Respite Care in Auburn, AL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Auburn, AL: the local picture

7,790

residents 65 or older (9.7% of Auburn)

66%

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

32%

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

15

Medicare-certified hospices serve Auburn ZIP codes

Most older adults in Auburn 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 2,416 Auburn residents aged 65 or older report a disability (32%) (34% in Lee County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Auburn compared with Lee County and Alabama

Census figure	Auburn	Lee County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	34%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	28%	29%
Residents 65 or older	9.7%	13%	18%
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.2%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	11%	12%
Households with no vehicle	4.1%	4.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$69,706	$56,745	—

Older residents in towns around Auburn

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Opelika, AL	7.7 mi	6,049	29%
Tuskegee, AL	17 mi	1,311	33%
La Fayette, AL	21 mi	615	46%
Valley, AL	22 mi	1,645	43%
Huguley, AL	22 mi	523	49%
Dadeville, AL	22 mi	549	50%

Hospices serving Auburn

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva Phenix City	Auburn, AL	4.4 mi	(334) 298-8898
Compassus-Auburn	Auburn, AL	4.4 mi	(334) 826-1899
Ivy Creek Hospice	Dadeville, AL	22 mi	(256) 825-7821
Chattahoochee Hospice Inc	Valley, AL	23 mi	(334) 756-8043
Community Hospice Care	Tallassee, AL	24 mi	(334) 283-6541

Nursing homes near Auburn (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Arbor Lake Health And Rehab	Auburn, AL	3.3 mi	3 of 5	87	(334) 826-7200
Arbor Springs Health And Rehab Center, Ltd	Opelika, AL	6.0 mi	2 of 5	225	(334) 749-1471
Magnolia Haven Health And Rehabilitation Center	Tuskegee, AL	17 mi	1 of 5	111	(334) 727-4960
Lafayette Extended Care	Lafayette, AL	20 mi	2 of 5	69	(334) 864-8854

Straight-line miles from the center of Auburn. 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 Auburn

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 20% of the $5,809 monthly median income of Auburn 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 Auburn: common questions

Which hospices serve Auburn?

Medicare lists 15 hospices for Auburn ZIP codes, including Gentiva Phenix City, Compassus-Auburn, Ivy Creek Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Auburn?

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 20% of the $5,809 monthly median income of Auburn 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 Auburn. 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 Auburn

More senior care near Auburn

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Auburn

More for Auburn 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 Auburn, AL