Respite Care in Marion, VA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Marion, VA: the local picture

1,241

residents 65 or older (22% of Marion)

62%

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

31%

of residents 65+ report a disability (42% in Smyth County)

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Marion ZIP codes

Most older adults in Marion live with someone: 62% 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 344 Marion residents aged 65 or older report a disability (31%) (42% in Smyth County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 11 hospices serving Marion ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Marion compared with Smyth County and Virginia

Census figure	Marion	Smyth County	Virginia
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	42%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	32%	27%
Residents 65 or older	22%	23%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	2.9%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	19%	12%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	9.4%	6.5%	6.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,981	$38,101	—

Older residents in towns around Marion

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Tazewell, VA	20 mi	1,062	31%
Richlands, VA	24 mi	1,295	33%
Wytheville, VA	25 mi	1,952	45%
Abingdon, VA	27 mi	2,046	33%
Mountain City, TN	30 mi	704	42%
Bluefield, VA	31 mi	1,257	40%

Hospices serving Marion

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Medical Services Of America Home Health & Hospice	Richlands, VA	24 mi	(276) 964-4202
Wythe Hospice Of Swva	Wytheville, VA	24 mi	(276) 228-1710
Gentiva Ii	Wytheville, VA	24 mi	(540) 366-0927
Ballad Health Hospice	Abingdon, VA	30 mi	(276) 619-4500
Caris Healthcare, LP (Abingdon)	Abingdon, VA	30 mi	(276) 494-0465

Nursing homes near Marion (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Sw Va M H Inst Geri Trt Ctr	Marion, VA	0.4 mi	4 of 5	25	(276) 783-1209
Francis Marion Manor Health & Rehabilitation	Marion, VA	1.1 mi	5 of 5	109	(276) 782-1396
Valley Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Chilhowie, VA	9.2 mi	4 of 5	180	(276) 646-8911
Mountain Laurel Rehabilitation And Nursing	Rural Retreat, VA	14 mi	1 of 5	120	(276) 686-7000

Straight-line miles from the center of Marion. 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 Marion

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $3,582 monthly median income of Marion households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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 Marion: common questions

Which hospices serve Marion?

Medicare lists 11 hospices for Marion ZIP codes, including Medical Services Of America Home Health & Hospice, Wythe Hospice Of Swva, Gentiva Ii.

How much does respite care cost in Marion?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $3,582 monthly median income of Marion households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Marion. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus covers Virginia.

More near Marion

More senior care near Marion

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Marion

More for Marion 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 Marion, VA