Respite Care in Hazard, KY: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Hazard, KY: the local picture

934

residents 65 or older (19% of Hazard)

68%

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

47%

of residents 65+ report a disability (61% in Perry County)

1

Medicare-certified hospices serve Hazard ZIP codes

Most older adults in Hazard 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 333 Hazard residents aged 65 or older report a disability (47%) (61% in Perry County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 1 hospice serving Hazard ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Hazard compared with Perry County and Kentucky

Census figure	Hazard	Perry County	Kentucky
Residents 65+ with a disability	47%	61%	39%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	19%	18%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.6%	1.9%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	13%	13%
Households with no vehicle	12%	7.2%	6.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,426	$35,872	—

Older residents in towns around Hazard

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Big Stone Gap, VA	36 mi	924	61%
Prestonsburg, KY	38 mi	824	56%
Norton, VA	39 mi	761	44%
Wise, VA	39 mi	514	61%
Pikeville, KY	40 mi	1,283	56%
Paintsville, KY	44 mi	630	32%

Hospices serving Hazard

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of The Bluegrass, Inc.	Hazard, KY	2.6 mi	(606) 439-2111

Nursing homes near Hazard (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Paul E Patton Eastern KY Veterans Center	Hazard, KY	0.9 mi	5 of 5	120	(606) 435-6196
Hazard Health And Rehabilitation Center	Hazard, KY	1.7 mi	1 of 5	200	(606) 439-2306
Hyden Health And Rehabilitation Center	Hyden, KY	12 mi	5 of 5	94	(606) 672-2940
Knott County Health & Rehabilitation Center	Hindman, KY	13 mi	3 of 5	92	(606) 785-5011

Straight-line miles from the center of Hazard. 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 Hazard

At the Kentucky median aide wage of $17.52 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,518 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $3,119 monthly median income of Hazard households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kentucky'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 How to get paid to care for a family member in Kentucky: Participant Directed Services.

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 Hazard: common questions

Which hospices serve Hazard?

Medicare lists 1 hospice for Hazard ZIP codes, including Hospice Of The Bluegrass, Inc..

How much does respite care cost in Hazard?

At the Kentucky median aide wage of $17.52 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,518 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $3,119 monthly median income of Hazard households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kentucky'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 Hazard. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to care for a family member in Kentucky: Participant Directed Services covers Kentucky.

More near Hazard

More senior care near Hazard

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Hazard

More for Hazard 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 Hazard, KY