Respite Care in Palm Bay, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Palm Bay, FL: the local picture

24,719

residents 65 or older (19% of Palm Bay)

77%

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

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Brevard County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Palm Bay ZIP codes

Most older adults in Palm Bay live with someone: 77% 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 8,960 Palm Bay residents aged 65 or older report a disability (37%) (33% in Brevard County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Palm Bay ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Palm Bay compared with Brevard County and Florida

Census figure	Palm Bay	Brevard County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	26%	25%
Residents 65 or older	19%	24%	21%
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	3.0%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	8.1%	12%
Households with no vehicle	4.7%	4.9%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,858	$58,980	—

Older residents in towns around Palm Bay

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Malabar, FL	5.5 mi	590	24%
Grant-Valkaria, FL	6.2 mi	2,035	34%
West Melbourne, FL	6.6 mi	5,451	40%
June Park, FL	8.2 mi	964	37%
Melbourne Beach, FL	10 mi	986	16%
Melbourne, FL	11 mi	19,487	39%

Hospices serving Palm Bay

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Health First Inc	West Melbourne, FL	7.8 mi	(321) 434-1744
Amedisys Hospice Of Brevard	Melbourne, FL	8.4 mi	(321) 549-0275
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	13 mi	(321) 751-6671
Mederi Caretenders Hospice	Viera, FL	17 mi	(321) 253-2222
St. Francis Hospice	Titusville, FL	44 mi	(321) 269-4240

Nursing homes near Palm Bay (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Life Care Center Of Palm Bay	Palm Bay, FL	4.3 mi	5 of 5	141	(321) 952-1818
Aviata At Palm Bay	Palm Bay, FL	4.9 mi	4 of 5	120	(321) 722-0660
Anchor Care & Rehabilitation Center	Palm Bay, FL	5.7 mi	4 of 5	120	(321) 723-1235
Atlantic Shores Nursing And Rehab Center	Melbourne, FL	6.7 mi	4 of 5	120	(321) 953-2219

Straight-line miles from the center of Palm Bay. 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 Palm Bay

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 33% of the $4,322 monthly median income of Palm Bay 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 Palm Bay: common questions

Which hospices serve Palm Bay?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Palm Bay ZIP codes, including Hospice Of Health First Inc, Amedisys Hospice Of Brevard, Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida.

How much does respite care cost in Palm Bay?

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 33% of the $4,322 monthly median income of Palm Bay 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 Palm Bay. 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 Palm Bay

More senior care near Palm Bay

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Palm Bay

More for Palm Bay 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 Palm Bay, FL