Respite Care in Bedford, VA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Bedford, VA: the local picture

1,647

residents 65 or older (21% of Bedford)

65%

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

41%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Bedford County)

15

Medicare-certified hospices serve Bedford ZIP codes

Most older adults in Bedford live with someone: 65% 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 604 Bedford residents aged 65 or older report a disability (41%) (29% in Bedford County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Bedford compared with Bedford County and Virginia

Census figure	Bedford	Bedford County	Virginia
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	29%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	24%	27%
Residents 65 or older	21%	23%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	2.2%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	5.5%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	11%	3.2%	6.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$60,263	$63,298	—

Older residents in towns around Bedford

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Forest, VA	13 mi	2,764	21%
Timberlake, VA	15 mi	2,386	38%
Blue Ridge, VA	17 mi	516	18%
Lynchburg, VA	18 mi	11,391	34%
North Shore, VA	19 mi	1,633	25%
Altavista, VA	20 mi	656	32%

Hospices serving Bedford

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Centra Bedford Hospice	Bedford, VA	2.0 mi	(540) 587-6592
Nayar Hospice Bedford LLC	Bedford, VA	2.0 mi	(804) 330-5433
Centra Health, Hospice Of The Hills	Lynchburg, VA	20 mi	(804) 200-3204
James River Home Health Care LLC	Lynchburg, VA	20 mi	(434) 849-8614
Westminster At Home (Hospice)	Lynchburg, VA	20 mi	(434) 386-3800

Nursing homes near Bedford (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Oakwood Health And Rehab Center	Bedford, VA	0.9 mi	2 of 5	111	(540) 425-7800
Bedford Co Nursing Home	Bedford, VA	2.0 mi	4 of 5	90	(540) 586-7658
Summit Health And Rehab Center	Lynchburg, VA	15 mi	3 of 5	120	(434) 845-6045
Lynchburg Health & Rehabilitation Center	Lynchburg, VA	18 mi	1 of 5	180	(434) 239-2657

Straight-line miles from the center of Bedford. 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 Bedford

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,022 monthly median income of Bedford households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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 Bedford: common questions

Which hospices serve Bedford?

Medicare lists 15 hospices for Bedford ZIP codes, including Centra Bedford Hospice, Nayar Hospice Bedford LLC, Centra Health, Hospice Of The Hills.

How much does respite care cost in Bedford?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,022 monthly median income of Bedford households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Bedford. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus covers Virginia.

More near Bedford

More senior care near Bedford

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Bedford

More for Bedford 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 Bedford, VA