Respite Care in Indianola, MS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Indianola, MS: the local picture

1,504

residents 65 or older (17% of Indianola)

64%

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

43%

of residents 65+ report a disability (42% in Sunflower County)

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve Indianola ZIP codes

Most older adults in Indianola live with someone: 64% 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 616 Indianola residents aged 65 or older report a disability (43%) (42% in Sunflower County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 16 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 Sunflower County and Mississippi

Census figure	Indianola	Sunflower County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	42%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	15%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.7%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	39%	27%	15%
Households with no vehicle	8.2%	8.9%	6.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$24,174	$27,389	—

Older residents in towns around Indianola

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Leland, MS	15 mi	864	55%
Ruleville, MS	20 mi	378	23%
Cleveland, MS	21 mi	1,801	47%
Greenville, MS	24 mi	4,905	38%
Greenwood, MS	26 mi	2,296	43%
Yazoo City, MS	43 mi	1,596	54%

Hospices serving Indianola

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of North Sunflower	Ruleville, MS	20 mi	(662) 756-1700
Mid Delta Hospice, Inc Dba Bristol Hospice - Belzoni	Belzoni, MS	20 mi	(662) 247-1254
Adoration Hospice Care Mississippi	Cleveland, MS	21 mi	(662) 846-6211
Heart Of Hospice, LLC - Delta	Cleveland, MS	21 mi	(662) 350-0557
Delta Health- The Medical Center (Hospice)	Greenville, MS	22 mi	(662) 725-1200

Nursing homes near Indianola (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Indianola Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Indianola, MS	1.6 mi	1 of 5	75	(662) 887-2682
Walter B Crook Nursing Facility	Ruleville, MS	21 mi	3 of 5	60	(662) 756-2711
Humphreys Co Nursing Center	Belzoni, MS	21 mi	1 of 5	60	(662) 247-1821
Ruleville Community Care Center	Ruleville, MS	21 mi	1 of 5	111	(662) 756-4361

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 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 49% of the $2,015 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. 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 Indianola: common questions

Which hospices serve Indianola?

Medicare lists 16 hospices for Indianola ZIP codes, including Hospice Of North Sunflower, Mid Delta Hospice, Inc Dba Bristol Hospice - Belzoni, Adoration Hospice Care Mississippi.

How much does respite care cost in Indianola?

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 49% of the $2,015 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. 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 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 Mississippi.

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, MS