Respite Care in Fruit Cove, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Fruit Cove, FL: the local picture

4,988

residents 65 or older (14% of Fruit Cove)

84%

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

25%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Duval County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fruit Cove ZIP codes

Most older adults in Fruit Cove live with someone: 84% 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 1,223 Fruit Cove residents aged 65 or older report a disability (25%) (34% in Duval County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Fruit Cove compared with Duval County and Florida

Census figure	Fruit Cove	Duval County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	25%	34%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	16%	28%	25%
Residents 65 or older	14%	15%	21%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.7%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.1%	13%	12%
Households with no vehicle	2.3%	7.2%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$91,297	$54,085	—

Older residents in towns around Fruit Cove

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Fleming Island, FL	5.5 mi	6,554	30%
Orange Park, FL	7.2 mi	2,455	35%
Green Cove Springs, FL	8.5 mi	1,746	38%
Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace, FL	8.8 mi	2,555	43%
Lakeside, FL	9.3 mi	5,934	37%
Asbury Lake, FL	10 mi	1,834	33%

Hospices serving Fruit Cove

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Community Hospice Of Northeast Florida Inc	Jacksonville, FL	6.7 mi	(904) 268-5200
Heartland Hospice (Jacksonville)	Jacksonville, FL	9.4 mi	(904) 737-2553
Hospice Of Florida	Jacksonville, FL	16 mi	(904) 740-2310
Haven Hospice	Gainesville, FL	54 mi	(904) 378-2121
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	146 mi	(321) 751-6671

Nursing homes near Fruit Cove (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Westminster Woods On Julington Creek	Jacksonville, FL	1.5 mi	5 of 5	60	(904) 287-7300
River Garden Hebrew Home For The Aged	Jacksonville, FL	4.9 mi	5 of 5	180	(904) 260-1818
Bartram Crossing	Jacksonville, FL	5.6 mi	2 of 5	100	(904) 824-3326
Isle Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center	Orange Park, FL	5.6 mi	5 of 5	108	(904) 213-8338

Straight-line miles from the center of Fruit Cove. 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 Fruit Cove

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 19% of the $7,608 monthly median income of Fruit Cove 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 Fruit Cove: common questions

Which hospices serve Fruit Cove?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Fruit Cove ZIP codes, including Community Hospice Of Northeast Florida Inc, Heartland Hospice (Jacksonville), Hospice Of Florida.

How much does respite care cost in Fruit Cove?

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 19% of the $7,608 monthly median income of Fruit Cove 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 Fruit Cove. 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 Fruit Cove

More senior care near Fruit Cove

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fruit Cove

More for Fruit Cove 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 Fruit Cove, FL