Respite Care in Elwood, IN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Elwood, IN: the local picture

1,285

residents 65 or older (15% of Elwood)

57%

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

54%

of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in Madison County)

22

Medicare-certified hospices serve Elwood ZIP codes

Most older adults in Elwood live with someone: 57% 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 677 Elwood residents aged 65 or older report a disability (54%) (40% in Madison County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Elwood compared with Madison County and Indiana

Census figure	Elwood	Madison County	Indiana
Residents 65+ with a disability	54%	40%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	15%	19%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	2.0%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	8.4%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	5.8%	6.1%	6.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$39,250	$48,461	—

Older residents in towns around Elwood

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Alexandria, IN	8.6 mi	567	40%
Tipton, IN	11 mi	1,214	36%
Fairmount, IN	14 mi	539	40%
Cicero, IN	15 mi	905	31%
Anderson, IN	15 mi	10,705	46%
Lapel, IN	17 mi	336	32%

Hospices serving Elwood

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassus-Southern Indiana	Kokomo, IN	20 mi	(765) 252-2353
Guardian Angel Hospice Inc	Kokomo, IN	20 mi	(765) 453-7702
Compassus - Indianapolis	Muncie, IN	22 mi	(765) 288-2162
Heart To Heart Hospice Of Central Indiana LLC	Marion, IN	23 mi	(765) 677-0684
Elara Caring	Kokomo, IN	23 mi	(765) 388-4125

Nursing homes near Elwood (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Elwood Health And Living	Elwood, IN	0.4 mi	3 of 5	85	(765) 203-2672
Alexandria Care Center	Alexandria, IN	9.0 mi	3 of 5	70	(765) 724-4478
Summit Health And Living	Summitville, IN	11 mi	2 of 5	34	(765) 203-2671
Waters Of Tipton Skilled Nursing Facility, The	Tipton, IN	11 mi	1 of 5	150	(765) 675-8791

Straight-line miles from the center of Elwood. 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 Elwood

At the Indiana median aide wage of $16.86 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,461 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,271 monthly median income of Elwood households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Indiana'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 Elwood: common questions

Which hospices serve Elwood?

Medicare lists 22 hospices for Elwood ZIP codes, including Compassus-Southern Indiana, Guardian Angel Hospice Inc, Compassus - Indianapolis.

How much does respite care cost in Elwood?

At the Indiana median aide wage of $16.86 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,461 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,271 monthly median income of Elwood households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Indiana'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 Elwood. 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 Indiana.

More near Elwood

More senior care near Elwood

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Elwood

More for Elwood 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 Elwood, IN