Respite Care in Eldora, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Eldora, IA: the local picture

481

residents 65 or older (18% of Eldora)

73%

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

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Hardin County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Eldora ZIP codes

Most older adults in Eldora live with someone: 73% 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 114 Eldora residents aged 65 or older report a disability (26%) (27% in Hardin County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Eldora ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Eldora compared with Hardin County and Iowa

Census figure	Eldora	Hardin County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	28%	31%
Residents 65 or older	18%	24%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	3.4%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.5%	6.7%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	5.2%	5.3%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,154	$54,750	—

Older residents in towns around Eldora

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Iowa Falls, IA	14 mi	1,205	38%
Grundy Center, IA	17 mi	629	32%
Marshalltown, IA	25 mi	4,563	39%
Hampton, IA	27 mi	981	23%
Story City, IA	28 mi	722	26%
Nevada, IA	30 mi	1,242	29%

Hospices serving Eldora

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Iowa River Hospice	Marshalltown, IA	24 mi	(641) 753-7704
Care Initiatives Hospice - Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls, IA	35 mi	(319) 232-6148
Mary Greeley Hospice Services	Ames, IA	37 mi	(515) 239-2011
Cedar Valley Hospice	Waterloo, IA	38 mi	(319) 272-2002
St Croix Hospice	Charles City, IA	54 mi	(641) 394-2700

Nursing homes near Eldora (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Eldora Specialty Care	Eldora, IA	0.6 mi	3 of 5	46	(641) 939-3491
Hubbard Care Center	Hubbard, IA	11 mi	5 of 5	60	(641) 864-3264
The Village Of Ackley	Ackley, IA	14 mi	3 of 5	38	(641) 847-3531
Scenic Manor	Iowa Falls, IA	14 mi	5 of 5	77	(641) 648-4671

Straight-line miles from the center of Eldora. 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 Eldora

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 32% of the $4,680 monthly median income of Eldora 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 Eldora: common questions

Which hospices serve Eldora?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Eldora ZIP codes, including Iowa River Hospice, Care Initiatives Hospice - Cedar Falls, Mary Greeley Hospice Services.

How much does respite care cost in Eldora?

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 32% of the $4,680 monthly median income of Eldora 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 Eldora. 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 Eldora

More senior care near Eldora

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Eldora

More for Eldora 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 Eldora, IA