Respite Care in Houston, MS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Houston, MS: the local picture

769

residents 65 or older (21% of Houston)

77%

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

22%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Chickasaw County)

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Houston ZIP codes

Most older adults in Houston live with someone: 77% 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 161 Houston residents aged 65 or older report a disability (22%) (33% in Chickasaw County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 11 hospices serving Houston ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Houston compared with Chickasaw County and Mississippi

Census figure	Houston	Chickasaw County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	33%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	35%	30%
Residents 65 or older	21%	19%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.3%	2.3%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	40%	24%	15%
Households with no vehicle	12%	8.9%	6.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$27,788	$31,615	—

Older residents in towns around Houston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Pontotoc, MS	25 mi	990	57%
Verona, MS	26 mi	263	52%
Aberdeen, MS	26 mi	1,401	31%
West Point, MS	28 mi	1,985	25%
Tupelo, MS	30 mi	6,418	33%
Amory, MS	30 mi	1,311	42%

Hospices serving Houston

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Enhabit Hospice Of Northeast Mississippi	Tupelo, MS	30 mi	(662) 844-2870
North Mississippi Medical Ctr	Tupelo, MS	30 mi	(662) 377-3612
The Sanctuary Hospice House	Tupelo, MS	30 mi	(662) 407-2400
Community Hospice	Tupelo, MS	30 mi	(662) 823-9850
Gentiva	Starkville, MS	33 mi	(662) 615-1519

Nursing homes near Houston (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Trend Health And Rehab Of Houston	Houston, MS	1.3 mi	4 of 5	60	(662) 456-1101
Shearer-Richardson Memorial Nursing Home	Okolona, MS	16 mi	3 of 5	73	(662) 447-5463
Baptist Nursing Home-Calhoun, Inc	Calhoun City, MS	18 mi	1 of 5	120	(662) 628-6611
Bruce Community Living Center	Bruce, MS	22 mi	4 of 5	35	(662) 412-5100

Straight-line miles from the center of Houston. 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 Houston

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 43% of the $2,316 monthly median income of Houston 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 Houston: common questions

Which hospices serve Houston?

Medicare lists 11 hospices for Houston ZIP codes, including Enhabit Hospice Of Northeast Mississippi, North Mississippi Medical Ctr, The Sanctuary Hospice House.

How much does respite care cost in Houston?

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 43% of the $2,316 monthly median income of Houston 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 Houston. 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 Houston

More senior care near Houston

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Houston

More for Houston 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 Houston, MS