Respite Care in Destin, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Destin, FL: the local picture

2,572

residents 65 or older (18% of Destin)

70%

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

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Okaloosa County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Destin ZIP codes

Most older adults in Destin live with someone: 70% 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 674 Destin residents aged 65 or older report a disability (27%) (35% in Okaloosa County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Destin compared with Okaloosa County and Florida

Census figure	Destin	Okaloosa County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	35%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	23%	25%
Residents 65 or older	18%	17%	21%
Residents 85 or older	1.1%	1.7%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.2%	8.0%	12%
Households with no vehicle	4.0%	3.6%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$67,650	$72,832	—

Older residents in towns around Destin

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Eglin AFB, FL	6.1 mi	73	0.0%
Lake Lorraine, FL	6.1 mi	1,214	37%
Valparaiso, FL	6.4 mi	698	42%
Miramar Beach, FL	7.7 mi	3,412	22%
Ocean City, FL	8.5 mi	828	35%
Niceville, FL	8.6 mi	3,016	35%

Hospices serving Destin

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva I	Pensacola, FL	43 mi	(704) 662-1761
Peoples Hospice And Palliative Care Of Florida LLC	Pensacola, FL	45 mi	(850) 378-5618
Emerald Coast Hospice	Panama City, FL	50 mi	(850) 769-0055
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Tallahassee, FL	134 mi	(850) 575-4998
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	381 mi	(321) 751-6671

Nursing homes near Destin (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Destination Health And Rehabilitation Center	Destin, FL	0.8 mi	5 of 5	119	(850) 654-4588
Manor At Blue Water Bay, The	Niceville, FL	6.3 mi	5 of 5	120	(850) 897-5592
Emerald Coast Center	Fort Walton Beach, FL	8.0 mi	4 of 5	120	(850) 243-6134
Grand Boulevard Health And Rehabilitation Center	Miramar Beach, FL	9.8 mi	4 of 5	97	(850) 267-2887

Straight-line miles from the center of Destin. 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 Destin

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,638 monthly median income of Destin households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Destin: common questions

Which hospices serve Destin?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Destin ZIP codes, including Gentiva I, Peoples Hospice And Palliative Care Of Florida LLC, Emerald Coast Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Destin?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,638 monthly median income of Destin households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Destin. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO covers Florida.

More near Destin

More senior care near Destin

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Destin

More for Destin 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 Destin, FL