Respite Care in Laurel, MT: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Laurel, MT: the local picture

1,046

residents 65 or older (14% of Laurel)

72%

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

49%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Yellowstone County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Laurel ZIP codes

Most older adults in Laurel live with someone: 72% 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 486 Laurel residents aged 65 or older report a disability (49%) (35% in Yellowstone County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 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 Yellowstone County and Montana

Census figure	Laurel	Yellowstone County	Montana
Residents 65+ with a disability	49%	35%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	30%	29%
Residents 65 or older	14%	18%	20%
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	2.1%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	3.9%	8.7%	9.9%
Households with no vehicle	6.0%	4.3%	4.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$55,208	$60,402	—

Older residents in towns around Laurel

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Billings, MT	13 mi	22,510	35%
Lockwood, MT	21 mi	1,212	43%
Red Lodge, MT	40 mi	845	18%
Hardin, MT	57 mi	513	40%
Powell, WY	63 mi	1,383	22%

Hospices serving Laurel

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Stillwater Hospice	Billings, MT	12 mi	(406) 702-1742
Compassus Hospice Billings	Billings, MT	15 mi	(406) 294-0785
Riverstone Health	Billings, MT	15 mi	(406) 247-3200
St Johns United Hospice	Billings, MT	15 mi	(406) 655-5800
Beartooth Billings Clinic Hospice	Red Lodge, MT	41 mi	(406) 446-0050

Nursing homes near Laurel (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Laurel Health & Rehabilitation Center	Laurel, MT	0.4 mi	1 of 5	79	(406) 628-8251
St John's Lutheran Home	Billings, MT	12 mi	3 of 5	186	(406) 655-5600
Aspen Meadows Health And Rehabilitation Center	Billings, MT	12 mi	2 of 5	90	(406) 656-8818
Yellowstone River Nursing And Rehabilitation	Billings, MT	12 mi	1 of 5	160	(406) 656-6500

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 Montana median aide wage of $17.61 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,526 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $4,601 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. Montana's minimum wage is $10.85 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 Laurel: common questions

Which hospices serve Laurel?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Laurel ZIP codes, including Stillwater Hospice, Compassus Hospice Billings, Riverstone Health.

How much does respite care cost in Laurel?

At the Montana median aide wage of $17.61 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,526 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $4,601 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. Montana's minimum wage is $10.85 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 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 Montana.

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, MT