Respite Care in Centre, AL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Centre, AL: the local picture

1,407

residents 65 or older (38% of Centre)

65%

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

52%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Cherokee County)

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Centre ZIP codes

Most older adults in Centre 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 658 Centre residents aged 65 or older report a disability (52%) (36% in Cherokee County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 10 hospices serving Centre ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Centre compared with Cherokee County and Alabama

Census figure	Centre	Cherokee County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with a disability	52%	36%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	28%	29%
Residents 65 or older	38%	24%	18%
Residents 85 or older	6.5%	2.1%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	12%	12%
Households with no vehicle	2.6%	2.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,304	$41,419	—

Older residents in towns around Centre

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Hokes Bluff, AL	16 mi	1,091	27%
Piedmont, AL	16 mi	901	50%
Glencoe, AL	21 mi	1,184	33%
Fort Payne, AL	21 mi	2,311	37%
Gadsden, AL	22 mi	6,020	39%
Jacksonville, AL	24 mi	1,723	53%

Hospices serving Centre

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Prohealth Hospice-Gadsden	Gadsden, AL	16 mi	(256) 494-8170
Aveanna Hospice Of Gadsden	Gadsden, AL	16 mi	(256) 547-3050
Hospice Of Alabama	Rainsville, AL	26 mi	(256) 638-3491
Compassus-Gadsden	Southside, AL	27 mi	(256) 782-3560
Southerncare New Beacon - Anniston	Anniston, AL	33 mi	(205) 236-5334

Nursing homes near Centre (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Cherokee County Health And Rehabilitation Center	Centre, AL	1.1 mi	2 of 5	185	(256) 927-5778
Collinsville Healthcare & Rehab	Collinsville, AL	13 mi	2 of 5	200	(256) 524-2117
Piedmont Health Care Center	Piedmont, AL	17 mi	5 of 5	91	(256) 447-8258
Northside Health Care	Gadsden, AL	18 mi	3 of 5	115	(256) 543-7101

Straight-line miles from the center of Centre. 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 Centre

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 32% of the $3,609 monthly median income of Centre 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 Centre: common questions

Which hospices serve Centre?

Medicare lists 10 hospices for Centre ZIP codes, including Prohealth Hospice-Gadsden, Aveanna Hospice Of Gadsden, Hospice Of Alabama.

How much does respite care cost in Centre?

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 32% of the $3,609 monthly median income of Centre 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 Centre. 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 Centre

More senior care near Centre

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Centre

More for Centre 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 Centre, AL