Respite Care in Fairfield, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Fairfield, IA: the local picture

2,519

residents 65 or older (27% of Fairfield)

60%

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

16%

of residents 65+ report a disability (19% in Jefferson County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fairfield ZIP codes

Most older adults in Fairfield live with someone: 60% 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 383 Fairfield residents aged 65 or older report a disability (16%) (19% in Jefferson County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Fairfield compared with Jefferson County and Iowa

Census figure	Fairfield	Jefferson County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	16%	19%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	32%	31%
Residents 65 or older	27%	27%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	2.2%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	9.9%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	11%	7.5%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,167	$54,143	—

Older residents in towns around Fairfield

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Mount Pleasant, IA	22 mi	1,634	35%
Ottumwa, IA	24 mi	4,107	43%
Washington, IA	25 mi	1,683	37%
Bloomfield, IA	29 mi	514	48%
Kalona, IA	36 mi	684	21%
Oskaloosa, IA	40 mi	2,347	35%

Hospices serving Fairfield

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Everystep	Mount Pleasant, IA	21 mi	(319) 385-4472
Good Samaritan Society Home Care And Hospice	Ottumwa, IA	23 mi	(641) 684-9309
Hospice Of Washington County	Washington, IA	25 mi	(319) 653-7321
Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice Services	Oskaloosa, IA	41 mi	(641) 672-3140
Care Initiatives Hospice - Albia	Albia, IA	43 mi	(641) 932-3488

Nursing homes near Fairfield (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Prestige Care Center Of Fairfield	Fairfield, IA	0.8 mi	1 of 5	73	(641) 469-2140
Parkview Care Center	Fairfield, IA	1.3 mi	1 of 5	70	(641) 472-5022
Parkview Home	Wayland, IA	18 mi	5 of 5	34	(319) 256-3525
Country Lane Manor	Keosauqua, IA	19 mi	1 of 5	60	(319) 293-3761

Straight-line miles from the center of Fairfield. 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 Fairfield

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 41% of the $3,681 monthly median income of Fairfield 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 Fairfield: common questions

Which hospices serve Fairfield?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Fairfield ZIP codes, including Everystep, Good Samaritan Society Home Care And Hospice, Hospice Of Washington County.

How much does respite care cost in Fairfield?

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 41% of the $3,681 monthly median income of Fairfield 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 Fairfield. 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 Fairfield

More senior care near Fairfield

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fairfield

More for Fairfield 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 Fairfield, IA