Respite Care in Forest, VA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Forest, VA: the local picture

2,764

residents 65 or older (21% of Forest)

76%

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

21%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Bedford County)

13

Medicare-certified hospices serve Forest ZIP codes

Most older adults in Forest live with someone: 76% 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 561 Forest residents aged 65 or older report a disability (21%) (29% in Bedford County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 13 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 Bedford County and Virginia

Census figure	Forest	Bedford County	Virginia
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	29%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	24%	27%
Residents 65 or older	21%	23%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.2%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	1.5%	5.5%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	2.6%	3.2%	6.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$72,386	$63,298	—

Older residents in towns around Forest

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Timberlake, VA	4.3 mi	2,386	38%
Lynchburg, VA	4.8 mi	11,391	34%
Madison Heights, VA	11 mi	2,157	36%
Bedford, VA	13 mi	1,647	41%
Altavista, VA	17 mi	656	32%
Buena Vista, VA	25 mi	1,240	48%

Hospices serving Forest

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Centra Health, Hospice Of The Hills	Lynchburg, VA	6.8 mi	(804) 200-3204
James River Home Health Care LLC	Lynchburg, VA	6.8 mi	(434) 849-8614
Westminster At Home (Hospice)	Lynchburg, VA	6.8 mi	(434) 386-3800
Centra Bedford Hospice	Bedford, VA	15 mi	(540) 587-6592
Nayar Hospice Bedford LLC	Bedford, VA	15 mi	(804) 330-5433

Nursing homes near Forest (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Summit Health And Rehab Center	Lynchburg, VA	2.4 mi	3 of 5	120	(434) 845-6045
Lynchburg Health & Rehabilitation Center	Lynchburg, VA	5.3 mi	1 of 5	180	(434) 239-2657
Seven Hills Rehabilitation And Nursing	Lynchburg, VA	5.9 mi	1 of 5	120	(434) 846-8437
Tate Springs Health & Rehab	Lynchburg, VA	6.1 mi	4 of 5	118	(434) 846-4626

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 Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $6,032 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. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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 13 hospices for Forest ZIP codes, including Centra Health, Hospice Of The Hills, James River Home Health Care LLC, Westminster At Home (Hospice).

How much does respite care cost in Forest?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $6,032 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. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Forest. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus covers Virginia.

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, VA