Respite Care in Okeechobee, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Okeechobee, FL: the local picture

1,053

residents 65 or older (19% of Okeechobee)

59%

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

46%

of residents 65+ report a disability (43% in Okeechobee County)

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Okeechobee ZIP codes

Most older adults in Okeechobee live with someone: 59% 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 381 Okeechobee residents aged 65 or older report a disability (46%) (43% in Okeechobee County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 11 hospices serving Okeechobee ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Okeechobee compared with Okeechobee County and Florida

Census figure	Okeechobee	Okeechobee County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	43%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	30%	25%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	21%
Residents 85 or older	3.4%	2.1%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.5%	14%	12%
Households with no vehicle	9.9%	4.7%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$47,237	$40,441	—

Older residents in towns around Okeechobee

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Taylor Creek, FL	3.0 mi	1,537	41%
Indiantown, FL	25 mi	1,116	40%
Port St. Lucie, FL	27 mi	50,681	33%
Pahokee, FL	31 mi	1,000	52%
River Park, FL	31 mi	1,494	34%
White City, FL	31 mi	2,183	42%

Hospices serving Okeechobee

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Okeechobee Incorporated	Okeechobee, FL	2.9 mi	(813) 467-2321
Treasure Coast Hospice Of St Lucie	Fort Pierce, FL	31 mi	(772) 403-4500
Treasure Coast Hospice Of Martin	Stuart, FL	39 mi	(772) 403-4500
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	62 mi	(321) 751-6671
Compassionate Care Hospice Of Central Florida Inc	Lakeland, FL	84 mi	(863) 709-0099

Nursing homes near Okeechobee (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Okeechobee Health Care Facility	Okeechobee, FL	4.0 mi	5 of 5	210	(863) 763-2226
Ardie R Copas State Veterans Nursing Home	Port Saint Lucie, FL	23 mi	5 of 5	120	(772) 241-6132

Straight-line miles from the center of Okeechobee. 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 Okeechobee

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $3,936 monthly median income of Okeechobee households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Okeechobee: common questions

Which hospices serve Okeechobee?

Medicare lists 11 hospices for Okeechobee ZIP codes, including Hospice Of Okeechobee Incorporated, Treasure Coast Hospice Of St Lucie, Treasure Coast Hospice Of Martin.

How much does respite care cost in Okeechobee?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $3,936 monthly median income of Okeechobee households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Okeechobee. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO covers Florida.

More near Okeechobee

More senior care near Okeechobee

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Okeechobee

More for Okeechobee 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 Okeechobee, FL