Respite Care in Fort Payne, AL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Fort Payne, AL: the local picture

2,311

residents 65 or older (15% of Fort Payne)

69%

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

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in DeKalb County)

14

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fort Payne ZIP codes

Most older adults in Fort Payne live with someone: 69% 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 804 Fort Payne residents aged 65 or older report a disability (37%) (35% in DeKalb County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 14 hospices serving Fort Payne ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Fort Payne compared with DeKalb County and Alabama

Census figure	Fort Payne	DeKalb County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	35%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	28%	29%
Residents 65 or older	15%	18%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	13%	12%
Households with no vehicle	5.1%	4.2%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,099	$38,448	—

Older residents in towns around Fort Payne

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Rainsville, AL	8.8 mi	1,430	31%
Henagar, AL	12 mi	402	33%
Summerville, GA	19 mi	977	39%
Centre, AL	21 mi	1,407	52%
Scottsboro, AL	24 mi	3,627	41%
LaFayette, GA	29 mi	1,408	41%

Hospices serving Fort Payne

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Alabama	Rainsville, AL	9.3 mi	(256) 638-3491
Shepherd's Cove Hospice	Albertville, AL	30 mi	(256) 891-7724
Aveanna Hospice Of Gadsden	Gadsden, AL	31 mi	(256) 547-3050
Prohealth Hospice-Gadsden	Gadsden, AL	31 mi	(256) 494-8170
Heartlite Hospice	Scottsboro, AL	33 mi	(256) 259-1754

Nursing homes near Fort Payne (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Crowne Health Care Of Ft Payne	Fort Payne, AL	1.5 mi	4 of 5	123	(256) 845-5990
Collinsville Healthcare & Rehab	Collinsville, AL	16 mi	2 of 5	200	(256) 524-2117
Cherokee County Health And Rehabilitation Center	Centre, AL	20 mi	2 of 5	185	(256) 927-5778
Oakview Health And Rehabilitation	Summerville, GA	20 mi	5 of 5	151	(706) 857-4761

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

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $4,175 monthly median income of Fort Payne households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama 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 Fort Payne: common questions

Which hospices serve Fort Payne?

Medicare lists 14 hospices for Fort Payne ZIP codes, including Hospice Of Alabama, Shepherd's Cove Hospice, Aveanna Hospice Of Gadsden.

How much does respite care cost in Fort Payne?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $4,175 monthly median income of Fort Payne households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama 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 Fort Payne. 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 Alabama.

More near Fort Payne

More senior care near Fort Payne

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fort Payne

More for Fort Payne 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 Payne, AL