Respite Care in Girard, KS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Girard, KS: the local picture

597

residents 65 or older (21% of Girard)

50%

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

39%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Crawford County)

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Girard ZIP codes

Most older adults in Girard live with someone: 50% 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 221 Girard residents aged 65 or older report a disability (39%) (38% in Crawford County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 3 hospices serving Girard ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Girard compared with Crawford County and Kansas

Census figure	Girard	Crawford County	Kansas
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	38%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	50%	35%	30%
Residents 65 or older	21%	16%	17%
Residents 85 or older	0.8%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	12%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	8.7%	7.5%	5.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$30,969	$46,536	—

Older residents in towns around Girard

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Frontenac, KS	8.7 mi	712	24%
Pittsburg, KS	10 mi	2,600	43%
Columbus, KS	23 mi	596	50%
Fort Scott, KS	23 mi	1,760	37%
Parsons, KS	26 mi	1,942	50%
Carl Junction, MO	29 mi	1,201	41%

Hospices serving Girard

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Compassus-Southeast Kansas	Pittsburg, KS	11 mi	(620) 232-9898
Gentiva	Pittsburg, KS	11 mi	(620) 231-8000
Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice	Wichita, KS	137 mi	(316) 265-9441

Nursing homes near Girard (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Arma Operator, LLC	Arma, KS	8.4 mi	4 of 5	45	(620) 347-4103
Medicalodges Frontenac	Frontenac, KS	9.0 mi	1 of 5	55	(620) 231-7340
Pittsburg Care And Rehab	Pittsburg, KS	13 mi	3 of 5	86	(620) 231-1120
Via Christi Village Pittsburg	Pittsburg, KS	13 mi	3 of 5	96	(620) 235-0020

Straight-line miles from the center of Girard. 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 Girard

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 50% of the $2,581 monthly median income of Girard 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 Girard: common questions

Which hospices serve Girard?

Medicare lists 3 hospices for Girard ZIP codes, including Hospice Compassus-Southeast Kansas, Gentiva, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Girard?

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 50% of the $2,581 monthly median income of Girard 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 Girard. 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 Girard

More senior care near Girard

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Girard

More for Girard 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 Girard, KS