Respite Care in Laurel, MS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Laurel, MS: the local picture

2,504

residents 65 or older (14% of Laurel)

64%

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

46%

of residents 65+ report a disability (45% in Jones County)

19

Medicare-certified hospices serve Laurel ZIP codes

Most older adults in Laurel 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 1,021 Laurel residents aged 65 or older report a disability (46%) (45% in Jones County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 19 hospices serving Laurel ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Laurel compared with Jones County and Mississippi

Census figure	Laurel	Jones County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	45%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	14%	18%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	2.4%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	12%	15%
Households with no vehicle	4.5%	4.4%	6.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,036	$36,332	—

Older residents in towns around Laurel

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Ellisville, MS	7.4 mi	850	54%
Petal, MS	24 mi	1,713	49%
Hattiesburg, MS	28 mi	6,399	45%
West Hattiesburg, MS	30 mi	709	50%
Waynesboro, MS	30 mi	850	48%
Magee, MS	37 mi	514	53%

Hospices serving Laurel

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Comfortcare Hospice	Laurel, MS	1.4 mi	(601) 422-0054
Deaconess Hospice	Laurel, MS	1.4 mi	(601) 261-4010
Heart Of Hospice, LLC - Southern	Hattiesburg, MS	28 mi	(601) 714-1221
Homecare Hospice South, LLC Dba Legacy Hospice Of The South	Hattiesburg, MS	28 mi	(601) 909-6105
Compassus-Hattiesburg	Hattiesburg, MS	28 mi	(601) 705-0360

Nursing homes near Laurel (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Care Center Of Laurel	Laurel, MS	1.1 mi	3 of 5	120	(601) 649-8006
Laurelwood Community Living Center	Laurel, MS	1.3 mi	1 of 5	60	(601) 425-3191
Comfort Care Nursing Center	Laurel, MS	1.3 mi	2 of 5	126	(601) 422-0022
Jones Co Rest Home	Ellisville, MS	7.3 mi	2 of 5	122	(601) 477-3334

Straight-line miles from the center of Laurel. 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 Laurel

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 25% of the $4,003 monthly median income of Laurel 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 Laurel: common questions

Which hospices serve Laurel?

Medicare lists 19 hospices for Laurel ZIP codes, including Comfortcare Hospice, Deaconess Hospice, Heart Of Hospice, LLC - Southern.

How much does respite care cost in Laurel?

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 25% of the $4,003 monthly median income of Laurel 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 Laurel. 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 Laurel

More senior care near Laurel

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Laurel

More for Laurel 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 Laurel, MS