Respite Care in Fairmont, MN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Fairmont, MN: the local picture

2,691

residents 65 or older (26% of Fairmont)

59%

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

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Martin County)

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fairmont ZIP codes

Most older adults in Fairmont live with someone: 59% 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 929 Fairmont residents aged 65 or older report a disability (35%) (32% in Martin County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 9 hospices serving Fairmont ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Fairmont compared with Martin County and Minnesota

Census figure	Fairmont	Martin County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	32%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	37%	30%
Residents 65 or older	26%	25%	17%
Residents 85 or older	6.0%	4.9%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	15%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	16%	9.9%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,578	$43,670	—

Older residents in towns around Fairmont

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Blue Earth, MN	18 mi	689	31%
St. James, MN	25 mi	712	25%
Estherville, IA	25 mi	1,332	45%
Jackson, MN	26 mi	714	49%
Lake Crystal, MN	34 mi	501	24%
Spirit Lake, IA	36 mi	1,217	37%

Hospices serving Fairmont

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
United Hospital District Inc	Blue Earth, MN	19 mi	(507) 526-3273
Stch South Central MN Opco LLC	Mankato, MN	42 mi	(507) 735-6221
Moments Hospice	Mankato, MN	42 mi	(507) 609-8800
St Croix Hospice	Albert Lea, MN	55 mi	(507) 416-4247
Avera At Home Southwest Minnesota	Marshall, MN	86 mi	(507) 537-7070

Nursing homes near Fairmont (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center	Fairmont, MN	0.6 mi	5 of 5	72	(507) 235-6606
Truman Senior Living	Truman, MN	13 mi	5 of 5	30	(507) 776-2031
Valley Vue Care Center	Armstrong, IA	17 mi	5 of 5	40	(712) 864-3567
St Lukes Lutheran Care Center	Blue Earth, MN	18 mi	5 of 5	64	(507) 526-2184

Straight-line miles from the center of Fairmont. 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 Fairmont

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 51% of the $3,132 monthly median income of Fairmont 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 Fairmont: common questions

Which hospices serve Fairmont?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Fairmont ZIP codes, including United Hospital District Inc, Stch South Central MN Opco LLC, Moments Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Fairmont?

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 51% of the $3,132 monthly median income of Fairmont 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 Fairmont. 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 Fairmont

More senior care near Fairmont

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fairmont

More for Fairmont 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 Fairmont, MN