Respite Care in Merrimac, VA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Merrimac, VA: the local picture

968

residents 65 or older (35% of Merrimac)

33%

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

41%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Montgomery County)

1

Medicare-certified hospices serve Merrimac ZIP codes

Most older adults in Merrimac live with someone: 33% 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 335 Merrimac residents aged 65 or older report a disability (41%) (26% in Montgomery County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 1 hospice serving Merrimac ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Merrimac compared with Montgomery County and Virginia

Census figure	Merrimac	Montgomery County	Virginia
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	26%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	67%	29%	27%
Residents 65 or older	35%	14%	17%
Residents 85 or older	8.3%	1.1%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.6%	7.4%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	23%	6.4%	6.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$47,083	$71,528	—

Older residents in towns around Merrimac

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Blacksburg, VA	2.5 mi	3,474	20%
Christiansburg, VA	3.9 mi	4,364	32%
Radford, VA	9.1 mi	1,601	39%
Dublin, VA	16 mi	319	32%
Pearisburg, VA	19 mi	680	47%
Salem, VA	21 mi	5,016	29%

Hospices serving Merrimac

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Medi Home Health And Hospice - Pulaski	Pulaski, VA	22 mi	(540) 980-0478

Nursing homes near Merrimac (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Wybe And Marietje Kroontje Health Care Center	Blacksburg, VA	0.4 mi	1 of 5	60	(540) 443-3400
Heritage Hall Blacksburg	Blacksburg, VA	0.9 mi	4 of 5	179	(540) 951-7000
Radford Health And Rehab Center	Radford, VA	9.3 mi	4 of 5	90	(540) 633-6533
Highland Ridge Rehab Center	Dublin, VA	15 mi	1 of 5	132	(540) 674-4193

Straight-line miles from the center of Merrimac. 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 Merrimac

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 32% of the $3,924 monthly median income of Merrimac 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 Merrimac: common questions

Which hospices serve Merrimac?

Medicare lists 1 hospice for Merrimac ZIP codes, including Medi Home Health And Hospice - Pulaski.

How much does respite care cost in Merrimac?

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 32% of the $3,924 monthly median income of Merrimac 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 Merrimac. 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 Merrimac

More senior care near Merrimac

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Merrimac

More for Merrimac 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 Merrimac, VA