Respite Care in Huntsville, AL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Huntsville, AL: the local picture

36,541

residents 65 or older (16% of Huntsville)

67%

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

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Madison County)

20

Medicare-certified hospices serve Huntsville ZIP codes

Most older adults in Huntsville live with someone: 67% 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 12,268 Huntsville residents aged 65 or older report a disability (35%) (35% in Madison County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 20 hospices serving Huntsville ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Huntsville compared with Madison County and Alabama

Census figure	Huntsville	Madison County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	35%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	29%	29%
Residents 65 or older	16%	16%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	1.7%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.5%	9.5%	12%
Households with no vehicle	4.9%	4.0%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$61,698	$65,028	—

Older residents in towns around Huntsville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Madison, AL	4.9 mi	7,628	25%
Triana, AL	8.6 mi	325	53%
Harvest, AL	12 mi	957	36%
Meridianville, AL	13 mi	1,424	37%
Moores Mill, AL	14 mi	1,072	42%
Owens Cross Roads, AL	15 mi	339	33%

Hospices serving Huntsville

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of North Alabama, LLC	Huntsville, AL	3.5 mi	(256) 533-4300
Gentiva Huntsville	Huntsville, AL	3.5 mi	(256) 837-1290
Enhabit Hospice - Huntsville	Madison, AL	3.8 mi	(256) 203-8508
Affinity Hospice Madison	Madison, AL	3.8 mi	(256) 772-8108
Hospice Family Care	Huntsville, AL	8.9 mi	(256) 650-1212

Nursing homes near Huntsville (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Brookshire Healthcare Center	Huntsville, AL	2.9 mi	3 of 5	129	(256) 837-1730
Windsor House	Huntsville, AL	3.0 mi	1 of 5	117	(256) 837-8585
The Health Center At Research Park	Huntsville, AL	3.9 mi	1 of 5	91	(256) 489-6800
Madison Manor Nursing Home	Madison, AL	4.4 mi	3 of 5	80	(256) 772-9243

Straight-line miles from the center of Huntsville. 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 Huntsville

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 23% of the $5,142 monthly median income of Huntsville 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 Huntsville: common questions

Which hospices serve Huntsville?

Medicare lists 20 hospices for Huntsville ZIP codes, including Hospice Of North Alabama, LLC, Gentiva Huntsville, Enhabit Hospice - Huntsville.

How much does respite care cost in Huntsville?

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 23% of the $5,142 monthly median income of Huntsville 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 Huntsville. 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 Huntsville

More senior care near Huntsville

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Huntsville

More for Huntsville 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 Huntsville, AL