Respite Care in Lamar, MO: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Lamar, MO: the local picture

985

residents 65 or older (23% of Lamar)

73%

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

53%

of residents 65+ report a disability (48% in Barton County)

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Lamar ZIP codes

Most older adults in Lamar 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 506 Lamar residents aged 65 or older report a disability (53%) (48% in Barton County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 9 hospices serving Lamar ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Lamar compared with Barton County and Missouri

Census figure	Lamar	Barton County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with a disability	53%	48%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	25%	30%
Residents 65 or older	23%	21%	18%
Residents 85 or older	3.9%	2.7%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	14%	10%
Households with no vehicle	14%	8.8%	6.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$33,421	$38,717	—

Older residents in towns around Lamar

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Oronogo, MO	23 mi	272	43%
Frontenac, KS	23 mi	712	24%
Pittsburg, KS	24 mi	2,600	43%
Carthage, MO	24 mi	2,055	49%
Nevada, MO	25 mi	1,455	47%
Webb City, MO	26 mi	1,788	33%

Hospices serving Lamar

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Compassus-Joplin	Joplin, MO	33 mi	(417) 623-8272
Gentiva	Joplin, MO	33 mi	(417) 782-6811
Three Rivers Hospice West	Mount Vernon, MO	38 mi	(417) 461-0580
Regional Hospice	Springfield, MO	57 mi	(417) 832-0577
Hospice Compassus-Southwest Missouri	Springfield, MO	58 mi	(417) 882-0453

Nursing homes near Lamar (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Truman Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center	Lamar, MO	1.0 mi	1 of 5	109	(417) 682-5718
Good Shepherd Community Care And Rehabilitation	Lockwood, MO	19 mi	3 of 5	69	(417) 232-4571
Arma Operator, LLC	Arma, KS	23 mi	4 of 5	45	(620) 347-4103
Medicalodges Frontenac	Frontenac, KS	23 mi	1 of 5	55	(620) 231-7340

Straight-line miles from the center of Lamar. 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 Lamar

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 49% of the $2,785 monthly median income of Lamar 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 Lamar: common questions

Which hospices serve Lamar?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Lamar ZIP codes, including Hospice Compassus-Joplin, Gentiva, Three Rivers Hospice West.

How much does respite care cost in Lamar?

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 49% of the $2,785 monthly median income of Lamar 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 Lamar. 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 Lamar

More senior care near Lamar

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Lamar

More for Lamar 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 Lamar, MO