Respite Care in Le Mars, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Le Mars, IA: the local picture

1,918

residents 65 or older (18% of Le Mars)

58%

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

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Plymouth County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Le Mars ZIP codes

Most older adults in Le Mars live with someone: 58% 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 624 Le Mars residents aged 65 or older report a disability (35%) (27% in Plymouth County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Le Mars ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Le Mars compared with Plymouth County and Iowa

Census figure	Le Mars	Plymouth County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	31%	31%
Residents 65 or older	18%	20%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	2.4%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	10%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	5.8%	3.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,768	$56,204	—

Older residents in towns around Le Mars

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Orange City, IA	16 mi	1,082	20%
Sioux Center, IA	20 mi	1,060	24%
Hawarden, IA	22 mi	452	38%
Sioux City, IA	23 mi	12,804	33%
North Sioux City, SD	24 mi	640	13%
South Sioux City, NE	25 mi	1,535	26%

Hospices serving Le Mars

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Orange City Hospice	Orange City, IA	17 mi	(712) 737-5279
Sioux Center Health Home Care And Hospice	Sioux Center, IA	21 mi	(712) 722-8108
Hospice Of Midwest	Sioux City, IA	21 mi	(712) 317-3720
Care Initiatives Hospice - Sioux City	Sioux City, IA	24 mi	(712) 239-1226
St Croix Hospice	Spirit Lake, IA	70 mi	(712) 264-5674

Nursing homes near Le Mars (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Accura Healthcare Of Le Mars	Le Mars, IA	0.9 mi	3 of 5	46	(712) 546-7831
Good Samaritan - Lemars	Le Mars, IA	1.8 mi	4 of 5	64	(712) 546-4101
Happy Siesta Health Care Center	Remsen, IA	11 mi	4 of 5	62	(712) 786-1125
Kingsley Specialty Care	Kingsley, IA	17 mi	1 of 5	43	(712) 378-2400

Straight-line miles from the center of Le Mars. 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 Le Mars

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 42% of the $3,564 monthly median income of Le Mars 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 Le Mars: common questions

Which hospices serve Le Mars?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Le Mars ZIP codes, including Orange City Hospice, Sioux Center Health Home Care And Hospice, Hospice Of Midwest.

How much does respite care cost in Le Mars?

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 42% of the $3,564 monthly median income of Le Mars 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 Le Mars. 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 Le Mars

More senior care near Le Mars

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Le Mars

More for Le Mars 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 Le Mars, IA