Respite Care in Dubuque, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Dubuque, IA: the local picture

12,258

residents 65 or older (21% of Dubuque)

67%

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

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Dubuque County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Dubuque ZIP codes

Most older adults in Dubuque live with someone: 67% 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 3,092 Dubuque residents aged 65 or older report a disability (27%) (26% in Dubuque County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Dubuque compared with Dubuque County and Iowa

Census figure	Dubuque	Dubuque County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	29%	31%
Residents 65 or older	21%	19%	18%
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	2.7%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.5%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	8.1%	6.1%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$52,932	$56,542	—

Older residents in towns around Dubuque

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Asbury, IA	3.8 mi	887	13%
Galena, IL	15 mi	1,117	19%
Platteville, WI	20 mi	1,286	33%
Dyersville, IA	21 mi	734	25%
Lancaster, WI	24 mi	935	24%
Maquoketa, IA	30 mi	1,336	36%

Hospices serving Dubuque

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Dubuque	Dubuque, IA	1.8 mi	(563) 582-1220
Above & Beyond Hospice Care	Monticello, IA	31 mi	(319) 465-4637
St Croix Hospice	Strawberry Point, IA	44 mi	(563) 933-2070
Hospice Compassus - Northeast Iowa	Cedar Rapids, IA	63 mi	(319) 362-2500
Care Initiatives Hospice - Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls, IA	89 mi	(319) 232-6148

Nursing homes near Dubuque (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Luther Manor At Hillcrest	Dubuque, IA	0.6 mi	1 of 5	103	(563) 588-1413
Ennoble Nursing And Rehab	Dubuque, IA	0.7 mi	5 of 5	85	(563) 557-1076
Dubuque Specialty Care	Dubuque, IA	1.1 mi	2 of 5	84	(563) 556-0673
Harmony Dubuque	Dubuque, IA	1.7 mi	2 of 5	75	(563) 556-1161

Straight-line miles from the center of Dubuque. 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 Dubuque

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 34% of the $4,411 monthly median income of Dubuque 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 Dubuque: common questions

Which hospices serve Dubuque?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Dubuque ZIP codes, including Hospice Of Dubuque, Above & Beyond Hospice Care, St Croix Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Dubuque?

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 34% of the $4,411 monthly median income of Dubuque 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 Dubuque. 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 Dubuque

More senior care near Dubuque

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Dubuque

More for Dubuque 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 Dubuque, IA