Respite Care in Chaffee, MO: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Chaffee, MO: the local picture

540

residents 65 or older (18% of Chaffee)

41%

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

48%

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

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Chaffee ZIP codes

Most older adults in Chaffee live with someone: 41% 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 230 Chaffee residents aged 65 or older report a disability (48%) (39% in Scott County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Chaffee compared with Scott County and Missouri

Census figure	Chaffee	Scott County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with a disability	48%	39%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	59%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	18%	19%	18%
Residents 85 or older	4.2%	2.1%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.7%	12%	10%
Households with no vehicle	12%	4.8%	6.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$27,847	$48,924	—

Older residents in towns around Chaffee

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Scott City, MO	7.4 mi	562	29%
Cape Girardeau, MO	11 mi	7,947	36%
Jackson, MO	14 mi	2,688	32%
Sikeston, MO	21 mi	3,549	38%
Charleston, MO	26 mi	656	44%
Anna, IL	30 mi	999	42%

Hospices serving Chaffee

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mercy Hospice	Cape Girardeau, MO	11 mi	(573) 335-6208
Providence Home Health & Hospice	Cape Girardeau, MO	12 mi	(573) 334-1515
Crown Hospice, Inc	Cape Girardeau, MO	12 mi	(573) 335-4800
Saint Francis Hospice	Cape Girardeau, MO	12 mi	(573) 331-5180
Elara Caring	Dexter, MO	32 mi	(573) 614-4000

Nursing homes near Chaffee (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Chaffee Nursing Center	Chaffee, MO	0.6 mi	5 of 5	71	(573) 887-3615
Lutheran Home, The	Cape Girardeau, MO	9.5 mi	5 of 5	274	(573) 335-0158
Life Care Center Of Cape Girardeau	Cape Girardeau, MO	10 mi	1 of 5	120	(573) 335-2086
Chateau Girardeau	Cape Girardeau, MO	10 mi	3 of 5	75	(573) 335-1281

Straight-line miles from the center of Chaffee. 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 Chaffee

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 59% of the $2,321 monthly median income of Chaffee 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 Chaffee: common questions

Which hospices serve Chaffee?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Chaffee ZIP codes, including Mercy Hospice, Providence Home Health & Hospice, Crown Hospice, Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Chaffee?

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 59% of the $2,321 monthly median income of Chaffee 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 Chaffee. 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 Chaffee

More senior care near Chaffee

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Chaffee

More for Chaffee 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 Chaffee, MO