Respite Care in Heathrow, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Heathrow, FL: the local picture

1,585

residents 65 or older (23% of Heathrow)

86%

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

17%

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

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Heathrow ZIP codes

Most older adults in Heathrow live with someone: 86% 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 265 Heathrow residents aged 65 or older report a disability (17%) (34% in Volusia County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 4 hospices serving Heathrow ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Heathrow compared with Volusia County and Florida

Census figure	Heathrow	Volusia County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	17%	34%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	14%	27%	25%
Residents 65 or older	23%	25%	21%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	2.7%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.7%	9.9%	12%
Households with no vehicle	3.7%	5.3%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$102,431	$54,671	—

Older residents in towns around Heathrow

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Lake Mary, FL	2.7 mi	3,308	27%
Longwood, FL	5.5 mi	3,252	27%
Sanford, FL	5.8 mi	8,489	29%
Wekiwa Springs, FL	6.4 mi	5,105	26%
DeBary, FL	7.6 mi	5,409	31%
Altamonte Springs, FL	8.3 mi	7,144	32%

Hospices serving Heathrow

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Adventhealth Hospice Care Central Florida	Altamonte Springs, FL	8.4 mi	(407) 682-0808
Gentiva	Orlando, FL	15 mi	(407) 514-1300
Hospice Of Lake & Sumter Inc	Tavares, FL	22 mi	(352) 343-1341
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	60 mi	(321) 751-6671

Nursing homes near Heathrow (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Aviata At Lake Mary	Lake Mary, FL	2.0 mi	4 of 5	120	(407) 805-3131
Island Lake Center	Longwood, FL	5.7 mi	4 of 5	120	(407) 830-7744
Village On The Green	Longwood, FL	6.3 mi	5 of 5	60	(407) 682-0230
Longwood Health And Rehabilitation Center	Longwood, FL	6.7 mi	1 of 5	120	(407) 339-9200

Straight-line miles from the center of Heathrow. 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 Heathrow

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 16% of the $8,536 monthly median income of Heathrow households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Heathrow: common questions

Which hospices serve Heathrow?

Medicare lists 4 hospices for Heathrow ZIP codes, including Adventhealth Hospice Care Central Florida, Gentiva, Hospice Of Lake & Sumter Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Heathrow?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 16% of the $8,536 monthly median income of Heathrow households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Heathrow. 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 take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO covers Florida.

More near Heathrow

More senior care near Heathrow

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Heathrow

More for Heathrow 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 Heathrow, FL