Respite Care in Duluth, MN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Duluth, MN: the local picture

15,068

residents 65 or older (17% of Duluth)

63%

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

30%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in St. Louis County)

13

Medicare-certified hospices serve Duluth ZIP codes

Most older adults in Duluth 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 4,244 Duluth residents aged 65 or older report a disability (30%) (30% in St. Louis County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 13 hospices serving Duluth ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Duluth compared with St. Louis County and Minnesota

Census figure	Duluth	St. Louis County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	21%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.5%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.6%	9.5%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	10%	8.0%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$55,688	$54,929	—

Older residents in towns around Duluth

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Proctor, MN	5.0 mi	732	45%
Hermantown, MN	5.4 mi	1,737	30%
Superior, WI	6.2 mi	4,778	37%
Rice Lake, MN	9.3 mi	949	19%
Cloquet, MN	18 mi	2,175	33%
Two Harbors, MN	28 mi	694	40%

Hospices serving Duluth

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Aspirus St. Luke's At Home-Hospice-Duluth	Duluth, MN	2.5 mi	(218) 249-6100
Essentia Health St Mary's Hospice & Palliative Care Services	Duluth, MN	2.5 mi	(218) 786-4020
Moments Hospice	Hermantown, MN	4.2 mi	(218) 520-0870
Gentiva 1	Hermantown, MN	4.2 mi	(218) 729-2517
Caringedge Hospice Hermantown	Hermantown, MN	4.2 mi	(218) 723-8905

Nursing homes near Duluth (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Viewcrest Health Center	Duluth, MN	1.4 mi	3 of 5	88	(218) 727-8801
Bayshore Residence And Rehabilitation Center	Duluth, MN	2.2 mi	2 of 5	140	(218) 727-8651
Benedictine Health Center	Duluth, MN	3.1 mi	1 of 5	96	(218) 522-8900
Hilltop Healthcare Rehabilitation And Skilled Nurs	Duluth, MN	3.1 mi	2 of 5	140	(218) 625-6400

Straight-line miles from the center of Duluth. 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 Duluth

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,641 monthly median income of Duluth households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Duluth: common questions

Which hospices serve Duluth?

Medicare lists 13 hospices for Duluth ZIP codes, including Aspirus St. Luke's At Home-Hospice-Duluth, Essentia Health St Mary's Hospice & Palliative Care Services, Moments Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Duluth?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,641 monthly median income of Duluth households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Duluth. 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 Minnesota.

More near Duluth

More senior care near Duluth

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Duluth

More for Duluth 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 Duluth, MN