Respite Care in Dawson, GA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Dawson, GA: the local picture

810

residents 65 or older (19% of Dawson)

79%

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

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Calhoun County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Dawson ZIP codes

Most older adults in Dawson 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 284 Dawson residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%) (37% in Calhoun County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Dawson ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Dawson compared with Calhoun County and Georgia

Census figure	Dawson	Calhoun County	Georgia
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	37%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	21%	35%	26%
Residents 65 or older	19%	17%	15%
Residents 85 or older	1.1%	1.6%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	36%	24%	11%
Households with no vehicle	23%	11%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$25,991	$24,155	—

Older residents in towns around Dawson

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Leesburg, GA	16 mi	395	33%
Cuthbert, GA	21 mi	495	57%
Albany, GA	21 mi	10,942	42%
Americus, GA	25 mi	2,362	31%
Putney, GA	29 mi	597	48%
Blakely, GA	39 mi	836	50%

Hospices serving Dawson

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Phoebe Hospice	Albany, GA	19 mi	(229) 312-7050
Affinis Hospice, LLC	Albany, GA	19 mi	(229) 435-2109
Georgia Hospice Care	Albany, GA	22 mi	(229) 349-6390
Phoebe Sumter Hospice	Americus, GA	23 mi	(229) 928-4000
Pruitthealth Hospice-Cordele	Cordele, GA	41 mi	(229) 271-0300

Nursing homes near Dawson (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Dawson Health And Rehabilitation	Dawson, GA	0.8 mi	1 of 5	60	(706) 485-8573
Lee County Health And Rehabilitation	Leesburg, GA	17 mi	3 of 5	60	(229) 759-9236
Lillian Carter Health Center By Harborview	Plains, GA	19 mi	2 of 5	100	(229) 824-7796
Pruitthealth - Palmyra	Albany, GA	20 mi	1 of 5	250	(229) 883-0500

Straight-line miles from the center of Dawson. 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 Dawson

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 56% of the $2,166 monthly median income of Dawson households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (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 Dawson: common questions

Which hospices serve Dawson?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Dawson ZIP codes, including Phoebe Hospice, Affinis Hospice, LLC, Georgia Hospice Care.

How much does respite care cost in Dawson?

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 56% of the $2,166 monthly median income of Dawson households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (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 Dawson. 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 Georgia.

More near Dawson

More senior care near Dawson

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Dawson

More for Dawson 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 Dawson, GA