Respite Care in Milford, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Milford, IA: the local picture

802

residents 65 or older (24% of Milford)

76%

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

23%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Dickinson County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Milford ZIP codes

Most older adults in Milford live with someone: 76% 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 173 Milford residents aged 65 or older report a disability (23%) (28% in Dickinson County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Milford ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Milford compared with Dickinson County and Iowa

Census figure	Milford	Dickinson County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	23%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	27%	31%
Residents 65 or older	24%	28%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	3.5%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.7%	6.0%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	2.1%	4.4%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,643	$66,162	—

Older residents in towns around Milford

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Spirit Lake, IA	5.4 mi	1,217	37%
Spencer, IA	13 mi	2,495	30%
Estherville, IA	16 mi	1,332	45%
Jackson, MN	21 mi	714	49%
Emmetsburg, IA	28 mi	934	38%
Worthington, MN	30 mi	2,256	36%

Hospices serving Milford

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Croix Hospice	Spirit Lake, IA	6.1 mi	(712) 264-5674
Lakes Regional Healthcare Hospice	Spirit Lake, IA	6.1 mi	(712) 336-8796
Gentiva	Spirit Lake, IA	6.1 mi	(712) 336-2941
Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital	Spencer, IA	14 mi	(712) 264-6380
Avera At Home	Estherville, IA	17 mi	(712) 362-2631

Nursing homes near Milford (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Accura Healthcare Of Milford	Milford, IA	1.2 mi	4 of 5	46	(712) 338-4742
Accura Healthcare Of Spirit Lake	Spirit Lake, IA	5.7 mi	2 of 5	80	(712) 336-3300
Spencer Post Acute Rehabilitation Center	Spencer, IA	13 mi	1 of 5	82	(712) 262-2344
St Luke Lutheran Nursing Home	Spencer, IA	15 mi	2 of 5	79	(712) 262-5931

Straight-line miles from the center of Milford. 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 Milford

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $4,137 monthly median income of Milford households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Milford: common questions

Which hospices serve Milford?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Milford ZIP codes, including St Croix Hospice, Lakes Regional Healthcare Hospice, Gentiva.

How much does respite care cost in Milford?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $4,137 monthly median income of Milford households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Milford. 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 Iowa.

More near Milford

More senior care near Milford

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Milford

More for Milford 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 Milford, IA