Respite Care in Empire, MN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Empire, MN: the local picture

440

residents 65 or older (14% of Empire)

89%

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

22%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Dakota County)

27

Medicare-certified hospices serve Empire ZIP codes

Most older adults in Empire live with someone: 89% 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 97 Empire residents aged 65 or older report a disability (22%) (26% in Dakota County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 27 hospices serving Empire ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Empire compared with Dakota County and Minnesota

Census figure	Empire	Dakota County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	26%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	11%	28%	30%
Residents 65 or older	14%	16%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	1.7%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	0.2%	6.6%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	0.0%	4.9%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$106,944	$69,739	—

Older residents in towns around Empire

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Farmington, MN	4.0 mi	1,932	33%
Rosemount, MN	4.7 mi	3,813	27%
Apple Valley, MN	6.9 mi	9,553	26%
Lakeville, MN	7.8 mi	8,099	25%
Eagan, MN	10.0 mi	10,943	23%
Inver Grove Heights, MN	10 mi	6,440	25%

Hospices serving Empire

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Minnesota Hospice LLC	Lakeville, MN	8.1 mi	(952) 898-1022
Healthpartners Hospice And Palliatice Care	Bloomington, MN	13 mi	(952) 883-6877
Sholom Hospice	Saint Paul, MN	18 mi	(651) 328-2091
Hospice Of The Midwest	Woodbury, MN	18 mi	(651) 344-1040
Our Lady Of Peace Hospice	Saint Paul, MN	19 mi	(651) 789-5031

Nursing homes near Empire (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Trinity Care Center	Farmington, MN	3.3 mi	5 of 5	90	(651) 463-7818
Apple Valley Village Health Care Center	Apple Valley, MN	7.1 mi	5 of 5	162	(952) 236-2000
Ebenezer Ridges Geriatric Care Center	Burnsville, MN	10 mi	4 of 5	114	(952) 898-8400
Regina Senior Living	Hastings, MN	12 mi	2 of 5	57	(651) 480-4333

Straight-line miles from the center of Empire. 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 Empire

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 18% of the $8,912 monthly median income of Empire 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 Empire: common questions

Which hospices serve Empire?

Medicare lists 27 hospices for Empire ZIP codes, including Minnesota Hospice LLC, Healthpartners Hospice And Palliatice Care, Sholom Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Empire?

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 18% of the $8,912 monthly median income of Empire 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 Empire. 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 Empire

More senior care near Empire

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Empire

More for Empire 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 Empire, MN