Respite Care in Gouverneur, NY: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Gouverneur, NY: the local picture

836

residents 65 or older (23% of Gouverneur)

50%

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

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in St. Lawrence County)

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Gouverneur ZIP codes

Most older adults in Gouverneur 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 220 Gouverneur residents aged 65 or older report a disability (27%) (36% in St. Lawrence County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Gouverneur compared with St. Lawrence County and New York

Census figure	Gouverneur	St. Lawrence County	New York
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	36%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	50%	32%	29%
Residents 65 or older	23%	19%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.1%	2.2%	2.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	25%	13%	13%
Households with no vehicle	19%	10%	29%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$30,392	$47,107	—

Older residents in towns around Gouverneur

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Canton, NY	23 mi	931	35%
Carthage, NY	25 mi	370	34%
Fort Drum, NY	26 mi	16	0.0%
Ogdensburg, NY	26 mi	1,561	37%
Calcium, NY	28 mi	165	70%
Potsdam, NY	33 mi	845	41%

Hospices serving Gouverneur

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice And Palliative Care Of St Lawrence Valley	Potsdam, NY	33 mi	(315) 265-3105
Hospice Of Jefferson Co/Palliative Care Of Jeffers	Watertown, NY	33 mi	(315) 788-7323
Lewis County General Hospital Hospice	Lowville, NY	38 mi	(315) 376-5308

Nursing homes near Gouverneur (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
United Helpers Canton Nursing Home	Canton, NY	24 mi	3 of 5	160	(315) 386-4541
Carthage Center For Rehabilitation And Nursing	Carthage, NY	25 mi	1 of 5	90	(315) 493-3220

Straight-line miles from the center of Gouverneur. 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 Gouverneur

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 65% of the $2,533 monthly median income of Gouverneur households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 Gouverneur: common questions

Which hospices serve Gouverneur?

Medicare lists 3 hospices for Gouverneur ZIP codes, including Hospice And Palliative Care Of St Lawrence Valley, Hospice Of Jefferson Co/Palliative Care Of Jeffers, Lewis County General Hospital Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Gouverneur?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 65% of the $2,533 monthly median income of Gouverneur households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 Gouverneur. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member covers New York.

More near Gouverneur

More senior care near Gouverneur

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gouverneur

More for Gouverneur 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 Gouverneur, NY