Respite Care in Fairbury, NE: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Fairbury, NE: the local picture

989

residents 65 or older (25% of Fairbury)

67%

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

42%

of residents 65+ report a disability (41% in Jefferson County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fairbury ZIP codes

Most older adults in Fairbury live with someone: 67% 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 384 Fairbury residents aged 65 or older report a disability (42%) (41% in Jefferson County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Fairbury ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Fairbury compared with Jefferson County and Nebraska

Census figure	Fairbury	Jefferson County	Nebraska
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	41%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	33%	31%
Residents 65 or older	25%	25%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	2.7%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	21%	15%	9.2%
Households with no vehicle	12%	7.6%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,542	$43,945	—

Older residents in towns around Fairbury

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Beatrice, NE	24 mi	2,622	36%
Crete, NE	35 mi	959	34%
Marysville, KS	35 mi	674	51%
Milford, NE	44 mi	404	24%
Hickman, NE	44 mi	291	37%
Concordia, KS	47 mi	934	38%

Hospices serving Fairbury

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Cottonwood Hospice, LLC	Beatrice, NE	24 mi	(402) 228-8501
Aseracare Hospice	Lincoln, NE	51 mi	(402) 488-1363
St. Croix Hospice	Lincoln, NE	53 mi	(402) 328-2350
Aseracare Hospice	York, NE	54 mi	(308) 624-3939
St. Croix Hospice	Omaha, NE	95 mi	(402) 609-4818

Nursing homes near Fairbury (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Heritage Care Center	Fairbury, NE	0.4 mi	3 of 5	100	(402) 729-2289
Jefferson Community Health & Life Gardenside	Fairbury, NE	0.8 mi	4 of 5	39	(402) 729-5220
Blue Valley Lutheran Nursing Home	Hebron, NE	22 mi	4 of 5	64	(402) 768-3900

Straight-line miles from the center of Fairbury. 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 Fairbury

At the Nebraska median aide wage of $17.38 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,506 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,212 monthly median income of Fairbury households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Nebraska's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Fairbury: common questions

Which hospices serve Fairbury?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Fairbury ZIP codes, including Cottonwood Hospice, LLC, Aseracare Hospice, St. Croix Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Fairbury?

At the Nebraska median aide wage of $17.38 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,506 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,212 monthly median income of Fairbury households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Nebraska's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Fairbury. 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 Nebraska.

More near Fairbury

More senior care near Fairbury

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fairbury

More for Fairbury 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 Fairbury, NE