Respite Care in Indianola, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Indianola, IA: the local picture

2,906

residents 65 or older (18% of Indianola)

58%

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

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Warren County)

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Indianola ZIP codes

Most older adults in Indianola live with someone: 58% 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 760 Indianola residents aged 65 or older report a disability (29%) (31% in Warren County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Indianola compared with Warren County and Iowa

Census figure	Indianola	Warren County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	33%	31%
Residents 65 or older	18%	17%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.9%	2.5%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.2%	8.0%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	4.7%	3.3%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,253	$58,661	—

Older residents in towns around Indianola

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Norwalk, IA	11 mi	2,002	35%
Carlisle, IA	11 mi	523	36%
Des Moines, IA	15 mi	27,045	36%
Pleasant Hill, IA	17 mi	2,222	26%
West Des Moines, IA	17 mi	10,723	28%
Windsor Heights, IA	18 mi	985	35%

Hospices serving Indianola

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mercyone Des Moines Hospice	Des Moines, IA	16 mi	(515) 643-8383
Everystep	Des Moines, IA	17 mi	(515) 274-3400
Suncrest Hospice, LLC	West Des Moines, IA	19 mi	(515) 327-6026
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	20 mi	(515) 271-6777
Unitypoint Hospice	Urbandale, IA	20 mi	(515) 557-3100

Nursing homes near Indianola (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Village	Indianola, IA	0.6 mi	5 of 5	54	(515) 961-7458
Good Samaritan - Indianola	Indianola, IA	0.7 mi	1 of 5	105	(515) 961-2596
Westview Of Indianola Care Center	Indianola, IA	1.1 mi	5 of 5	71	(515) 961-3189
Norwalk Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Norwalk, IA	9.4 mi	3 of 5	45	(515) 981-0604

Straight-line miles from the center of Indianola. 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 Indianola

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 34% of the $4,438 monthly median income of Indianola 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 Indianola: common questions

Which hospices serve Indianola?

Medicare lists 11 hospices for Indianola ZIP codes, including Mercyone Des Moines Hospice, Everystep, Suncrest Hospice, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Indianola?

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 34% of the $4,438 monthly median income of Indianola 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 Indianola. 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 Indianola

More senior care near Indianola

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Indianola

More for Indianola 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 Indianola, IA