Respite Care in Denison, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Denison, IA: the local picture

1,109

residents 65 or older (13% of Denison)

63%

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

42%

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

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Denison ZIP codes

Most older adults in Denison 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 427 Denison residents aged 65 or older report a disability (42%) (37% in Crawford County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Denison ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Denison compared with Crawford County and Iowa

Census figure	Denison	Crawford County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	37%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	31%	31%
Residents 65 or older	13%	18%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.3%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	9.5%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	4.5%	3.4%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$34,886	$48,444	—

Older residents in towns around Denison

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Carroll, IA	25 mi	2,456	22%
Harlan, IA	25 mi	1,170	24%
Onawa, IA	38 mi	609	42%
Missouri Valley, IA	42 mi	529	36%
Storm Lake, IA	44 mi	1,432	26%
Atlantic, IA	46 mi	1,632	37%

Hospices serving Denison

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Crawford County Community Health	Denison, IA	0.6 mi	(712) 263-3303
Gentiva	Carroll, IA	25 mi	(712) 792-2191
Myrtue Medical Center Hospice	Harlan, IA	26 mi	(712) 755-4308
St Croix Hospice	Co Bluffs, IA	58 mi	(712) 318-2120
St Croix Hospice	Spirit Lake, IA	98 mi	(712) 264-5674

Nursing homes near Denison (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Gracewell, An Eventide Community	Denison, IA	0.4 mi	5 of 5	84	(712) 263-3114
Denison Care Center	Denison, IA	1.4 mi	4 of 5	46	(712) 263-5611
Dunlap Specialty Care	Dunlap, IA	17 mi	4 of 5	46	(712) 643-2121
Odebolt Specialty Care	Odebolt, IA	21 mi	3 of 5	38	(712) 340-1236

Straight-line miles from the center of Denison. 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 Denison

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 52% of the $2,907 monthly median income of Denison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Denison: common questions

Which hospices serve Denison?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Denison ZIP codes, including Crawford County Community Health, Gentiva, Myrtue Medical Center Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Denison?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 52% of the $2,907 monthly median income of Denison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Denison. 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 Iowa.

More near Denison

More senior care near Denison

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Denison

More for Denison 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 Denison, IA