Respite Care in Norfolk, VA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Norfolk, VA: the local picture

30,440

residents 65 or older (13% of Norfolk)

65%

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

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability

32

Medicare-certified hospices serve Norfolk ZIP codes

Most older adults in Norfolk live with someone: 65% 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 10,622 Norfolk residents aged 65 or older report a disability (36%). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 32 hospices serving Norfolk ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Norfolk compared with Virginia

Census figure	Norfolk	Virginia
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	27%
Residents 65 or older	13%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	12%	6.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,765	—

Older residents in towns around Norfolk

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Portsmouth, VA	7.6 mi	15,037	38%
Hampton, VA	9.1 mi	22,962	37%
Poquoson, VA	15 mi	2,474	28%
Carrollton, VA	15 mi	983	33%
Virginia Beach, VA	15 mi	72,515	29%
Bethel Manor, VA	16 mi	5	0.0%

Hospices serving Norfolk

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Wings Over Virginia LLC	Norfolk, VA	5.0 mi	(757) 392-9684
Promedica Hospice (Virginia Beach)	Virginia Beach, VA	7.7 mi	(757) 490-9323
Gentiva	Virginia Beach, VA	7.7 mi	(757) 461-0600
Enhabit Hospice	Virginia Beach, VA	7.7 mi	(757) 938-3861
Freda H Gordon Hospice	Virginia Beach, VA	9.4 mi	(757) 321-2242

Nursing homes near Norfolk (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Norview Heights Rehabilitation And Nursing	Norfolk, VA	2.3 mi	2 of 5	60	(757) 853-6281
Ghent Health And Rehabilitation	Norfolk, VA	3.6 mi	1 of 5	222	(757) 625-5363
Lake Taylor Hosp	Norfolk, VA	4.3 mi	4 of 5	192	(757) 461-5001
Norfolk Health Care Center	Norfolk, VA	4.9 mi	1 of 5	180	(757) 626-1642

Straight-line miles from the center of Norfolk. 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 Norfolk

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 28% of the $4,480 monthly median income of Norfolk 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 Norfolk: common questions

Which hospices serve Norfolk?

Medicare lists 32 hospices for Norfolk ZIP codes, including Wings Over Virginia LLC, Promedica Hospice (Virginia Beach), Gentiva.

How much does respite care cost in Norfolk?

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 28% of the $4,480 monthly median income of Norfolk 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 Norfolk. 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 Norfolk

More senior care near Norfolk

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Norfolk

More for Norfolk 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 Norfolk, VA