Respite Care in Columbia, MS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Columbia, MS: the local picture

1,375

residents 65 or older (21% of Columbia)

61%

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

59%

of residents 65+ report a disability (49% in Marion County)

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Columbia ZIP codes

Most older adults in Columbia live with someone: 61% 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 682 Columbia residents aged 65 or older report a disability (59%) (49% in Marion County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 10 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 Marion County and Mississippi

Census figure	Columbia	Marion County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with a disability	59%	49%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	21%	19%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	1.8%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	11%	15%
Households with no vehicle	14%	5.5%	6.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$32,930	$41,138	—

Older residents in towns around Columbia

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
West Hattiesburg, MS	26 mi	709	50%
Hattiesburg, MS	30 mi	6,399	45%
Bogalusa, LA	33 mi	2,047	52%
Poplarville, MS	34 mi	332	15%
Franklinton, LA	34 mi	592	55%
Petal, MS	35 mi	1,713	49%

Hospices serving Columbia

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Luke Home Health And Hospice	Monticello, MS	26 mi	(601) 587-7686
Enhabit Hospice	Hattiesburg, MS	26 mi	(601) 264-8691
St Joseph Hospice Of Southern Mississippi, LLC	Hattiesburg, MS	26 mi	(601) 261-2515
Gentiva	Hattiesburg, MS	26 mi	(228) 385-7845
Forrest General Home Care And Hospice	Hattiesburg, MS	26 mi	(601) 288-2500

Nursing homes near Columbia (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Myrtles Nursing Center, LLC	Columbia, MS	0.0 mi	2 of 5	98	(601) 731-1745
The Grove	Columbia, MS	0.8 mi	2 of 5	86	(601) 736-4747
Columbia Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Columbia, MS	1.7 mi	3 of 5	119	(601) 736-9557
Billdora Senior Care	Tylertown, MS	22 mi	3 of 5	60	(601) 876-2173

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 Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $2,744 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. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Columbia: common questions

Which hospices serve Columbia?

Medicare lists 10 hospices for Columbia ZIP codes, including St Luke Home Health And Hospice, Enhabit Hospice, St Joseph Hospice Of Southern Mississippi, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Columbia?

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $2,744 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. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers Mississippi.

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, MS