Respite Care in Fort Meade, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Fort Meade, FL: the local picture

1,295

residents 65 or older (25% of Fort Meade)

65%

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

44%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Polk County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fort Meade ZIP codes

Most older adults in Fort Meade live with someone: 65% 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 564 Fort Meade residents aged 65 or older report a disability (44%) (32% in Polk County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Fort Meade ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Fort Meade compared with Polk County and Florida

Census figure	Fort Meade	Polk County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	24%	25%
Residents 65 or older	25%	20%	21%
Residents 85 or older	4.8%	2.1%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	12%	12%
Households with no vehicle	14%	5.4%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$32,736	$50,939	—

Older residents in towns around Fort Meade

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Bartow, FL	8.4 mi	3,376	31%
Alturas, FL	9.2 mi	851	32%
Crooked Lake Park, FL	14 mi	352	35%
Wahneta, FL	14 mi	384	20%
Highland City, FL	14 mi	1,941	32%
Eagle Lake, FL	15 mi	217	16%

Hospices serving Fort Meade

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassionate Care Hospice Of Central Florida Inc	Lakeland, FL	16 mi	(863) 709-0099
Empath Hospice, LLC	Lakeland, FL	21 mi	(863) 329-2750
Good Shepherd Hospice	Lakeland, FL	23 mi	(863) 682-0067
Suncoast Hospice Of Hillsborough, LLC	Brandon, FL	31 mi	(813) 561-7300
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	71 mi	(321) 751-6671

Nursing homes near Fort Meade (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Bartow Center	Bartow, FL	8.1 mi	2 of 5	120	(863) 533-0578
Vivo Healthcare Wauchula	Wauchula, FL	15 mi	2 of 5	79	(863) 773-3231
Scott Lake Health And Rehabilitation Center	Lakeland, FL	16 mi	2 of 5	120	(863) 500-4015
Lake Wales Health And Rehabilitation Center	Lake Wales, FL	17 mi	1 of 5	100	(863) 676-1512

Straight-line miles from the center of Fort Meade. 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 Fort Meade

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 52% of the $2,728 monthly median income of Fort Meade households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Fort Meade: common questions

Which hospices serve Fort Meade?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Fort Meade ZIP codes, including Compassionate Care Hospice Of Central Florida Inc, Empath Hospice, LLC, Good Shepherd Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Fort Meade?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 52% of the $2,728 monthly median income of Fort Meade households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Fort Meade. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO covers Florida.

More near Fort Meade

More senior care near Fort Meade

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fort Meade

More for Fort Meade 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 Fort Meade, FL