Respite Care in Clewiston, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Clewiston, FL: the local picture

1,411

residents 65 or older (19% of Clewiston)

79%

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

44%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Hendry County)

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Clewiston ZIP codes

Most older adults in Clewiston live with someone: 79% 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 566 Clewiston residents aged 65 or older report a disability (44%) (32% in Hendry County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 4 hospices serving Clewiston ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Clewiston compared with Hendry County and Florida

Census figure	Clewiston	Hendry County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	21%	22%	25%
Residents 65 or older	19%	14%	21%
Residents 85 or older	1.1%	0.9%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	19%	12%
Households with no vehicle	15%	8.1%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,064	$43,046	—

Older residents in towns around Clewiston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Montura, FL	12 mi	612	29%
South Bay, FL	13 mi	593	23%
Belle Glade, FL	17 mi	3,024	48%
Pahokee, FL	18 mi	1,000	52%
Port LaBelle, FL	27 mi	468	46%
LaBelle, FL	32 mi	704	30%

Hospices serving Clewiston

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Palm Beach County Inc	West Palm Beach, FL	54 mi	(561) 848-5200
Hope Hospice And Community Services Inc	Fort Myers, FL	64 mi	(800) 835-1673
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	96 mi	(321) 751-6671
Empath Tidewell Hospice	Sarasota, FL	100 mi	(941) 552-7500

Nursing homes near Clewiston (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Vivo Healthcare Clewiston	Clewiston, FL	0.2 mi	3 of 5	155	(863) 983-5123
Glades Health Care Center	Pahokee, FL	18 mi	4 of 5	120	(561) 924-5561

Straight-line miles from the center of Clewiston. 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 Clewiston

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,672 monthly median income of Clewiston households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Clewiston: common questions

Which hospices serve Clewiston?

Medicare lists 4 hospices for Clewiston ZIP codes, including Hospice Of Palm Beach County Inc, Hope Hospice And Community Services Inc, Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida.

How much does respite care cost in Clewiston?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,672 monthly median income of Clewiston households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Clewiston. 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 take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO covers Florida.

More near Clewiston

More senior care near Clewiston

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Clewiston

More for Clewiston 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 Clewiston, FL