Respite Care in Merriam, KS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Merriam, KS: the local picture

2,070

residents 65 or older (19% of Merriam)

62%

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

23%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Johnson County)

31

Medicare-certified hospices serve Merriam ZIP codes

Most older adults in Merriam 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 463 Merriam residents aged 65 or older report a disability (23%) (24% in Johnson County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 31 hospices serving Merriam ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Merriam compared with Johnson County and Kansas

Census figure	Merriam	Johnson County	Kansas
Residents 65+ with a disability	23%	24%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	26%	30%
Residents 65 or older	19%	16%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.1%	5.6%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	3.9%	3.5%	5.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$62,614	$77,643	—

Older residents in towns around Merriam

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Mission, KS	2.1 mi	1,917	29%
Roeland Park, KS	3.3 mi	1,080	20%
Fairway, KS	3.5 mi	510	24%
Prairie Village, KS	3.8 mi	5,101	24%
Mission Hills, KS	4.1 mi	856	17%
Shawnee, KS	6.0 mi	10,385	22%

Hospices serving Merriam

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Care Of Vna	Overland Park, KS	2.2 mi	(913) 888-4596
Phoenix Home Care And Hospice	Overland Park, KS	2.2 mi	(913) 384-2273
Monarch Hospice & Palliative Care	Shawnee, KS	2.2 mi	(913) 730-8080
Prairie Wind Hospice LLC	Shawnee, KS	2.2 mi	(785) 202-8900
Vitas Innovative Hospice Care	Lenexa, KS	3.9 mi	(913) 722-1631

Nursing homes near Merriam (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Merriam Gardens Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center	Merriam, KS	0.3 mi	2 of 5	120	(913) 384-0800
Sharon Lane Health And Rehabilitation	Shawnee, KS	0.7 mi	5 of 5	78	(913) 631-8200
Shawnee Post Acute Rehabilitation Center	Overland Park, KS	1.9 mi	2 of 5	101	(913) 383-2001
Brookdale Rosehill	Shawnee, KS	2.2 mi	5 of 5	92	(913) 962-7600

Straight-line miles from the center of Merriam. 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 Merriam

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,218 monthly median income of Merriam households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

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 Merriam: common questions

Which hospices serve Merriam?

Medicare lists 31 hospices for Merriam ZIP codes, including Hospice Care Of Vna, Phoenix Home Care And Hospice, Monarch Hospice & Palliative Care.

How much does respite care cost in Merriam?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,218 monthly median income of Merriam households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Merriam. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers Kansas.

More near Merriam

More senior care near Merriam

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Merriam

More for Merriam 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 Merriam, KS