Respite Care in Fort Scott, KS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Fort Scott, KS: the local picture

1,760

residents 65 or older (23% of Fort Scott)

59%

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

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Bourbon County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fort Scott ZIP codes

Most older adults in Fort Scott live with someone: 59% 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 597 Fort Scott residents aged 65 or older report a disability (37%) (37% in Bourbon County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Fort Scott ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Fort Scott compared with Bourbon County and Kansas

Census figure	Fort Scott	Bourbon County	Kansas
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	37%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	31%	30%
Residents 65 or older	23%	20%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.1%	8.2%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	2.9%	4.2%	5.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,889	$48,265	—

Older residents in towns around Fort Scott

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Nevada, MO	19 mi	1,455	47%
Girard, KS	23 mi	597	39%
Frontenac, KS	26 mi	712	24%
Pittsburg, KS	29 mi	2,600	43%
Lamar, MO	33 mi	985	53%
Butler, MO	36 mi	935	50%

Hospices serving Fort Scott

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Compassus-Southeast Kansas	Pittsburg, KS	30 mi	(620) 232-9898
Gentiva	Pittsburg, KS	30 mi	(620) 231-8000
Gentiva	Parsons, KS	46 mi	(620) 421-6161
Saint Lukes Hospice Of Leavenworth, LLC	Leavenworth, KS	103 mi	(913) 758-9034
Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice	Wichita, KS	144 mi	(316) 265-9441

Nursing homes near Fort Scott (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Medicalodges Fort Scott	Fort Scott, KS	0.6 mi	4 of 5	45	(620) 223-0210
Medicalodges Nevada	Nevada, MO	18 mi	3 of 5	100	(417) 667-5064
Moore Few Care Center	Nevada, MO	19 mi	3 of 5	108	(417) 448-3841
Nathan Richard Health Care Center	Nevada, MO	20 mi	1 of 5	68	(417) 667-8889

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

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $3,657 monthly median income of Fort Scott households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas's minimum wage is $7.25 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 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 Scott: common questions

Which hospices serve Fort Scott?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Fort Scott ZIP codes, including Hospice Compassus-Southeast Kansas, Gentiva, Gentiva.

How much does respite care cost in Fort Scott?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $3,657 monthly median income of Fort Scott households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Fort Scott. 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 Kansas.

More near Fort Scott

More senior care near Fort Scott

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fort Scott

More for Fort Scott 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 Scott, KS