Respite Care in Ottawa, KS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Ottawa, KS: the local picture

1,889

residents 65 or older (15% of Ottawa)

67%

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

46%

of residents 65+ report a disability (41% in Franklin County)

21

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ottawa ZIP codes

Most older adults in Ottawa live with someone: 67% 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 870 Ottawa residents aged 65 or older report a disability (46%) (41% in Franklin County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 21 hospices serving Ottawa ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Ottawa compared with Franklin County and Kansas

Census figure	Ottawa	Franklin County	Kansas
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	41%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	15%	18%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.1%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.4%	14%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	4.4%	3.1%	5.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$64,167	$56,990	—

Older residents in towns around Ottawa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Baldwin City, KS	13 mi	626	19%
Osawatomie, KS	18 mi	553	29%
Garnett, KS	22 mi	633	49%
Paola, KS	22 mi	1,363	30%
Gardner, KS	23 mi	2,049	32%
Lawrence, KS	25 mi	12,171	25%

Hospices serving Ottawa

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Visiting Nurses Hospice	Lawrence, KS	30 mi	(785) 843-3738
Hospice The University Of Kansas Health System	Olathe, KS	31 mi	(913) 324-8515
Good Shepherd Hospice Of Mid America Inc	Olathe, KS	31 mi	(913) 322-3297
Acg Hospice	Overland Park, KS	36 mi	(864) 913-2690
Elara Caring	Topeka, KS	37 mi	(785) 228-0400

Nursing homes near Ottawa (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Rock Creek Of Ottawa	Ottawa, KS	1.1 mi	3 of 5	75	(785) 242-5399
Wellsville Manor	Wellsville, KS	13 mi	3 of 5	51	(785) 883-4101
Baldwin Healthcare & Rehab Center, LLC	Baldwin City, KS	13 mi	5 of 5	60	(785) 594-6492
Richmond Healthcare & Rehab Center	Richmond, KS	14 mi	1 of 5	60	(785) 835-6135

Straight-line miles from the center of Ottawa. 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 Ottawa

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $5,347 monthly median income of Ottawa households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Ottawa: common questions

Which hospices serve Ottawa?

Medicare lists 21 hospices for Ottawa ZIP codes, including Visiting Nurses Hospice, Hospice The University Of Kansas Health System, Good Shepherd Hospice Of Mid America Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Ottawa?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $5,347 monthly median income of Ottawa households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Ottawa. 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 Kansas.

More near Ottawa

More senior care near Ottawa

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ottawa

More for Ottawa 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 Ottawa, KS