Respite Care in Austin, MN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Austin, MN: the local picture

4,489

residents 65 or older (17% of Austin)

71%

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

27%

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

12

Medicare-certified hospices serve Austin ZIP codes

Most older adults in Austin 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 1,146 Austin residents aged 65 or older report a disability (27%) (26% in Mower County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 12 hospices serving Austin ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Austin compared with Mower County and Minnesota

Census figure	Austin	Mower County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	26%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	19%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.7%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.7%	8.7%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	6.3%	5.2%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,515	$54,904	—

Older residents in towns around Austin

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Albert Lea, MN	19 mi	4,619	30%
Dodge Center, MN	25 mi	419	24%
Kasson, MN	27 mi	1,037	33%
Stewartville, MN	28 mi	916	27%
Osage, IA	28 mi	897	30%
Byron, MN	30 mi	849	36%

Hospices serving Austin

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mayo Clinic Health System - Austin	Austin, MN	0.2 mi	(507) 434-1415
St Croix Hospice	Albert Lea, MN	20 mi	(507) 416-4247
Moments Hospice	Rochester, MN	34 mi	(507) 888-9700
Mayo Clinic Hospice	Rochester, MN	35 mi	(507) 284-4002
United Hospital District Inc	Blue Earth, MN	56 mi	(507) 526-3273

Nursing homes near Austin (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Sacred Heart Care Center	Austin, MN	1.2 mi	2 of 5	59	(507) 433-1808
St Marks Living	Austin, MN	1.3 mi	1 of 5	45	(507) 437-4594
Good Samaritan Society - Comforcare	Austin, MN	1.4 mi	5 of 5	45	(507) 434-8537
Prairie Manor Care Center	Blooming Prairie, MN	14 mi	5 of 5	39	(507) 583-4434

Straight-line miles from the center of Austin. 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 Austin

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $4,126 monthly median income of Austin households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Austin: common questions

Which hospices serve Austin?

Medicare lists 12 hospices for Austin ZIP codes, including Mayo Clinic Health System - Austin, St Croix Hospice, Moments Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Austin?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $4,126 monthly median income of Austin households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Austin. 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 Minnesota.

More near Austin

More senior care near Austin

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Austin

More for Austin 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 Austin, MN