Respite Care in Clear Lake, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Clear Lake, IA: the local picture

2,089

residents 65 or older (27% of Clear Lake)

78%

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

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Cerro Gordo County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Clear Lake ZIP codes

Most older adults in Clear Lake live with someone: 78% 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 723 Clear Lake residents aged 65 or older report a disability (36%) (31% in Cerro Gordo County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Clear Lake compared with Cerro Gordo County and Iowa

Census figure	Clear Lake	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	22%	28%	31%
Residents 65 or older	27%	24%	18%
Residents 85 or older	3.7%	3.1%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.0%	7.3%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	6.4%	5.0%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,750	$50,066	—

Older residents in towns around Clear Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Mason City, IA	8.8 mi	6,215	31%
Garner, IA	12 mi	916	34%
Forest City, IA	16 mi	756	34%
Belmond, IA	23 mi	727	27%
Hampton, IA	28 mi	981	23%
Osage, IA	30 mi	897	30%

Hospices serving Clear Lake

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mercyone North Iowa Hospice	Mason City, IA	9.0 mi	(641) 428-6268
St Croix Hospice	Charles City, IA	36 mi	(641) 394-2700
Unitypoint Hospice	Fort Dodge, IA	60 mi	(515) 574-6420
Care Initiatives Hospice - Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls, IA	63 mi	(319) 232-6148
Cedar Valley Hospice	Waterloo, IA	68 mi	(319) 272-2002

Nursing homes near Clear Lake (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Oakwood Care Center	Clear Lake, IA	1.1 mi	3 of 5	76	(641) 357-5244
I O O F Home And Community Therapy Center	Mason City, IA	7.9 mi	4 of 5	82	(641) 423-0428
Good Shepherd Health Center	Mason City, IA	9.1 mi	1 of 5	170	(641) 424-1740
Heritage Care And Rehabilitation Center	Mason City, IA	9.7 mi	2 of 5	71	(641) 423-2121

Straight-line miles from the center of Clear Lake. 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 Clear Lake

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,479 monthly median income of Clear Lake households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 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 Clear Lake: common questions

Which hospices serve Clear Lake?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Clear Lake ZIP codes, including Mercyone North Iowa Hospice, St Croix Hospice, Unitypoint Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Clear Lake?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,479 monthly median income of Clear Lake households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Clear Lake. 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 Iowa.

More near Clear Lake

More senior care near Clear Lake

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Clear Lake

More for Clear Lake 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 Clear Lake, IA