Respite Care in Pensacola, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Pensacola, FL: the local picture

11,507

residents 65 or older (21% of Pensacola)

61%

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

39%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Escambia County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Pensacola ZIP codes

Most older adults in Pensacola live with someone: 61% 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 4,301 Pensacola residents aged 65 or older report a disability (39%) (39% in Escambia County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Pensacola ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Pensacola compared with Escambia County and Florida

Census figure	Pensacola	Escambia County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	39%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	28%	25%
Residents 65 or older	21%	18%	21%
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	2.0%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	11%	12%
Households with no vehicle	8.4%	7.0%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,109	$56,984	—

Older residents in towns around Pensacola

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Goulding, FL	2.3 mi	626	59%
Brent, FL	4.1 mi	2,869	46%
West Pensacola, FL	4.7 mi	3,414	41%
Gulf Breeze, FL	5.1 mi	1,845	26%
Ferry Pass, FL	5.5 mi	6,481	41%
Myrtle Grove, FL	6.9 mi	2,280	42%

Hospices serving Pensacola

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Peoples Hospice And Palliative Care Of Florida LLC	Pensacola, FL	2.4 mi	(850) 378-5618
Gentiva I	Pensacola, FL	3.2 mi	(704) 662-1761
Emerald Coast Hospice	Panama City, FL	92 mi	(850) 769-0055
Vitas Healthcare Of Dothan	Dothan, AL	119 mi	(334) 794-7847
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Tallahassee, FL	177 mi	(850) 575-4998

Nursing homes near Pensacola (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Havens At Pensacola, The	Pensacola, FL	1.8 mi	4 of 5	120	(850) 746-0700
Gulf Valor Rehabilitation By Harborview	Pensacola, FL	2.4 mi	4 of 5	155	(850) 430-0500
Coral Bay At Pensacola, LLC	Pensacola, FL	2.7 mi	2 of 5	210	(850) 437-3131
Arabella Health & Wellness Of Pensacola	Pensacola, FL	2.9 mi	4 of 5	118	(850) 434-2355

Straight-line miles from the center of Pensacola. 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 Pensacola

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 30% of the $4,676 monthly median income of Pensacola 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 Pensacola: common questions

Which hospices serve Pensacola?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Pensacola ZIP codes, including Peoples Hospice And Palliative Care Of Florida LLC, Gentiva I, Emerald Coast Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Pensacola?

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 30% of the $4,676 monthly median income of Pensacola 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 Pensacola. 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 Pensacola

More senior care near Pensacola

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Pensacola

More for Pensacola 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 Pensacola, FL