Respite Care in Centralia, MO: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Centralia, MO: the local picture

986

residents 65 or older (21% of Centralia)

69%

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

51%

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

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Centralia ZIP codes

Most older adults in Centralia live with someone: 69% 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 475 Centralia residents aged 65 or older report a disability (51%) (29% in Boone County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Centralia ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Centralia compared with Boone County and Missouri

Census figure	Centralia	Boone County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with a disability	51%	29%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	21%	13%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	1.3%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.6%	8.6%	10%
Households with no vehicle	6.4%	5.9%	6.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,153	$64,058	—

Older residents in towns around Centralia

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Mexico, MO	14 mi	2,173	45%
Columbia, MO	21 mi	14,883	30%
Moberly, MO	22 mi	2,295	43%
Fulton, MO	26 mi	1,891	34%
Ashland, MO	28 mi	733	37%
Fayette, MO	30 mi	352	26%

Hospices serving Centralia

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Preferred Hospice Of Missouri (Central)	Columbia, MO	18 mi	(573) 499-4540
Hospice Compassus-North Central Missouri	Columbia, MO	21 mi	(573) 443-8360
St. Croix Hospice	Moberly, MO	22 mi	(660) 675-4216
Gentiva	Jefferson City, MO	44 mi	(573) 469-4895
Phoenix Home Care And Hospice	Jefferson City, MO	46 mi	(573) 635-3900

Nursing homes near Centralia (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Heritage Hall Nursing Center	Centralia, MO	0.7 mi	4 of 5	60	(573) 682-5551
Pin Oaks Living Center	Mexico, MO	13 mi	1 of 5	124	(573) 581-7261
Villa At Blue Ridge, The	Columbia, MO	19 mi	1 of 5	97	(573) 474-6111
Columbia Post Acute	Columbia, MO	19 mi	5 of 5	70	(573) 397-7144

Straight-line miles from the center of Centralia. 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 Centralia

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,096 monthly median income of Centralia households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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 Centralia: common questions

Which hospices serve Centralia?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Centralia ZIP codes, including Preferred Hospice Of Missouri (Central), Hospice Compassus-North Central Missouri, St. Croix Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Centralia?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,096 monthly median income of Centralia households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Centralia. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver covers Missouri.

More near Centralia

More senior care near Centralia

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Centralia

More for Centralia 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 Centralia, MO