Respite Care in Gulfport, MS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Gulfport, MS: the local picture

11,916

residents 65 or older (16% of Gulfport)

64%

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

47%

of residents 65+ report a disability (44% in Harrison County)

15

Medicare-certified hospices serve Gulfport ZIP codes

Most older adults in Gulfport live with someone: 64% 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 5,436 Gulfport residents aged 65 or older report a disability (47%) (44% in Harrison County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 15 hospices serving Gulfport ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Gulfport compared with Harrison County and Mississippi

Census figure	Gulfport	Harrison County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with a disability	47%	44%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	16%	17%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	13%	15%
Households with no vehicle	8.6%	6.5%	6.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,121	$52,006	—

Older residents in towns around Gulfport

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Long Beach, MS	7.2 mi	3,434	42%
Biloxi, MS	8.0 mi	7,920	39%
D'Iberville, MS	10 mi	1,769	45%
Pass Christian, MS	12 mi	1,364	40%
St. Martin, MS	12 mi	969	48%
Latimer, MS	14 mi	1,043	41%

Hospices serving Gulfport

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Enhabit Hospice Of The Gulf Coast	Biloxi, MS	3.0 mi	(228) 374-4434
Southern Care Inc Dba Gentiva	Biloxi, MS	8.7 mi	(228) 396-4756
Deaconess Hospice	Biloxi, MS	8.7 mi	(228) 435-2265
Saad Hospice Of Mississippi	Diberville, MS	10 mi	(228) 432-8855
Hospice Of Light	Ocean Springs, MS	17 mi	(228) 818-2160

Nursing homes near Gulfport (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lakeview Nursing Center	Gulfport, MS	4.2 mi	3 of 5	105	(228) 831-3001
Coastal Health And Rehabilitation Center	Gulfport, MS	4.6 mi	1 of 5	180	(228) 864-6544
Driftwood Nursing Center	Gulfport, MS	4.6 mi	3 of 5	151	(228) 822-6900
Gulfport Care Center	Gulfport, MS	4.6 mi	1 of 5	90	(228) 701-1500

Straight-line miles from the center of Gulfport. 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 Gulfport

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $3,427 monthly median income of Gulfport households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Gulfport: common questions

Which hospices serve Gulfport?

Medicare lists 15 hospices for Gulfport ZIP codes, including Enhabit Hospice Of The Gulf Coast, Southern Care Inc Dba Gentiva, Deaconess Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Gulfport?

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $3,427 monthly median income of Gulfport households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Gulfport. 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 Mississippi.

More near Gulfport

More senior care near Gulfport

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gulfport

More for Gulfport 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 Gulfport, MS