Respite Care in Dothan, AL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Dothan, AL: the local picture

13,436

residents 65 or older (19% of Dothan)

68%

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

36%

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

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Dothan ZIP codes

Most older adults in Dothan live with someone: 68% 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 4,633 Dothan residents aged 65 or older report a disability (36%) (37% in Houston County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 10 hospices serving Dothan ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Dothan compared with Houston County and Alabama

Census figure	Dothan	Houston County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	37%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	30%	29%
Residents 65 or older	19%	19%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.9%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	11%	12%
Households with no vehicle	8.0%	6.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,422	$47,091	—

Older residents in towns around Dothan

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Taylor, AL	6.1 mi	358	39%
Headland, AL	8.9 mi	820	35%
Daleville, AL	18 mi	968	36%
Hartford, AL	19 mi	434	33%
Fort Rucker, AL	20 mi	28	0.0%
Ozark, AL	21 mi	3,213	40%

Hospices serving Dothan

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Acg Hospice -Dothan	Dothan, AL	6.3 mi	(866) 266-5059
Vitas Healthcare Of Dothan	Dothan, AL	6.3 mi	(334) 794-7847
Community Hospice Of Dale Medical Center	Ozark, AL	20 mi	(334) 774-1380
Dayspring Hospice, LLC	Enterprise, AL	27 mi	(334) 347-2999
Gentiva	Enterprise, AL	27 mi	(334) 792-1100

Nursing homes near Dothan (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Extendicare Health And Rehab	Dothan, AL	1.8 mi	2 of 5	170	(334) 793-1177
Wesley Place On Honeysuckle	Dothan, AL	1.9 mi	2 of 5	166	(334) 792-0921
Westside Terrace Health & Rehabilitation Center	Dothan, AL	2.9 mi	4 of 5	165	(334) 794-1000
Hartford Health Care	Hartford, AL	19 mi	4 of 5	86	(334) 588-3842

Straight-line miles from the center of Dothan. 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 Dothan

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $4,035 monthly median income of Dothan households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama 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 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 Dothan: common questions

Which hospices serve Dothan?

Medicare lists 10 hospices for Dothan ZIP codes, including Acg Hospice -Dothan, Vitas Healthcare Of Dothan, Community Hospice Of Dale Medical Center.

How much does respite care cost in Dothan?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $4,035 monthly median income of Dothan households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama 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 Dothan. 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 Alabama.

More near Dothan

More senior care near Dothan

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Dothan

More for Dothan 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 Dothan, AL