Respite Care in Aurora, MO: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Aurora, MO: the local picture

1,386

residents 65 or older (19% of Aurora)

64%

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

39%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Lawrence County)

13

Medicare-certified hospices serve Aurora ZIP codes

Most older adults in Aurora live with someone: 64% 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 528 Aurora residents aged 65 or older report a disability (39%) (35% in Lawrence County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 13 hospices serving Aurora ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Aurora compared with Lawrence County and Missouri

Census figure	Aurora	Lawrence County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	35%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	29%	30%
Residents 65 or older	19%	18%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	2.0%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	8.9%	10%
Households with no vehicle	5.5%	6.3%	6.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$32,077	$44,713	—

Older residents in towns around Aurora

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Marionville, MO	5.2 mi	440	40%
Mount Vernon, MO	11 mi	889	35%
Monett, MO	12 mi	1,761	33%
Clever, MO	14 mi	235	44%
Cassville, MO	22 mi	732	32%
Republic, MO	22 mi	3,124	41%

Hospices serving Aurora

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Three Rivers Hospice West	Mount Vernon, MO	10 mi	(417) 461-0580
Hospice Compassus-Southwest Missouri	Springfield, MO	27 mi	(417) 882-0453
Coxhealth At Home	Springfield, MO	27 mi	(417) 883-7500
Good Shepherd Hospice Of Springfield, LLC	Springfield, MO	27 mi	(417) 881-9111
Haven Hospice	Ozark, MO	29 mi	(417) 731-7055

Nursing homes near Aurora (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Ascend At Aurora	Aurora, MO	0.8 mi	1 of 5	125	(417) 678-2165
Ozarks Methodist Manor, The	Marionville, MO	4.8 mi	1 of 5	78	(417) 258-2573
MT Vernon Nursing	Mount Vernon, MO	10 mi	4 of 5	60	(417) 466-2260
Lawrence County Manor	Mount Vernon, MO	11 mi	1 of 5	90	(417) 466-2183

Straight-line miles from the center of Aurora. 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 Aurora

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 52% of the $2,673 monthly median income of Aurora households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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 Aurora: common questions

Which hospices serve Aurora?

Medicare lists 13 hospices for Aurora ZIP codes, including Three Rivers Hospice West, Hospice Compassus-Southwest Missouri, Coxhealth At Home.

How much does respite care cost in Aurora?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 52% of the $2,673 monthly median income of Aurora households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Aurora. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver covers Missouri.

More near Aurora

More senior care near Aurora

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Aurora

More for Aurora 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 Aurora, MO