Respite Care in Hiawatha, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Hiawatha, IA: the local picture

1,068

residents 65 or older (15% of Hiawatha)

72%

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

31%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Linn County)

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Hiawatha ZIP codes

Most older adults in Hiawatha live with someone: 72% 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 299 Hiawatha residents aged 65 or older report a disability (31%) (27% in Linn County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 9 hospices serving Hiawatha ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Hiawatha compared with Linn County and Iowa

Census figure	Hiawatha	Linn County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	29%	31%
Residents 65 or older	15%	17%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	2.1%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	2.3%	6.5%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	3.2%	4.9%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$62,356	$61,583	—

Older residents in towns around Hiawatha

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Robins, IA	1.8 mi	476	29%
Marion, IA	5.4 mi	7,523	29%
Cedar Rapids, IA	6.4 mi	22,967	28%
Center Point, IA	10.0 mi	356	35%
Fairfax, IA	10 mi	400	20%
Mount Vernon, IA	16 mi	497	13%

Hospices serving Hiawatha

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Mercy	Hiawatha, IA	1.1 mi	(319) 398-6496
Unitypoint Hospice	Cedar Rapids, IA	3.0 mi	(319) 874-4907
Suncrest Hospice	Cedar Rapids, IA	3.0 mi	(319) 451-6300
Hospice Compassus - Northeast Iowa	Cedar Rapids, IA	7.2 mi	(319) 362-2500
Iowa City Hospice	Iowa City, IA	31 mi	(319) 351-5665

Nursing homes near Hiawatha (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Hiawatha Care Center	Hiawatha, IA	1.0 mi	3 of 5	109	(319) 378-8583
Northbrook Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Cedar Rapids, IA	1.9 mi	1 of 5	130	(319) 393-1447
St Luke's Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center	Cedar Rapids, IA	2.6 mi	5 of 5	46	(319) 366-8701
Hallmar Village	Cedar Rapids, IA	2.6 mi	2 of 5	55	(319) 369-4638

Straight-line miles from the center of Hiawatha. 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 Hiawatha

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $5,196 monthly median income of Hiawatha households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Hiawatha: common questions

Which hospices serve Hiawatha?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Hiawatha ZIP codes, including Hospice Of Mercy, Unitypoint Hospice, Suncrest Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Hiawatha?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $5,196 monthly median income of Hiawatha households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Hiawatha. 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 Iowa.

More near Hiawatha

More senior care near Hiawatha

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Hiawatha

More for Hiawatha 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 Hiawatha, IA