Respite Care in Charleston, MO: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Charleston, MO: the local picture

656

residents 65 or older (15% of Charleston)

62%

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

44%

of residents 65+ report a disability (53% in Mississippi County)

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Charleston ZIP codes

Most older adults in Charleston live with someone: 62% 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 255 Charleston residents aged 65 or older report a disability (44%) (53% in Mississippi County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 9 hospices serving Charleston ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Charleston compared with Mississippi County and Missouri

Census figure	Charleston	Mississippi County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	53%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	39%	30%
Residents 65 or older	15%	19%	18%
Residents 85 or older	0.4%	1.3%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.1%	9.7%	10%
Households with no vehicle	22%	14%	6.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,458	$40,000	—

Older residents in towns around Charleston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
East Prairie, MO	9.9 mi	563	79%
Sikeston, MO	14 mi	3,549	38%
Scott City, MO	24 mi	562	29%
Chaffee, MO	26 mi	540	48%
New Madrid, MO	26 mi	560	43%
Cape Girardeau, MO	30 mi	7,947	36%

Hospices serving Charleston

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Elite Hospice	Sikeston, MO	14 mi	(573) 472-6163
Crown Hospice, Inc	Cape Girardeau, MO	29 mi	(573) 335-4800
Saint Francis Hospice	Cape Girardeau, MO	29 mi	(573) 331-5180
Mercy Hospice	Cape Girardeau, MO	30 mi	(573) 335-6208
Elara Caring	Dexter, MO	36 mi	(573) 614-4000

Nursing homes near Charleston (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Bertrand Nursing And Rehab Center	Bertrand, MO	6.9 mi	5 of 5	60	(573) 683-4290
Aspire Senior Living East Prairie	East Prairie, MO	9.6 mi	3 of 5	52	(573) 649-3551
Daybreak Nursing Center	Sikeston, MO	12 mi	4 of 5	70	(573) 471-7683
Delta South Nursing & Rehabilitation	Sikeston, MO	13 mi	4 of 5	60	(573) 471-3400

Straight-line miles from the center of Charleston. 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 Charleston

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 45% of the $3,038 monthly median income of Charleston 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 Charleston: common questions

Which hospices serve Charleston?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Charleston ZIP codes, including Elite Hospice, Crown Hospice, Inc, Saint Francis Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Charleston?

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 45% of the $3,038 monthly median income of Charleston 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 Charleston. 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 Charleston

More senior care near Charleston

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Charleston

More for Charleston 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 Charleston, MO