Respite Care in Joplin, MO: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Joplin, MO: the local picture

10,195

residents 65 or older (19% of Joplin)

62%

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

41%

of residents 65+ report a disability (41% in Jasper County)

12

Medicare-certified hospices serve Joplin ZIP codes

Most older adults in Joplin live with someone: 62% 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 3,957 Joplin residents aged 65 or older report a disability (41%) (41% in Jasper County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 12 hospices serving Joplin ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Joplin compared with Jasper County and Missouri

Census figure	Joplin	Jasper County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	41%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	19%	16%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	12%	10%
Households with no vehicle	9.6%	7.0%	6.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,671	$44,883	—

Older residents in towns around Joplin

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Webb City, MO	4.9 mi	1,788	33%
Carl Junction, MO	6.6 mi	1,201	41%
Galena, KS	7.4 mi	480	37%
Oronogo, MO	8.3 mi	272	43%
Carthage, MO	11 mi	2,055	49%
Baxter Springs, KS	13 mi	636	37%

Hospices serving Joplin

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva	Joplin, MO	2.0 mi	(417) 782-6811
Hospice Compassus-Joplin	Joplin, MO	2.0 mi	(417) 623-8272
Three Rivers Hospice West	Mount Vernon, MO	39 mi	(417) 461-0580
Good Shepherd Hospice Of Springfield, LLC	Springfield, MO	66 mi	(417) 881-9111
Regional Hospice	Springfield, MO	67 mi	(417) 832-0577

Nursing homes near Joplin (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Joplin Gardens	Joplin, MO	1.6 mi	1 of 5	92	(417) 572-0041
Nhc Healthcare, Joplin	Joplin, MO	1.9 mi	3 of 5	124	(417) 781-1737
Aspire Senior Living Joplin	Joplin, MO	2.6 mi	1 of 5	120	(417) 623-5264
Communities Of Wildwood Ranch	Joplin, MO	4.9 mi	4 of 5	120	(417) 621-0175

Straight-line miles from the center of Joplin. 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 Joplin

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,639 monthly median income of Joplin households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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 Joplin: common questions

Which hospices serve Joplin?

Medicare lists 12 hospices for Joplin ZIP codes, including Gentiva, Hospice Compassus-Joplin, Three Rivers Hospice West.

How much does respite care cost in Joplin?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,639 monthly median income of Joplin households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Joplin. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver covers Missouri.

More near Joplin

More senior care near Joplin

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Joplin

More for Joplin 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 Joplin, MO