Respite Care in Bessemer, AL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Bessemer, AL: the local picture

5,601

residents 65 or older (22% of Bessemer)

60%

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

52%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Jefferson County)

18

Medicare-certified hospices serve Bessemer ZIP codes

Most older adults in Bessemer live with someone: 60% 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 2,776 Bessemer residents aged 65 or older report a disability (52%) (38% in Jefferson County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 18 hospices serving Bessemer ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Bessemer compared with Jefferson County and Alabama

Census figure	Bessemer	Jefferson County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with a disability	52%	38%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	31%	29%
Residents 65 or older	22%	17%	18%
Residents 85 or older	3.2%	1.9%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	13%	12%
Households with no vehicle	11%	7.0%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$35,074	$51,066	—

Older residents in towns around Bessemer

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Hueytown, AL	3.7 mi	3,098	42%
Brighton, AL	5.0 mi	563	54%
McCalla, AL	5.7 mi	2,688	37%
Midfield, AL	6.5 mi	628	55%
Fairfield, AL	7.8 mi	1,751	33%
Helena, AL	8.1 mi	2,740	24%

Hospices serving Bessemer

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Enhabit Hospice Birmingham	Hoover, AL	8.5 mi	(205) 824-8681
Amedisys Hospice Of Birmingham	Homewood, AL	12 mi	(205) 868-9221
Affinity Hospice	Birmingham, AL	12 mi	(205) 949-0400
Expect Care Hospice	Hoover, AL	12 mi	(205) 444-0126
Aveanna Hospice Of Pelham	Pelham, AL	13 mi	(205) 663-6887

Nursing homes near Bessemer (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Diversicare Of Bessemer	Bessemer, AL	1.2 mi	1 of 5	180	(205) 425-5241
Oaks On Parkwood Skilled Nursing Facility	Bessemer, AL	2.0 mi	1 of 5	130	(205) 497-4520
Stonehaven Health And Rehabilitation Center	Bessemer, AL	4.4 mi	1 of 5	79	(205) 428-9383
Northgate Health And Rehabilitation Center	Bessemer, AL	4.5 mi	2 of 5	69	(205) 428-3249

Straight-line miles from the center of Bessemer. 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 Bessemer

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $2,923 monthly median income of Bessemer households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Bessemer: common questions

Which hospices serve Bessemer?

Medicare lists 18 hospices for Bessemer ZIP codes, including Enhabit Hospice Birmingham, Amedisys Hospice Of Birmingham, Affinity Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Bessemer?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $2,923 monthly median income of Bessemer households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Bessemer. 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 Alabama.

More near Bessemer

More senior care near Bessemer

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Bessemer

More for Bessemer 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 Bessemer, AL