Respite Care in Guntersville, AL for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Guntersville, AL: the local picture

1,892

residents 65 or older (21% of Guntersville)

68%

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

37%

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

18

Medicare-certified hospices serve Guntersville ZIP codes

Most older adults in Guntersville live with someone: 68% 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 644 Guntersville residents aged 65 or older report a disability (37%) (38% in Marshall County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 18 hospices serving Guntersville ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Guntersville compared with Marshall County and Alabama

Census figure	Guntersville	Marshall County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	38%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	27%	29%
Residents 65 or older	21%	17%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.5%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	12%	12%
Households with no vehicle	7.6%	4.4%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,934	$48,069	—

Older residents in towns around Guntersville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Albertville, AL	7.6 mi	3,464	43%
Boaz, AL	13 mi	1,337	45%
Arab, AL	14 mi	1,347	37%
New Hope, AL	15 mi	291	35%
Owens Cross Roads, AL	19 mi	339	33%
Scottsboro, AL	22 mi	3,627	41%

Hospices serving Guntersville

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Shepherd's Cove Hospice	Albertville, AL	4.6 mi	(256) 891-7724
Hospice Family Care	Huntsville, AL	24 mi	(256) 650-1212
Hospice Of Alabama	Rainsville, AL	25 mi	(256) 638-3491
Heartlite Hospice	Scottsboro, AL	27 mi	(256) 259-1754
Aveanna Hospice Of Scottsboro	Scottsboro, AL	27 mi	(256) 259-0906

Nursing homes near Guntersville (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Barfield Health Care	Guntersville, AL	3.9 mi	5 of 5	113	(256) 582-3112
Marshall Manor Nursing Home	Guntersville, AL	4.9 mi	3 of 5	91	(256) 582-6561
Albertville Nursing Home	Albertville, AL	7.7 mi	5 of 5	159	(256) 878-1398
Diversicare Of Boaz	Boaz, AL	12 mi	2 of 5	100	(256) 593-8380

Straight-line miles from the center of Guntersville. 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 Guntersville

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $4,161 monthly median income of Guntersville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama 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 Guntersville: common questions

Which hospices serve Guntersville?

Medicare lists 18 hospices for Guntersville ZIP codes, including Shepherd's Cove Hospice, Hospice Family Care, Hospice Of Alabama.

How much does respite care cost in Guntersville?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $4,161 monthly median income of Guntersville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama 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 Guntersville. 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 Alabama.

More near Guntersville

More senior care near Guntersville

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Guntersville

More for Guntersville 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 Guntersville, AL