Respite Care in Beardstown, IL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Beardstown, IL: the local picture

762

residents 65 or older (12% of Beardstown)

52%

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

45%

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

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Beardstown ZIP codes

Most older adults in Beardstown live with someone: 52% 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 314 Beardstown residents aged 65 or older report a disability (45%) (37% in Cass County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 4 hospices serving Beardstown ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Beardstown compared with Cass County and Illinois

Census figure	Beardstown	Cass County	Illinois
Residents 65+ with a disability	45%	37%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	48%	34%	30%
Residents 65 or older	12%	18%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.6%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	12%	10%
Households with no vehicle	5.8%	4.5%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,633	$52,357	—

Older residents in towns around Beardstown

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Rushville, IL	10 mi	618	26%
Jacksonville, IL	22 mi	3,371	35%
South Jacksonville, IL	24 mi	971	45%
Havana, IL	28 mi	712	40%
Macomb, IL	34 mi	2,363	33%
Pittsfield, IL	35 mi	1,079	47%

Hospices serving Beardstown

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Cass-Schuyler Area Hospice	Virginia, IL	12 mi	(217) 452-3057
Gentiva	Springfield, IL	43 mi	(217) 525-6200
Blessing Hospice	Quincy, IL	46 mi	(217) 228-5521
Residential Hospice Of Southern Illinois	Marion, IL	177 mi	(800) 358-8227

Nursing homes near Beardstown (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Beardstown Health & Rehab Ctr	Beardstown, IL	0.7 mi	4 of 5	79	(217) 323-4055
Rushville Nursing & Rehab Ctr	Rushville, IL	10 mi	1 of 5	96	(217) 322-3201
Cass County Senior Living & Rehabilitation LLC	Virginia, IL	13 mi	1 of 5	71	(217) 452-3218
Mount Sterling Health And Rehab Center	Mount Sterling, IL	18 mi	1 of 5	80	(217) 773-3377

Straight-line miles from the center of Beardstown. 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 Beardstown

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 60% of the $2,636 monthly median income of Beardstown households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois'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 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 Beardstown: common questions

Which hospices serve Beardstown?

Medicare lists 4 hospices for Beardstown ZIP codes, including Cass-Schuyler Area Hospice, Gentiva, Blessing Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Beardstown?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 60% of the $2,636 monthly median income of Beardstown households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois'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 Beardstown. 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 Illinois.

More near Beardstown

More senior care near Beardstown

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Beardstown

More for Beardstown 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 Beardstown, IL