Respite Care in Columbia, MO: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Columbia, MO: the local picture

14,883

residents 65 or older (12% of Columbia)

65%

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

30%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Boone County)

20

Medicare-certified hospices serve Columbia ZIP codes

Most older adults in Columbia live with someone: 65% 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 4,277 Columbia residents aged 65 or older report a disability (30%) (29% in Boone County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 20 hospices serving Columbia ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Columbia compared with Boone County and Missouri

Census figure	Columbia	Boone County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	29%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	12%	13%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.3%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	8.6%	10%
Households with no vehicle	7.1%	5.9%	6.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$60,506	$64,058	—

Older residents in towns around Columbia

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Ashland, MO	10 mi	733	37%
Centralia, MO	21 mi	986	51%
Fulton, MO	21 mi	1,891	34%
Boonville, MO	23 mi	1,531	35%
Holts Summit, MO	24 mi	758	31%
Fayette, MO	24 mi	352	26%

Hospices serving Columbia

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Alternative Hospice Of Western Missouri, LLC	Columbia, MO	1.3 mi	(573) 345-5001
Acg Hospice	Columbia, MO	1.3 mi	(573) 542-0920
Hospice Compassus-North Central Missouri	Columbia, MO	1.3 mi	(573) 443-8360
Preferred Hospice Of Missouri (Central)	Columbia, MO	3.4 mi	(573) 499-4540
Hometown Homecare	Fayette, MO	22 mi	(660) 248-2100

Nursing homes near Columbia (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Parkside Manor	Columbia, MO	2.2 mi	1 of 5	120	(573) 449-1448
Columbia Post Acute	Columbia, MO	2.3 mi	5 of 5	70	(573) 397-7144
Villa At Blue Ridge, The	Columbia, MO	2.5 mi	1 of 5	97	(573) 474-6111
Bluffs, The	Columbia, MO	2.7 mi	1 of 5	132	(573) 442-6060

Straight-line miles from the center of Columbia. 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 Columbia

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 27% of the $5,042 monthly median income of Columbia 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 Columbia: common questions

Which hospices serve Columbia?

Medicare lists 20 hospices for Columbia ZIP codes, including Alternative Hospice Of Western Missouri, LLC, Acg Hospice, Hospice Compassus-North Central Missouri.

How much does respite care cost in Columbia?

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 27% of the $5,042 monthly median income of Columbia 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 Columbia. 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 Columbia

More senior care near Columbia

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Columbia

More for Columbia 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 Columbia, MO