Respite Care in Iola, KS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Iola, KS: the local picture

985

residents 65 or older (18% of Iola)

58%

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

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Allen County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Iola ZIP codes

Most older adults in Iola 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 263 Iola residents aged 65 or older report a disability (29%) (32% in Allen County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Iola ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Iola compared with Allen County and Kansas

Census figure	Iola	Allen County	Kansas
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	32%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	18%	21%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.4%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.2%	6.6%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	11%	7.7%	5.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,924	$46,607	—

Older residents in towns around Iola

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Chanute, KS	18 mi	1,569	36%
Garnett, KS	26 mi	633	49%
Burlington, KS	26 mi	530	35%
Neodesha, KS	38 mi	410	44%
Fort Scott, KS	39 mi	1,760	37%
Parsons, KS	42 mi	1,942	50%

Hospices serving Iola

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Horizon Hospice	Chanute, KS	18 mi	(620) 432-5436
Gentiva	Parsons, KS	41 mi	(620) 421-6161
Gentiva	Pittsburg, KS	53 mi	(620) 231-8000
Good Shepherd Hospice Of Mid America Inc	Olathe, KS	73 mi	(913) 322-3297
Saint Lukes Hospice Of Leavenworth, LLC	Leavenworth, KS	98 mi	(913) 758-9034

Nursing homes near Iola (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Medicalodges Iola	Iola, KS	0.5 mi	2 of 5	45	(620) 365-3183
Moran Manor Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing	Moran, KS	12 mi	3 of 5	45	(620) 237-4300
Heritage Health Care Rehabilitation & Skilled Nurs	Chanute, KS	18 mi	2 of 5	53	(620) 431-4151
Diversicare Of Chanute	Chanute, KS	18 mi	2 of 5	77	(620) 431-4940

Straight-line miles from the center of Iola. 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 Iola

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $3,244 monthly median income of Iola households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Iola: common questions

Which hospices serve Iola?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Iola ZIP codes, including Horizon Hospice, Gentiva, Gentiva.

How much does respite care cost in Iola?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $3,244 monthly median income of Iola households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Iola. 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 Kansas.

More near Iola

More senior care near Iola

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Iola

More for Iola 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 Iola, KS