Respite Care in Petersburg, VA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Petersburg, VA: the local picture

5,634

residents 65 or older (17% of Petersburg)

55%

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

45%

of residents 65+ report a disability

22

Medicare-certified hospices serve Petersburg ZIP codes

Most older adults in Petersburg 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 2,435 Petersburg residents aged 65 or older report a disability (45%). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 22 hospices serving Petersburg ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Petersburg compared with Virginia

Census figure	Petersburg	Virginia
Residents 65+ with a disability	45%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	45%	27%
Residents 65 or older	17%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	21%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	15%	6.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,033	—

Older residents in towns around Petersburg

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Ettrick, VA	3.6 mi	732	36%
Fort Lee, VA	3.9 mi	17	71%
Colonial Heights, VA	3.9 mi	3,364	37%
Matoaca, VA	4.6 mi	296	49%
Hopewell, VA	7.9 mi	3,464	42%
Enon, VA	9.3 mi	655	32%

Hospices serving Petersburg

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Crater Community Hospice, Inc	Petersburg, VA	1.6 mi	(804) 526-4300
Athc - Hospice, LLC	Colonial Heights, VA	4.6 mi	(804) 520-7766
Trinity Hospice	Richmond, VA	22 mi	(804) 613-4529
Gentiva	Richmond, VA	22 mi	(804) 290-4300
James River Home Health And Hospice	Richmond, VA	22 mi	(804) 272-3300

Nursing homes near Petersburg (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Petersburg Healthcare Center	Petersburg, VA	0.6 mi	2 of 5	120	(804) 733-1190
Battlefield Park Healthcare Center	Petersburg, VA	1.4 mi	2 of 5	119	(804) 861-2223
Hiram W Davis Medical Ctr	Petersburg, VA	3.1 mi	4 of 5	90	(804) 524-7420
Colonial Heights Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Colonial Heights, VA	4.2 mi	1 of 5	196	(804) 526-6851

Straight-line miles from the center of Petersburg. 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 Petersburg

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $3,169 monthly median income of Petersburg households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

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 Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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 Petersburg: common questions

Which hospices serve Petersburg?

Medicare lists 22 hospices for Petersburg ZIP codes, including Crater Community Hospice, Inc, Athc - Hospice, LLC, Trinity Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Petersburg?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $3,169 monthly median income of Petersburg households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

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 Petersburg. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus covers Virginia.

More near Petersburg

More senior care near Petersburg

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Petersburg

More for Petersburg 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 Petersburg, VA