Respite Care in Oxford, MS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Oxford, MS: the local picture

3,682

residents 65 or older (14% of Oxford)

66%

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

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Lafayette County)

19

Medicare-certified hospices serve Oxford ZIP codes

Most older adults in Oxford live with someone: 66% 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 863 Oxford residents aged 65 or older report a disability (26%) (29% in Lafayette County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 19 hospices serving Oxford ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Oxford compared with Lafayette County and Mississippi

Census figure	Oxford	Lafayette County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	29%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	14%	14%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.4%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.9%	6.9%	15%
Households with no vehicle	12%	6.7%	6.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$98,224	$65,589	—

Older residents in towns around Oxford

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
University, MS	1.0 mi	0	—
Water Valley, MS	14 mi	637	26%
Batesville, MS	22 mi	1,114	46%
Holly Springs, MS	30 mi	973	45%
Senatobia, MS	31 mi	1,295	22%
New Albany, MS	31 mi	1,427	49%

Hospices serving Oxford

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Arden Of North Mississippi (Oxford)	Oxford, MS	3.4 mi	(662) 636-7001
Gentiva	Oxford, MS	3.4 mi	(662) 578-4072
Enhabit Hospice Of North Mississippi	Oxford, MS	3.4 mi	(662) 238-7771
Legacy Hospice Of The South - Batesville	Batesville, MS	23 mi	(662) 578-8177
Vitalcaring Group	Batesville, MS	23 mi	(662) 563-5708

Nursing homes near Oxford (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Oxford Health & Rehab Center	Oxford, MS	1.1 mi	1 of 5	120	(662) 234-7821
Yalobusha County Nursing Home	Water Valley, MS	16 mi	3 of 5	122	(662) 473-1411
Sardis Community NH	Sardis, MS	21 mi	2 of 5	60	(662) 487-2720
Diversicare Of Batesville	Batesville, MS	23 mi	2 of 5	130	(662) 563-5636

Straight-line miles from the center of Oxford. 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 Oxford

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 12% of the $8,185 monthly median income of Oxford households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi 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 Oxford: common questions

Which hospices serve Oxford?

Medicare lists 19 hospices for Oxford ZIP codes, including Arden Of North Mississippi (Oxford), Gentiva, Enhabit Hospice Of North Mississippi.

How much does respite care cost in Oxford?

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 12% of the $8,185 monthly median income of Oxford households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi 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 Oxford. 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 Mississippi.

More near Oxford

More senior care near Oxford

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Oxford

More for Oxford 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 Oxford, MS