Respite Care in Opelika, AL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Opelika, AL: the local picture

6,049

residents 65 or older (18% of Opelika)

71%

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

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Lee County)

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve Opelika ZIP codes

Most older adults in Opelika live with someone: 71% 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 1,734 Opelika residents aged 65 or older report a disability (29%) (34% in Lee County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 16 hospices serving Opelika ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Opelika compared with Lee County and Alabama

Census figure	Opelika	Lee County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	34%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	28%	29%
Residents 65 or older	18%	13%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.2%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	11%	12%
Households with no vehicle	8.4%	4.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$52,578	$56,745	—

Older residents in towns around Opelika

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Auburn, AL	7.7 mi	7,790	32%
Valley, AL	14 mi	1,645	43%
Huguley, AL	15 mi	523	49%
La Fayette, AL	17 mi	615	46%
Lanett, AL	17 mi	1,163	43%
Smiths Station, AL	19 mi	744	48%

Hospices serving Opelika

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva Phenix City	Auburn, AL	9.4 mi	(334) 298-8898
Compassus-Auburn	Auburn, AL	9.4 mi	(334) 826-1899
Chattahoochee Hospice Inc	Valley, AL	16 mi	(334) 756-8043
Columbus Hospice Of Alabama	Phenix City, AL	24 mi	(334) 664-0075
Ivy Creek Hospice	Dadeville, AL	25 mi	(256) 825-7821

Nursing homes near Opelika (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Arbor Springs Health And Rehab Center, Ltd	Opelika, AL	1.9 mi	2 of 5	225	(334) 749-1471
Arbor Lake Health And Rehab	Auburn, AL	4.5 mi	3 of 5	87	(334) 826-7200
Lafayette Extended Care	Lafayette, AL	16 mi	2 of 5	69	(334) 864-8854
Lafayette Nursing Home	Lafayette, AL	16 mi	2 of 5	63	(334) 864-9371

Straight-line miles from the center of Opelika. 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 Opelika

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $4,382 monthly median income of Opelika households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama 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 Opelika: common questions

Which hospices serve Opelika?

Medicare lists 16 hospices for Opelika ZIP codes, including Gentiva Phenix City, Compassus-Auburn, Chattahoochee Hospice Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Opelika?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $4,382 monthly median income of Opelika households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama 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 Opelika. 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 Alabama.

More near Opelika

More senior care near Opelika

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Opelika

More for Opelika 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 Opelika, AL