Respite Care in Live Oak, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Live Oak, FL: the local picture

1,092

residents 65 or older (16% of Live Oak)

63%

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

22%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Suwannee County)

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Live Oak ZIP codes

Most older adults in Live Oak live with someone: 63% 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 181 Live Oak residents aged 65 or older report a disability (22%) (36% in Suwannee County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 4 hospices serving Live Oak ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Live Oak compared with Suwannee County and Florida

Census figure	Live Oak	Suwannee County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	36%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	24%	25%
Residents 65 or older	16%	21%	21%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	2.5%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.8%	15%	12%
Households with no vehicle	2.5%	5.9%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,187	$39,074	—

Older residents in towns around Live Oak

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Jasper, FL	11 mi	236	36%
Lake City, FL	22 mi	2,245	46%
Watertown, FL	24 mi	654	55%
Madison, FL	28 mi	351	34%
Echols County, GA	29 mi	456	30%
Perry, FL	38 mi	1,258	39%

Hospices serving Live Oak

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Haven Hospice	Gainesville, FL	54 mi	(904) 378-2121
Community Hospice Of Northeast Florida Inc	Jacksonville, FL	83 mi	(904) 268-5200
Hph Hospice	Brooksville, FL	124 mi	(866) 940-0962
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	203 mi	(321) 751-6671

Nursing homes near Live Oak (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Surrey Place Nursing Center	Live Oak, FL	0.9 mi	4 of 5	60	(386) 364-5961
Live Oak Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Live Oak, FL	1.4 mi	1 of 5	180	(386) 362-7860
Good Samaritan Center	Live Oak, FL	15 mi	5 of 5	161	(386) 658-5550
Suwannee Valley Nursing Center	Jasper, FL	16 mi	4 of 5	60	(386) 792-1868

Straight-line miles from the center of Live Oak. 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 Live Oak

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $3,432 monthly median income of Live Oak households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Live Oak: common questions

Which hospices serve Live Oak?

Medicare lists 4 hospices for Live Oak ZIP codes, including Haven Hospice, Community Hospice Of Northeast Florida Inc, Hph Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Live Oak?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $3,432 monthly median income of Live Oak households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Live Oak. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO covers Florida.

More near Live Oak

More senior care near Live Oak

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Live Oak

More for Live Oak 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 Live Oak, FL