Respite Care in Florence, AL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Florence, AL: the local picture

7,294

residents 65 or older (17% of Florence)

66%

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

43%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Lauderdale County)

14

Medicare-certified hospices serve Florence ZIP codes

Most older adults in Florence live with someone: 66% 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 2,958 Florence residents aged 65 or older report a disability (43%) (38% in Lauderdale County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 14 hospices serving Florence ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Florence compared with Lauderdale County and Alabama

Census figure	Florence	Lauderdale County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	38%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	28%	29%
Residents 65 or older	17%	20%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	1.9%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	8.1%	12%
Households with no vehicle	8.3%	5.1%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,127	$49,675	—

Older residents in towns around Florence

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Underwood-Petersville, AL	3.8 mi	787	36%
Sheffield, AL	5.4 mi	2,392	43%
Muscle Shoals, AL	6.2 mi	3,033	34%
Tuscumbia, AL	8.0 mi	1,963	46%
Russellville, AL	23 mi	1,593	47%
Iuka, MS	30 mi	798	51%

Hospices serving Florence

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Amedisys Hospice Of Florence	Florence, AL	0.4 mi	(256) 760-7877
Preferred Hospice	Florence, AL	0.4 mi	(256) 767-1322
Compassus-Florence	Florence, AL	6.7 mi	(256) 757-2414
Alabama Hospice Of The Shoals	Tuscumbia, AL	9.9 mi	(256) 314-1204
Volunteer Hospice	Waynesboro, TN	34 mi	(931) 722-9601

Nursing homes near Florence (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Florence Nursing And Rehabilitation Ctr, LLC	Florence, AL	0.9 mi	3 of 5	147	(256) 766-5771
Glenwood Center	Florence, AL	1.7 mi	1 of 5	125	(256) 766-8963
Mitchell-Hollingsworth Nursing & Rehabilitation	Florence, AL	2.1 mi	3 of 5	222	(256) 740-5400
El Reposo Nursing Facility	Florence, AL	2.2 mi	3 of 5	60	(256) 757-2143

Straight-line miles from the center of Florence. 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 Florence

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $4,261 monthly median income of Florence households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Florence: common questions

Which hospices serve Florence?

Medicare lists 14 hospices for Florence ZIP codes, including Amedisys Hospice Of Florence, Preferred Hospice, Compassus-Florence.

How much does respite care cost in Florence?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $4,261 monthly median income of Florence households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Florence. 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 Alabama.

More near Florence

More senior care near Florence

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Florence

More for Florence 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 Florence, AL