Respite Care in Forest, MS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Forest, MS: the local picture

700

residents 65 or older (13% of Forest)

71%

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

50%

of residents 65+ report a disability (46% in Scott County)

18

Medicare-certified hospices serve Forest ZIP codes

Most older adults in Forest 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 335 Forest residents aged 65 or older report a disability (50%) (46% in Scott County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 18 hospices serving Forest ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Forest compared with Scott County and Mississippi

Census figure	Forest	Scott County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with a disability	50%	46%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	21%	30%
Residents 65 or older	13%	16%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.1%	1.3%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	14%	15%
Households with no vehicle	12%	6.4%	6.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,776	$39,941	—

Older residents in towns around Forest

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Morton, MS	11 mi	669	64%
Newton, MS	19 mi	714	52%
Carthage, MS	27 mi	1,007	48%
Brandon, MS	31 mi	4,500	39%
Pearl River, MS	33 mi	598	56%
Flowood, MS	35 mi	1,563	24%

Hospices serving Forest

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva	Newton, MS	17 mi	(601) 683-7500
Infinity Hospice, LLC Dba Acg Hospice - Carthage	Carthage, MS	30 mi	(601) 654-2328
Quality Hospice Care, Inc	Philadelphia, MS	35 mi	(601) 656-5252
Halcyon Hospice- Philadelphia	Philadelphia, MS	35 mi	(601) 656-7411
Vitalcaring Group	Flowood, MS	36 mi	(601) 605-3881

Nursing homes near Forest (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
MS Care Center Of Morton	Morton, MS	10 mi	2 of 5	120	(601) 732-6361
Bedford Care Center Of Newton	Newton, MS	19 mi	5 of 5	60	(601) 683-6601
MS Care Center Of Raleigh	Raleigh, MS	24 mi	5 of 5	110	(601) 782-4244
J G Alexander Nursing Center	Union, MS	25 mi	3 of 5	60	(601) 774-5065

Straight-line miles from the center of Forest. 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 Forest

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $3,065 monthly median income of Forest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi 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 Forest: common questions

Which hospices serve Forest?

Medicare lists 18 hospices for Forest ZIP codes, including Gentiva, Infinity Hospice, LLC Dba Acg Hospice - Carthage, Quality Hospice Care, Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Forest?

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $3,065 monthly median income of Forest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi 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 Forest. 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 Mississippi.

More near Forest

More senior care near Forest

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Forest

More for Forest 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 Forest, MS