Respite Care in Avon Park, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Avon Park, FL: the local picture

3,201

residents 65 or older (32% of Avon Park)

79%

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

53%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Highlands County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Avon Park ZIP codes

Most older adults in Avon Park live with someone: 79% 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 1,617 Avon Park residents aged 65 or older report a disability (53%) (37% in Highlands County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Avon Park ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Avon Park compared with Highlands County and Florida

Census figure	Avon Park	Highlands County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	53%	37%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	21%	25%	25%
Residents 65 or older	32%	36%	21%
Residents 85 or older	4.5%	4.5%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	28%	12%	12%
Households with no vehicle	8.3%	5.6%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$30,231	$51,234	—

Older residents in towns around Avon Park

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Sebring, FL	8.9 mi	3,005	41%
Frostproof, FL	11 mi	1,108	38%
Crooked Lake Park, FL	17 mi	352	35%
Wauchula, FL	19 mi	515	51%
Alturas, FL	20 mi	851	32%
Fort Meade, FL	22 mi	1,295	44%

Hospices serving Avon Park

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassionate Care Hospice Of Central Florida Inc	Lakeland, FL	37 mi	(863) 709-0099
Good Shepherd Hospice	Lakeland, FL	43 mi	(863) 682-0067
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	61 mi	(321) 751-6671
Empath Tidewell Hospice	Sarasota, FL	64 mi	(941) 552-7500
Hospice Of Lake & Sumter Inc	Tavares, FL	85 mi	(352) 343-1341

Nursing homes near Avon Park (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Oaks At Avon	Avon Park, FL	1.0 mi	4 of 5	104	(863) 453-5200
Royal Care Of Avon Park	Avon Park, FL	2.7 mi	2 of 5	90	(863) 453-6674
Palms At Sebring Nursing And Rehabilitation The	Sebring, FL	7.9 mi	1 of 5	120	(863) 385-0161
Vivo Healthcare Sebring	Sebring, FL	8.4 mi	3 of 5	104	(863) 382-2153

Straight-line miles from the center of Avon Park. 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 Avon Park

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 56% of the $2,519 monthly median income of Avon Park households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Avon Park: common questions

Which hospices serve Avon Park?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Avon Park ZIP codes, including Compassionate Care Hospice Of Central Florida Inc, Good Shepherd Hospice, Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida.

How much does respite care cost in Avon Park?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 56% of the $2,519 monthly median income of Avon Park households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Avon Park. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO covers Florida.

More near Avon Park

More senior care near Avon Park

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Avon Park

More for Avon Park 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 Avon Park, FL