Respite Care in London, KY: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in London, KY: the local picture

1,576

residents 65 or older (21% of London)

57%

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

57%

of residents 65+ report a disability (43% in Laurel County)

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve London ZIP codes

Most older adults in London live with someone: 57% 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 809 London residents aged 65 or older report a disability (57%) (43% in Laurel County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 7 hospices serving London ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

London compared with Laurel County and Kentucky

Census figure	London	Laurel County	Kentucky
Residents 65+ with a disability	57%	43%	39%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	25%	30%
Residents 65 or older	21%	17%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	15%	13%
Households with no vehicle	11%	5.5%	6.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,976	$42,166	—

Older residents in towns around London

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Corbin, KY	12 mi	1,612	41%
Barbourville, KY	20 mi	688	57%
Williamsburg, KY	26 mi	705	63%
Somerset, KY	29 mi	2,488	60%
Berea, KY	35 mi	2,070	31%
Middlesborough, KY	40 mi	1,924	63%

Hospices serving London

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Vna Health At Home 1	London, KY	3.2 mi	(606) 877-3950
Hospice Of Lake Cumberland	Somerset, KY	25 mi	(606) 679-4389
Compassionate Care Plus	Richmond, KY	46 mi	(859) 986-1500
Hospice Of The Bluegrass, Inc.	Hazard, KY	51 mi	(606) 439-2111
Hospice Of The Bluegrass, Inc Dba Bluegrass Care N	Lexington, KY	69 mi	(859) 276-5344

Nursing homes near London (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Laurel Heights Home For The Elderly	London, KY	1.6 mi	5 of 5	160	(606) 864-4155
Hillcrest Health And Rehabilitation Center	Corbin, KY	9.1 mi	3 of 5	120	(606) 528-8917
Christian Health Center Corbin	Corbin, KY	11 mi	1 of 5	104	(606) 258-2500
The Heritage Nursing And Rehabilitation Facility	Corbin, KY	14 mi	5 of 5	85	(606) 526-1900

Straight-line miles from the center of London. 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 London

At the Kentucky median aide wage of $17.52 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,518 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $3,081 monthly median income of London households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kentucky'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 How to get paid to care for a family member in Kentucky: Participant Directed Services.

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 London: common questions

Which hospices serve London?

Medicare lists 7 hospices for London ZIP codes, including Vna Health At Home 1, Hospice Of Lake Cumberland, Compassionate Care Plus.

How much does respite care cost in London?

At the Kentucky median aide wage of $17.52 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,518 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $3,081 monthly median income of London households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kentucky'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 London. 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 care for a family member in Kentucky: Participant Directed Services covers Kentucky.

More near London

More senior care near London

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in London

More for London 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 London, KY