Respite Care in Dunbar, WV: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Dunbar, WV: the local picture

1,618

residents 65 or older (22% of Dunbar)

48%

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

49%

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

1

Medicare-certified hospices serve Dunbar ZIP codes

Most older adults in Dunbar live with someone: 48% 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 731 Dunbar residents aged 65 or older report a disability (49%) (37% in Kanawha County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 1 hospice serving Dunbar ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Dunbar compared with Kanawha County and West Virginia

Census figure	Dunbar	Kanawha County	West Virginia
Residents 65+ with a disability	49%	37%	39%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	52%	31%	30%
Residents 65 or older	22%	22%	21%
Residents 85 or older	5.3%	2.5%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	11%	12%
Households with no vehicle	9.6%	9.5%	8.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,600	$51,172	—

Older residents in towns around Dunbar

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
South Charleston, WV	2.4 mi	2,876	35%
St. Albans, WV	4.5 mi	2,646	34%
Nitro, WV	4.9 mi	1,330	35%
Cross Lanes, WV	4.9 mi	2,226	26%
Charleston, WV	5.8 mi	10,007	34%
Sissonville, WV	11 mi	856	28%

Hospices serving Dunbar

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospicecare, Inc	Charleston, WV	5.8 mi	(304) 768-8523

Nursing homes near Dunbar (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Dunbar Center	Dunbar, WV	1.1 mi	2 of 5	120	(304) 744-4761
Riverside Valley Of Journey	Saint Albans, WV	1.8 mi	3 of 5	90	(304) 768-0002
Valley Center	South Charleston, WV	1.8 mi	2 of 5	130	(304) 768-4400
Arthur B Hodges Center, The	Charleston, WV	5.4 mi	4 of 5	20	(304) 720-2740

Straight-line miles from the center of Dunbar. 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 Dunbar

At the West Virginia median aide wage of $13.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,167 a month in wages, which is 44% of the $2,633 monthly median income of Dunbar households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. West Virginia's minimum wage is $8.75 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in West Virginia: ADW and Personal Options.

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 Dunbar: common questions

Which hospices serve Dunbar?

Medicare lists 1 hospice for Dunbar ZIP codes, including Hospicecare, Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Dunbar?

At the West Virginia median aide wage of $13.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,167 a month in wages, which is 44% of the $2,633 monthly median income of Dunbar households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. West Virginia's minimum wage is $8.75 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 Dunbar. 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 care for a family member in West Virginia: ADW and Personal Options covers West Virginia.

More near Dunbar

More senior care near Dunbar

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Dunbar

More for Dunbar 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 Dunbar, WV