Respite Care in Great Bend, KS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Great Bend, KS: the local picture

2,705

residents 65 or older (19% of Great Bend)

65%

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

38%

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

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Great Bend ZIP codes

Most older adults in Great Bend live with someone: 65% 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 954 Great Bend residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%) (34% in Barton County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Great Bend ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Great Bend compared with Barton County and Kansas

Census figure	Great Bend	Barton County	Kansas
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	34%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	31%	30%
Residents 65 or older	19%	21%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.3%	3.1%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.5%	10%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	5.9%	4.5%	5.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,469	$49,172	—

Older residents in towns around Great Bend

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Hoisington, KS	11 mi	503	37%
Larned, KS	20 mi	899	45%
Lyons, KS	32 mi	565	41%
Russell, KS	37 mi	1,030	37%
Ellsworth, KS	40 mi	537	34%
Pratt, KS	46 mi	1,278	42%

Hospices serving Great Bend

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Golden Belt Hospice	Great Bend, KS	2.7 mi	(620) 792-8171
Hospice & Palliative Care At Haysmed	Hays, KS	46 mi	(785) 623-6200
Hospice And Homecare Of Reno County	Hutchinson, KS	52 mi	(620) 665-2473
Gentiva	Wichita, KS	95 mi	(316) 559-2049
Traditions Health	Wichita, KS	98 mi	(316) 687-2273

Nursing homes near Great Bend (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Medicalodges Great Bend	Great Bend, KS	0.9 mi	2 of 5	51	(620) 792-2165
Azria Health Great Bend	Great Bend, KS	1.4 mi	2 of 5	85	(620) 792-2448
Diversicare Of Larned	Larned, KS	21 mi	5 of 5	80	(620) 285-6914

Straight-line miles from the center of Great Bend. 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 Great Bend

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 35% of the $3,706 monthly median income of Great Bend 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 Great Bend: common questions

Which hospices serve Great Bend?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Great Bend ZIP codes, including Golden Belt Hospice, Hospice & Palliative Care At Haysmed, Hospice And Homecare Of Reno County.

How much does respite care cost in Great Bend?

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 35% of the $3,706 monthly median income of Great Bend 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 Great Bend. 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 Great Bend

More senior care near Great Bend

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 Great Bend, KS