Respite Care in Lexington, MO: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Lexington, MO: the local picture

797

residents 65 or older (17% of Lexington)

54%

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

42%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Lafayette County)

21

Medicare-certified hospices serve Lexington ZIP codes

Most older adults in Lexington live with someone: 54% 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 306 Lexington residents aged 65 or older report a disability (42%) (39% in Lafayette County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 21 hospices serving Lexington ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Lexington compared with Lafayette County and Missouri

Census figure	Lexington	Lafayette County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	39%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	46%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	19%	18%
Residents 85 or older	0.7%	2.0%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	9.4%	10%
Households with no vehicle	8.0%	3.3%	6.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$39,315	$53,297	—

Older residents in towns around Lexington

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Richmond, MO	8.6 mi	1,256	43%
Higginsville, MO	11 mi	1,207	59%
Odessa, MO	14 mi	1,073	47%
Buckner, MO	18 mi	450	14%
Oak Grove, MO	18 mi	1,210	36%
Grain Valley, MO	22 mi	1,850	50%

Hospices serving Lexington

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Shirkey Hospice And Palliative Care	Richmond, MO	9.0 mi	(816) 776-5403
Beacon Of Hope Hospice Of Missouri, Inc	Blue Springs, MO	24 mi	(816) 267-4006
Novus Lifecare	Blue Springs, MO	26 mi	(816) 654-4221
HCA Midwest Hospice & Family Care	Independence, MO	27 mi	(816) 943-4015
Elevate Hospice	Independence, MO	27 mi	(816) 795-7990

Nursing homes near Lexington (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Riverbend Heights Health & Rehabilitation	Lexington, MO	1.5 mi	2 of 5	154	(660) 259-4695
Shirkey Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Richmond, MO	7.7 mi	3 of 5	197	(816) 776-5403
Meyer Care Center	Higginsville, MO	10 mi	1 of 5	56	(660) 584-4224
Odessa Health Care Center	Odessa, MO	14 mi	1 of 5	60	(816) 230-7530

Straight-line miles from the center of Lexington. 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 Lexington

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 42% of the $3,276 monthly median income of Lexington 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 Lexington: common questions

Which hospices serve Lexington?

Medicare lists 21 hospices for Lexington ZIP codes, including Shirkey Hospice And Palliative Care, Beacon Of Hope Hospice Of Missouri, Inc, Novus Lifecare.

How much does respite care cost in Lexington?

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 42% of the $3,276 monthly median income of Lexington 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 Lexington. 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 Lexington

More senior care near Lexington

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Lexington

More for Lexington 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 Lexington, MO