Respite Care in Onawa, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Onawa, IA: the local picture

609

residents 65 or older (21% of Onawa)

46%

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

42%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Monona County)

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Onawa ZIP codes

Most older adults in Onawa live with someone: 46% 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 245 Onawa residents aged 65 or older report a disability (42%) (30% in Monona County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 4 hospices serving Onawa ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Onawa compared with Monona County and Iowa

Census figure	Onawa	Monona County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	54%	39%	31%
Residents 65 or older	21%	24%	18%
Residents 85 or older	5.1%	4.3%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	23%	10%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	9.2%	4.2%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,061	$38,363	—

Older residents in towns around Onawa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Sergeant Bluff, IA	29 mi	646	34%
Dakota City, NE	32 mi	295	33%
Blair, NE	34 mi	1,337	39%
Missouri Valley, IA	34 mi	529	36%
West Point, NE	34 mi	788	34%
South Sioux City, NE	34 mi	1,535	26%

Hospices serving Onawa

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Burgess Hospice	Onawa, IA	1.1 mi	(712) 423-2311
Care Initiatives Hospice - Sioux City	Sioux City, IA	33 mi	(712) 239-1226
Generations Hospice Care Inc	Missouri Valley, IA	34 mi	(712) 642-4222
St Croix Hospice	Co Bluffs, IA	55 mi	(712) 318-2120

Nursing homes near Onawa (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Accura Healthcare Of Onawa	Onawa, IA	1.0 mi	2 of 5	46	(712) 423-2510
Pleasant View Care Center	Whiting, IA	7.7 mi	4 of 5	70	(712) 458-2417
Carl T Curtis Health Education Center Nursing Home	Macy, NE	15 mi	4 of 5	25	(402) 837-5381
Maple Heights	Mapleton, IA	17 mi	5 of 5	58	(712) 881-1680

Straight-line miles from the center of Onawa. 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 Onawa

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 50% of the $3,005 monthly median income of Onawa 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 Onawa: common questions

Which hospices serve Onawa?

Medicare lists 4 hospices for Onawa ZIP codes, including Burgess Hospice, Care Initiatives Hospice - Sioux City, Generations Hospice Care Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Onawa?

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 50% of the $3,005 monthly median income of Onawa 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 Onawa. 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 Onawa

More senior care near Onawa

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Onawa

More for Onawa 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 Onawa, IA