Respite Care in Columbia, TN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Columbia, TN: the local picture

7,063

residents 65 or older (16% of Columbia)

63%

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

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Maury County)

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Columbia ZIP codes

Most older adults in Columbia live with someone: 63% 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 2,247 Columbia residents aged 65 or older report a disability (34%) (33% in Maury County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 11 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 Maury County and Tennessee

Census figure	Columbia	Maury County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	33%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	27%	29%
Residents 65 or older	16%	17%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.3%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.7%	8.1%	11%
Households with no vehicle	3.0%	2.8%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$45,651	$53,299	—

Older residents in towns around Columbia

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Mount Pleasant, TN	9.6 mi	871	39%
Spring Hill, TN	11 mi	6,010	26%
Thompson's Station, TN	15 mi	1,026	24%
Lewisburg, TN	19 mi	2,317	44%
Franklin, TN	23 mi	12,769	27%
Fairview, TN	25 mi	1,197	40%

Hospices serving Columbia

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Aveanna Hospice	Franklin, TN	23 mi	(615) 791-8499
Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Nashville.	Franklin, TN	25 mi	(615) 771-8979
Gentiva	Nashville, TN	38 mi	(615) 889-5995
Alive Hospice Inc	Nashville, TN	39 mi	(615) 327-1085
Amedisys Hospice	Murfreesboro, TN	39 mi	(615) 316-2243

Nursing homes near Columbia (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Life Care Center Of Columbia	Columbia, TN	1.4 mi	4 of 5	123	(931) 388-5035
Magnolia Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Columbia, TN	2.5 mi	2 of 5	181	(931) 388-6443
Nhc Healthcare, Columbia	Columbia, TN	2.7 mi	4 of 5	106	(931) 381-3112
Nhc-Maury Regional Transitional Care Center	Columbia, TN	3.8 mi	5 of 5	112	(931) 398-6300

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 Tennessee median aide wage of $15.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,339 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $3,804 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. Tennessee 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 TennCare CHOICES: how to get paid to care for a family member in Tennessee.

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 11 hospices for Columbia ZIP codes, including Aveanna Hospice, Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Nashville., Gentiva.

How much does respite care cost in Columbia?

At the Tennessee median aide wage of $15.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,339 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $3,804 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. Tennessee 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 TennCare CHOICES: how to get paid to care for a family member in Tennessee covers Tennessee.

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, TN