Respite Care in Charleston, WV: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Charleston, WV: the local picture

10,007

residents 65 or older (21% of Charleston)

66%

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

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Kanawha County)

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Charleston ZIP codes

Most older adults in Charleston live with someone: 66% 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 3,372 Charleston residents aged 65 or older report a disability (34%) (37% in Kanawha County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 3 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 Kanawha County and West Virginia

Census figure	Charleston	Kanawha County	West Virginia
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	37%	39%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	31%	30%
Residents 65 or older	21%	22%	21%
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	2.5%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	11%	12%
Households with no vehicle	12%	9.5%	8.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$63,908	$51,172	—

Older residents in towns around Charleston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
South Charleston, WV	4.3 mi	2,876	35%
Dunbar, WV	5.8 mi	1,618	49%
Pinch, WV	9.3 mi	1,124	36%
Cross Lanes, WV	9.6 mi	2,226	26%
St. Albans, WV	10 mi	2,646	34%
Nitro, WV	10 mi	1,330	35%

Hospices serving Charleston

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospicecare, Inc	Charleston, WV	0.1 mi	(304) 768-8523
Dignity Hospice Of Southern West Virginia, Inc	Chapmanville, WV	33 mi	(304) 855-4764
Hospice Of Huntington	Huntington, WV	44 mi	(304) 529-4217

Nursing homes near Charleston (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Thomas Hospitals Skilled Nursing Unit	Charleston, WV	0.3 mi	5 of 5	29	(304) 347-6500
Complete Care At Oak Ridge LLC	Charleston, WV	1.3 mi	3 of 5	74	(304) 347-4372
Arthur B Hodges Center, The	Charleston, WV	1.9 mi	4 of 5	20	(304) 720-2740
Charleston Healthcare Center	Charleston, WV	2.6 mi	3 of 5	150	(304) 925-4771

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 West Virginia median aide wage of $13.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,167 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $5,326 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. West Virginia's minimum wage is $8.75 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in West Virginia: ADW and Personal Options.

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 3 hospices for Charleston ZIP codes, including Hospicecare, Inc, Dignity Hospice Of Southern West Virginia, Inc, Hospice Of Huntington.

How much does respite care cost in Charleston?

At the West Virginia median aide wage of $13.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,167 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $5,326 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. West Virginia's minimum wage is $8.75 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in West Virginia: ADW and Personal Options covers West Virginia.

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, WV