Respite Care in Palatka, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Palatka, FL: the local picture

1,985

residents 65 or older (19% of Palatka)

55%

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

40%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Putnam County)

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Palatka ZIP codes

Most older adults in Palatka live with someone: 55% 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 648 Palatka residents aged 65 or older report a disability (40%) (38% in Putnam County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 3 hospices serving Palatka ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Palatka compared with Putnam County and Florida

Census figure	Palatka	Putnam County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	38%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	45%	29%	25%
Residents 65 or older	19%	24%	21%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.2%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	33%	14%	12%
Households with no vehicle	17%	6.8%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$26,261	$44,837	—

Older residents in towns around Palatka

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Flagler Estates, FL	13 mi	624	20%
Green Cove Springs, FL	24 mi	1,746	38%
St. Augustine Shores, FL	25 mi	3,186	27%
World Golf Village, FL	25 mi	5,175	17%
St. Augustine South, FL	26 mi	1,269	26%
Bunnell, FL	27 mi	1,136	29%

Hospices serving Palatka

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Community Hospice Of Northeast Florida Inc	Jacksonville, FL	38 mi	(904) 268-5200
Haven Hospice	Gainesville, FL	44 mi	(904) 378-2121
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	120 mi	(321) 751-6671

Nursing homes near Palatka (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Radiant Nursing And Rehab At Palatka	Palatka, FL	0.9 mi	4 of 5	65	(386) 328-1472
Palatka Center For Rehabilitation And Healing	Palatka, FL	1.0 mi	2 of 5	180	(386) 325-0173
The Pavilion At Crescent Lake	Crescent City, FL	18 mi	4 of 5	92	(386) 698-2222
Aviata At Green Cove Springs	Green Cove Springs, FL	24 mi	2 of 5	120	(904) 284-5606

Straight-line miles from the center of Palatka. 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 Palatka

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 64% of the $2,188 monthly median income of Palatka 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 Palatka: common questions

Which hospices serve Palatka?

Medicare lists 3 hospices for Palatka ZIP codes, including Community Hospice Of Northeast Florida Inc, Haven Hospice, Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida.

How much does respite care cost in Palatka?

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 64% of the $2,188 monthly median income of Palatka 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 Palatka. 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 Palatka

More senior care near Palatka

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Palatka

More for Palatka 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 Palatka, FL