Respite Care in Durham, NC: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Durham, NC: the local picture

39,442

residents 65 or older (14% of Durham)

69%

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

30%

of residents 65+ report a disability

22

Medicare-certified hospices serve Durham ZIP codes

Most older adults in Durham live with someone: 69% 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 11,389 Durham residents aged 65 or older report a disability (30%). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 22 hospices serving Durham ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Durham compared with North Carolina

Census figure	Durham	North Carolina
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	28%
Residents 65 or older	14%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.5%	11%
Households with no vehicle	7.2%	5.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$65,108	—

Older residents in towns around Durham

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Chapel Hill, NC	8.7 mi	7,766	26%
Morrisville, NC	10 mi	2,174	37%
Carrboro, NC	11 mi	2,207	28%
Hillsborough, NC	13 mi	1,728	33%
Butner, NC	14 mi	1,357	46%
Cary, NC	14 mi	25,341	26%

Hospices serving Durham

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Duke Hospice	Durham, NC	4.7 mi	(919) 613-4663
Unc Hospice	Chapel Hill, NC	7.2 mi	(984) 215-2650
Transitions Lifecare	Raleigh, NC	17 mi	(919) 828-0890
Heartland Hospice (Raleigh )	Raleigh, NC	17 mi	(919) 877-9959
Kindred Hospice	Oxford, NC	29 mi	(919) 603-0126

Nursing homes near Durham (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Hillcrest Convalescent Center	Durham, NC	2.2 mi	5 of 5	86	(919) 286-7705
Pettigrew Rehabilitation Center	Durham, NC	2.3 mi	4 of 5	96	(919) 286-0751
The Forest At Duke Inc	Durham, NC	2.9 mi	4 of 5	4	(919) 490-8000
Pruitthealth-Durham	Durham, NC	3.4 mi	1 of 5	125	(919) 383-1546

Straight-line miles from the center of Durham. 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 Durham

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $5,426 monthly median income of Durham households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina'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 Durham: common questions

Which hospices serve Durham?

Medicare lists 22 hospices for Durham ZIP codes, including Duke Hospice, Unc Hospice, Transitions Lifecare.

How much does respite care cost in Durham?

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $5,426 monthly median income of Durham households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina'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 Durham. 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 North Carolina.

More near Durham

More senior care near Durham

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Durham

More for Durham 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 Durham, NC