Respite Care in Folkston, GA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Folkston, GA: the local picture

528

residents 65 or older (11% of Folkston)

67%

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

24%

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

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Folkston ZIP codes

Most older adults in Folkston 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 106 Folkston residents aged 65 or older report a disability (24%) (41% in Charlton County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Folkston compared with Charlton County and Georgia

Census figure	Folkston	Charlton County	Georgia
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	41%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	28%	26%
Residents 65 or older	11%	14%	15%
Residents 85 or older	0.3%	0.6%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	8.7%	11%
Households with no vehicle	12%	7.0%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$28,036	$41,100	—

Older residents in towns around Folkston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Hilliard, FL	12 mi	474	45%
Kingsland, GA	13 mi	2,256	40%
Nassau Village-Ratliff, FL	26 mi	1,432	46%
St. Marys, GA	26 mi	3,250	33%
Yulee, FL	30 mi	2,956	41%
Waycross, GA	33 mi	2,423	49%

Hospices serving Folkston

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Satilla Of Mem Hosp	Waycross, GA	34 mi	(912) 285-2340
Affinis Hospice	Waycross, GA	34 mi	(912) 590-0121
Georgia Hospice Care	Brunswick, GA	38 mi	(912) 574-7833
Gentiva	Brunswick, GA	38 mi	(912) 261-8760
Hospice Of The Golden Isles	Brunswick, GA	42 mi	(912) 265-4735

Nursing homes near Folkston (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Folkston Park Care And Rehabilitation Center	Folkston, GA	0.3 mi	1 of 5	92	(912) 266-8810
Life Care Center Of Hilliard	Hilliard, FL	12 mi	3 of 5	120	(904) 845-3988

Straight-line miles from the center of Folkston. 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 Folkston

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 52% of the $2,336 monthly median income of Folkston households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (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 Folkston: common questions

Which hospices serve Folkston?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Folkston ZIP codes, including Hospice Satilla Of Mem Hosp, Affinis Hospice, Georgia Hospice Care.

How much does respite care cost in Folkston?

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 52% of the $2,336 monthly median income of Folkston households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (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 Folkston. 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 Georgia.

More near Folkston

More senior care near Folkston

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Folkston

More for Folkston 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 Folkston, GA