Respite Care in Ocilla, GA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Ocilla, GA: the local picture

499

residents 65 or older (16% of Ocilla)

53%

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

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (23% in Irwin County)

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ocilla ZIP codes

Most older adults in Ocilla live with someone: 53% 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 105 Ocilla residents aged 65 or older report a disability (26%) (23% in Irwin County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 9 hospices serving Ocilla ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Ocilla compared with Irwin County and Georgia

Census figure	Ocilla	Irwin County	Georgia
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	23%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	47%	36%	26%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	15%
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	1.4%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	21%	12%	11%
Households with no vehicle	9.7%	3.4%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,833	$43,971	—

Older residents in towns around Ocilla

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Fitzgerald, GA	7.9 mi	1,526	33%
Tifton, GA	19 mi	2,845	28%
Douglas, GA	24 mi	1,671	43%
Ashburn, GA	25 mi	955	44%
Nashville, GA	27 mi	754	50%
Abbeville, GA	27 mi	349	33%

Hospices serving Ocilla

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Tift Area	Tifton, GA	17 mi	(229) 353-6330
Eternal Faith Hospice And Palliative Care	Chula, GA	18 mi	(229) 520-3052
Pruitthealth Hospice-Cordele	Cordele, GA	40 mi	(229) 271-0300
Colquitt Regional Hospice	Moultrie, GA	42 mi	(229) 890-3526
Affinity Hospice	Valdosta, GA	49 mi	(229) 242-8904

Nursing homes near Ocilla (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Pruitthealth - Ocilla	Ocilla, GA	0.1 mi	3 of 5	83	(229) 468-9431
Palemon Gaskins Mem Nsg Home	Ocilla, GA	0.3 mi	2 of 5	30	(229) 468-3890
Harmony Health And Rehabilitation	Fitzgerald, GA	7.9 mi	1 of 5	167	(229) 423-5621
Pruitthealth - Fitzgerald	Fitzgerald, GA	9.0 mi	4 of 5	78	(229) 423-4361

Straight-line miles from the center of Ocilla. 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 Ocilla

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $3,403 monthly median income of Ocilla households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (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 Ocilla: common questions

Which hospices serve Ocilla?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Ocilla ZIP codes, including Hospice Of Tift Area, Eternal Faith Hospice And Palliative Care, Pruitthealth Hospice-Cordele.

How much does respite care cost in Ocilla?

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $3,403 monthly median income of Ocilla households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (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 Ocilla. 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 Georgia.

More near Ocilla

More senior care near Ocilla

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ocilla

More for Ocilla 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 Ocilla, GA