Respite Care in Petal, MS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Petal, MS: the local picture

1,713

residents 65 or older (15% of Petal)

74%

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

49%

of residents 65+ report a disability (47% in Forrest County)

13

Medicare-certified hospices serve Petal ZIP codes

Most older adults in Petal live with someone: 74% 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 804 Petal residents aged 65 or older report a disability (49%) (47% in Forrest County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 13 hospices serving Petal ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Petal compared with Forrest County and Mississippi

Census figure	Petal	Forrest County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with a disability	49%	47%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	28%	30%
Residents 65 or older	15%	14%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.2%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	14%	15%
Households with no vehicle	2.7%	7.1%	6.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,833	$49,275	—

Older residents in towns around Petal

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Hattiesburg, MS	5.6 mi	6,399	45%
West Hattiesburg, MS	8.8 mi	709	50%
Ellisville, MS	17 mi	850	54%
Laurel, MS	24 mi	2,504	46%
Wiggins, MS	34 mi	598	57%
Columbia, MS	35 mi	1,375	59%

Hospices serving Petal

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heart Of Hospice, LLC - Southern	Hattiesburg, MS	4.8 mi	(601) 714-1221
Homecare Hospice South, LLC Dba Legacy Hospice Of The South	Hattiesburg, MS	4.8 mi	(601) 909-6105
Compassus-Hattiesburg	Hattiesburg, MS	4.8 mi	(601) 705-0360
Enhabit Hospice	Hattiesburg, MS	8.8 mi	(601) 264-8691
St Joseph Hospice Of Southern Mississippi, LLC	Hattiesburg, MS	8.8 mi	(601) 261-2515

Nursing homes near Petal (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Bedford Care Center Of Petal	Petal, MS	2.2 mi	5 of 5	60	(601) 544-7441
Hattiesburg Health & Rehab Center	Hattiesburg, MS	3.6 mi	3 of 5	164	(601) 544-4230
Bedford Care Ctr-Monroe Hall	Hattiesburg, MS	5.3 mi	4 of 5	80	(601) 582-9157
Bedford Alzheimer's Care Center	Hattiesburg, MS	5.3 mi	4 of 5	60	(601) 544-5300

Straight-line miles from the center of Petal. 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 Petal

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 21% of the $4,736 monthly median income of Petal 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 Petal: common questions

Which hospices serve Petal?

Medicare lists 13 hospices for Petal ZIP codes, including Heart Of Hospice, LLC - Southern, Homecare Hospice South, LLC Dba Legacy Hospice Of The South, Compassus-Hattiesburg.

How much does respite care cost in Petal?

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 21% of the $4,736 monthly median income of Petal 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 Petal. 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 Petal

More senior care near Petal

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Petal

More for Petal 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 Petal, MS