Respite Care in Florence, CO: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Florence, CO: the local picture

745

residents 65 or older (19% of Florence)

71%

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

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Fremont County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Florence ZIP codes

Most older adults in Florence live with someone: 71% 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 230 Florence residents aged 65 or older report a disability (35%) (33% in Fremont County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 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 Fremont County and Colorado

Census figure	Florence	Fremont County	Colorado
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	33%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	28%	28%
Residents 65 or older	19%	23%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	2.6%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	11%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	7.0%	4.5%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$29,542	$47,160	—

Older residents in towns around Florence

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Penrose, CO	6.1 mi	836	33%
Lincoln Park, CO	6.9 mi	1,384	35%
Cañon City, CO	7.8 mi	4,461	39%
Park Center, CO	10.0 mi	530	30%
Pueblo West, CO	18 mi	6,290	32%
Pueblo, CO	28 mi	21,419	40%

Hospices serving Florence

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Fremont Regional Hospice	Canon City, CO	7.8 mi	(719) 275-4315
Sangre De Cristo Hospice & Palliative Care	Pueblo, CO	26 mi	(719) 542-0032
Compassus - Greater Colorado Springs	Colorado Springs, CO	40 mi	(719) 226-0091
Gentiva I	Colorado Springs, CO	41 mi	(719) 330-6652
Denver Hospice The	Denver, CO	93 mi	(303) 321-2828

Nursing homes near Florence (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Bruce Mccandless Co State Veterans Nursing Home	Florence, CO	1.2 mi	1 of 5	105	(719) 784-6331
Hildebrand Care Center	Canon City, CO	8.8 mi	5 of 5	75	(719) 275-8656
Progressive Care Center	Canon City, CO	8.8 mi	2 of 5	68	(719) 245-1406
Skyline Ridge Nursing & Rehabilitation Center	Canon City, CO	9.1 mi	2 of 5	85	(719) 275-0665

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 Colorado median aide wage of $18.53 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,606 a month in wages, which is 65% of the $2,462 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. Colorado's minimum wage is $15.16 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 Florence: common questions

Which hospices serve Florence?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Florence ZIP codes, including Fremont Regional Hospice, Sangre De Cristo Hospice & Palliative Care, Compassus - Greater Colorado Springs.

How much does respite care cost in Florence?

At the Colorado median aide wage of $18.53 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,606 a month in wages, which is 65% of the $2,462 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. Colorado's minimum wage is $15.16 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 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 Colorado.

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, CO