Respite Care in Belle Fourche, SD for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Belle Fourche, SD: the local picture

1,117

residents 65 or older (19% of Belle Fourche)

67%

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

44%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Butte County)

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Belle Fourche ZIP codes

Most older adults in Belle Fourche live with someone: 67% 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 451 Belle Fourche residents aged 65 or older report a disability (44%) (39% in Butte County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Belle Fourche compared with Butte County and South Dakota

Census figure	Belle Fourche	Butte County	South Dakota
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	39%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	28%	30%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	1.8%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	11%	10%
Households with no vehicle	5.9%	5.6%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,338	$44,401	—

Older residents in towns around Belle Fourche

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Spearfish, SD	12 mi	2,676	30%
Lead, SD	22 mi	818	46%
Sturgis, SD	25 mi	1,375	42%
Summerset, SD	41 mi	248	29%
Blackhawk, SD	44 mi	550	41%
Rapid City, SD	52 mi	16,108	33%

Hospices serving Belle Fourche

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heartland Home Health & Hospice LLC	Belle Fourche, SD	1.1 mi	(605) 723-4663
Monument Health Home Plus Hospice	Spearfish, SD	12 mi	(605) 644-4444
Stillwater Hospice Of South Dakota	Rapid City, SD	52 mi	(605) 745-4967
Avera @ Home	Mitchell, SD	296 mi	(605) 995-2268

Nursing homes near Belle Fourche (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Rolling Hills Healthcare	Belle Fourche, SD	1.3 mi	1 of 5	83	(605) 892-3331
Spearfish Canyon Healthcare	Spearfish, SD	12 mi	2 of 5	105	(605) 642-2716
Monument Health Sturgis Care Center	Sturgis, SD	25 mi	3 of 5	40	(605) 720-2400

Straight-line miles from the center of Belle Fourche. 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 Belle Fourche

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 44% of the $3,612 monthly median income of Belle Fourche households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 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 Belle Fourche: common questions

Which hospices serve Belle Fourche?

Medicare lists 4 hospices for Belle Fourche ZIP codes, including Heartland Home Health & Hospice LLC, Monument Health Home Plus Hospice, Stillwater Hospice Of South Dakota.

How much does respite care cost in Belle Fourche?

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 44% of the $3,612 monthly median income of Belle Fourche households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 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 Belle Fourche. 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 South Dakota.

More near Belle Fourche

More senior care near Belle Fourche

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Belle Fourche

More for Belle Fourche 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 Belle Fourche, SD