Respite Care in New Orleans, LA for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in New Orleans, LA: the local picture

63,917

residents 65 or older (17% of New Orleans)

63%

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

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability

37

Medicare-certified hospices serve New Orleans ZIP codes

Most older adults in New Orleans live with someone: 63% 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 20,704 New Orleans residents aged 65 or older report a disability (33%). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 37 hospices serving New Orleans ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

New Orleans compared with Louisiana

Census figure	New Orleans	Louisiana
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	31%
Residents 65 or older	17%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	21%	15%
Households with no vehicle	17%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,078	—

Older residents in towns around New Orleans

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Chalmette, LA	7.8 mi	2,851	47%
Arabi, LA	7.9 mi	676	49%
Meraux, LA	8.8 mi	877	45%
Violet, LA	11 mi	744	52%
Terrytown, LA	12 mi	2,876	29%
Gretna, LA	12 mi	2,846	34%

Hospices serving New Orleans

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Margaret's Home Health And Hospice	New Orleans, LA	11 mi	(504) 373-5923
Gulf South Hospice Of New Orleans	Metairie, LA	12 mi	(504) 525-2643
Heart Of Hospice	Gretna, LA	13 mi	(504) 341-0038
Notre Dame Hospice	Metairie, LA	14 mi	(504) 227-3600
Audubon Hospice Of New Orleans	Metairie, LA	14 mi	(504) 274-1942

Nursing homes near New Orleans (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Ferncrest Manor Living Center	New Orleans, LA	1.4 mi	1 of 5	200	(504) 246-1426
Lafon Nursing Facility Of The Holy Family	New Orleans, LA	5.2 mi	1 of 5	155	(504) 241-6285
St. Bernard Nursing & Rehab	New Orleans, LA	8.5 mi	1 of 5	127	(504) 246-7900
Jo Ellen Smith Convalescent Center	New Orleans, LA	9.3 mi	4 of 5	180	(504) 361-7923

Straight-line miles from the center of New Orleans. 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 New Orleans

At the Louisiana median aide wage of $10.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $939 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $3,423 monthly median income of New Orleans households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Louisiana has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 New Orleans: common questions

Which hospices serve New Orleans?

Medicare lists 37 hospices for New Orleans ZIP codes, including St Margaret's Home Health And Hospice, Gulf South Hospice Of New Orleans, Heart Of Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in New Orleans?

At the Louisiana median aide wage of $10.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $939 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $3,423 monthly median income of New Orleans households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Louisiana has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 New Orleans. 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 Louisiana.

More near New Orleans

More senior care near New Orleans

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in New Orleans

More for New Orleans 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 New Orleans, LA