shawnee, KS	42 mi	(785) 202-8900

Nursing homes near Atchison (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Medicalodges Atchison	Atchison, KS	0.5 mi	4 of 5	60	(913) 367-6066
Dooley Center	Atchison, KS	1.0 mi	5 of 5	44	(913) 360-6200
Atchison Senior Village Rehabilitation And Nursing	Atchison, KS	1.4 mi	3 of 5	45	(913) 367-1906
Nortonville Health Care Center	Nortonville, KS	14 mi	1 of 5	45	(913) 886-6400

Straight-line miles from the center of Atchison. 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 Atchison

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $4,698 monthly median income of Atchison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Atchison: common questions

Which hospices serve Atchison?

Medicare lists 17 hospices for Atchison ZIP codes, including Amberwell Hospice, Hospice Of NE KS Multi-County, Aseracare Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Atchison?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $4,698 monthly median income of Atchison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Atchison. 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 Kansas.

More near Atchison

More senior care near Atchison

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Atchison

More for Atchison 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 Atchison, KS