Respite Care in Macon, MO: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Macon, MO: the local picture

1,282

residents 65 or older (23% of Macon)

67%

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

39%

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

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Macon ZIP codes

Most older adults in Macon live with someone: 67% 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 446 Macon residents aged 65 or older report a disability (39%) (35% in Macon County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 3 hospices serving Macon ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Macon compared with Macon County and Missouri

Census figure	Macon	Macon County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	35%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	23%	22%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.9%	3.0%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.3%	10%	10%
Households with no vehicle	4.9%	5.8%	6.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,725	$39,974	—

Older residents in towns around Macon

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Moberly, MO	22 mi	2,295	43%
Kirksville, MO	32 mi	2,261	36%
Brookfield, MO	32 mi	998	34%
Monroe City, MO	40 mi	509	43%
Centralia, MO	41 mi	986	51%
Fayette, MO	43 mi	352	26%

Hospices serving Macon

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St. Croix Hospice	Moberly, MO	22 mi	(660) 675-4216
Hospice Of Northeast Missouri	Kirksville, MO	32 mi	(660) 627-9711
Hospice Compassus-North Central Missouri	Columbia, MO	56 mi	(573) 443-8360

Nursing homes near Macon (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Loch Haven	Macon, MO	1.1 mi	2 of 5	100	(660) 385-3113
Macon Health Care Center	Macon, MO	1.4 mi	5 of 5	84	(660) 385-5797
Clarence Care Center	Clarence, MO	12 mi	3 of 5	60	(660) 699-2118
La Plata Nursing Home	La Plata, MO	20 mi	3 of 5	52	(660) 332-4315

Straight-line miles from the center of Macon. 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 Macon

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 43% of the $3,227 monthly median income of Macon 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 Macon: common questions

Which hospices serve Macon?

Medicare lists 3 hospices for Macon ZIP codes, including St. Croix Hospice, Hospice Of Northeast Missouri, Hospice Compassus-North Central Missouri.

How much does respite care cost in Macon?

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 43% of the $3,227 monthly median income of Macon 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 Macon. 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 Macon

More senior care near Macon

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Macon

More for Macon 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 Macon, MO