Respite Care in Crete, NE: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Crete, NE: the local picture

959

residents 65 or older (13% of Crete)

76%

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

34%

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

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Crete ZIP codes

Most older adults in Crete live with someone: 76% 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 291 Crete residents aged 65 or older report a disability (34%) (32% in Saline County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 7 hospices serving Crete ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Crete compared with Saline County and Nebraska

Census figure	Crete	Saline County	Nebraska
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	32%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	24%	31%
Residents 65 or older	13%	15%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	2.2%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	7.9%	9.2%
Households with no vehicle	3.8%	3.2%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,646	$48,036	—

Older residents in towns around Crete

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Milford, NE	12 mi	404	24%
Hickman, NE	17 mi	291	37%
Lincoln, NE	19 mi	43,734	31%
Seward, NE	21 mi	1,320	35%
Beatrice, NE	27 mi	2,622	36%
Waverly, NE	30 mi	828	5.7%

Hospices serving Crete

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Aseracare Hospice	Lincoln, NE	18 mi	(402) 488-1363
Heartland Hospice (Lincoln)	Lincoln, NE	18 mi	(402) 858-3700
St. Croix Hospice	Lincoln, NE	20 mi	(402) 328-2350
Chi Health At Home - Lincoln	Lincoln, NE	20 mi	(402) 219-7043
Horisun Hospice	Lincoln, NE	20 mi	(402) 484-6444

Nursing homes near Crete (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Eventide Crete	Crete, NE	0.6 mi	5 of 5	38	(402) 826-6805
Wilber Care Center	Wilber, NE	9.4 mi	2 of 5	58	(402) 821-2331
Milford Meadows Care Center	Milford, NE	11 mi	2 of 5	80	(402) 761-3230
Heartland Ridge Care Center	Lincoln, NE	16 mi	2 of 5	47	(531) 739-3200

Straight-line miles from the center of Crete. 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 Crete

At the Nebraska median aide wage of $17.38 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,506 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $3,637 monthly median income of Crete households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Nebraska'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 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 Crete: common questions

Which hospices serve Crete?

Medicare lists 7 hospices for Crete ZIP codes, including Aseracare Hospice, Heartland Hospice (Lincoln), St. Croix Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Crete?

At the Nebraska median aide wage of $17.38 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,506 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $3,637 monthly median income of Crete households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Nebraska'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 Crete. 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 Nebraska.

More near Crete

More senior care near Crete

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Crete

More for Crete 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 Crete, NE