Respite Care in Knoxville, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Knoxville, IA: the local picture

1,720

residents 65 or older (23% of Knoxville)

73%

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

44%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Marion County)

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Knoxville ZIP codes

Most older adults in Knoxville live with someone: 73% 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 706 Knoxville residents aged 65 or older report a disability (44%) (37% in Marion County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Knoxville compared with Marion County and Iowa

Census figure	Knoxville	Marion County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	37%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	26%	31%
Residents 65 or older	23%	19%	18%
Residents 85 or older	6.5%	3.2%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	7.8%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	4.3%	3.4%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,705	$56,557	—

Older residents in towns around Knoxville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Pella, IA	11 mi	2,017	35%
Chariton, IA	23 mi	841	49%
Oskaloosa, IA	24 mi	2,347	35%
Indianola, IA	24 mi	2,906	29%
Carlisle, IA	24 mi	523	36%
Albia, IA	25 mi	812	46%

Hospices serving Knoxville

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Pella, The Comfort House	Pella, IA	11 mi	(641) 628-6644
Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice Services	Oskaloosa, IA	24 mi	(641) 672-3140
Care Initiatives Hospice - Albia	Albia, IA	26 mi	(641) 932-3488
Everystep	Des Moines, IA	30 mi	(515) 274-3400
Mercyone Des Moines Hospice	Des Moines, IA	32 mi	(515) 643-8383

Nursing homes near Knoxville (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Accura Healthcare Of Knoxville, LLC	Knoxville, IA	0.7 mi	2 of 5	60	(641) 842-2187
West Ridge Specialty Care	Knoxville, IA	0.8 mi	4 of 5	78	(641) 842-3153
Accura Healthcare Of Pleasantville, LLC	Pleasantville, IA	10 mi	1 of 5	46	(515) 848-5718
The Cottages	Pella, IA	12 mi	1 of 5	100	(641) 628-1244

Straight-line miles from the center of Knoxville. 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 Knoxville

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 36% of the $4,142 monthly median income of Knoxville 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 Knoxville: common questions

Which hospices serve Knoxville?

Medicare lists 11 hospices for Knoxville ZIP codes, including Hospice Of Pella, The Comfort House, Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice Services, Care Initiatives Hospice - Albia.

How much does respite care cost in Knoxville?

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 36% of the $4,142 monthly median income of Knoxville 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 Knoxville. 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 Knoxville

More senior care near Knoxville

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Knoxville

More for Knoxville 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 Knoxville, IA