Respite Care in Freeport, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Freeport, FL: the local picture

820

residents 65 or older (12% of Freeport)

77%

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

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Walton County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Freeport ZIP codes

Most older adults in Freeport live with someone: 77% 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 232 Freeport residents aged 65 or older report a disability (28%) (28% in Walton County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Freeport compared with Walton County and Florida

Census figure	Freeport	Walton County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	28%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	23%	25%
Residents 65 or older	12%	20%	21%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.4%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	9.0%	12%
Households with no vehicle	1.9%	3.5%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$78,417	$67,531	—

Older residents in towns around Freeport

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
DeFuniak Springs, FL	14 mi	1,057	52%
Miramar Beach, FL	15 mi	3,412	22%
Laguna Beach, FL	20 mi	1,274	25%
Niceville, FL	21 mi	3,016	35%
Destin, FL	21 mi	2,572	27%
Valparaiso, FL	23 mi	698	42%

Hospices serving Freeport

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Emerald Coast Hospice	Panama City, FL	35 mi	(850) 769-0055
Gentiva I	Pensacola, FL	63 mi	(704) 662-1761
Peoples Hospice And Palliative Care Of Florida LLC	Pensacola, FL	65 mi	(850) 378-5618
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Tallahassee, FL	114 mi	(850) 575-4998
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	365 mi	(321) 751-6671

Nursing homes near Freeport (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Grand Boulevard Health And Rehabilitation Center	Miramar Beach, FL	14 mi	4 of 5	97	(850) 267-2887
Chautauqua Springs Health Center	Defuniak Springs, FL	14 mi	5 of 5	180	(850) 892-2176
Manor At Blue Water Bay, The	Niceville, FL	17 mi	5 of 5	120	(850) 897-5592
Destination Health And Rehabilitation Center	Destin, FL	22 mi	5 of 5	119	(850) 654-4588

Straight-line miles from the center of Freeport. 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 Freeport

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 22% of the $6,535 monthly median income of Freeport 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 Freeport: common questions

Which hospices serve Freeport?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Freeport ZIP codes, including Emerald Coast Hospice, Gentiva I, Peoples Hospice And Palliative Care Of Florida LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Freeport?

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 22% of the $6,535 monthly median income of Freeport 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 Freeport. 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 Freeport

More senior care near Freeport

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Freeport

More for Freeport 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 Freeport, FL