Respite Care in Picayune, MS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Picayune, MS: the local picture

2,353

residents 65 or older (20% of Picayune)

56%

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

52%

of residents 65+ report a disability (48% in Pearl River County)

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve Picayune ZIP codes

Most older adults in Picayune live with someone: 56% 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 1,164 Picayune residents aged 65 or older report a disability (52%) (48% in Pearl River County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 16 hospices serving Picayune ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Picayune compared with Pearl River County and Mississippi

Census figure	Picayune	Pearl River County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with a disability	52%	48%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	20%	20%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.7%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	14%	15%
Households with no vehicle	4.3%	3.8%	6.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$28,297	$42,622	—

Older residents in towns around Picayune

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Nicholson, MS	3.4 mi	433	36%
Hide-A-Way Lake, MS	3.8 mi	707	24%
Pearl River, LA	12 mi	418	33%
Slidell, LA	18 mi	6,098	47%
Bogalusa, LA	20 mi	2,047	52%
Abita Springs, LA	21 mi	446	24%

Hospices serving Picayune

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Notre Dame Hospice Of Mississippi	Diamondhead, MS	21 mi	(228) 687-1385
Arden Of South Mississippi LLC	Poplarville, MS	23 mi	(601) 403-9822
Passages Hospice	Covington, LA	26 mi	(504) 875-4204
Enhabit Hospice Of The Gulf Coast	Biloxi, MS	35 mi	(228) 374-4434
Vitalcaring Group	Wiggins, MS	39 mi	(601) 799-2088

Nursing homes near Picayune (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Picayune Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Picayune, MS	0.8 mi	1 of 5	120	(601) 798-1811
Bedford Care Center Of Picayune	Picayune, MS	2.3 mi	1 of 5	120	(601) 799-1616
Greenbriar Community Care Center	Slidell, LA	17 mi	5 of 5	174	(985) 643-6900
Heritage Manor Of Slidell	Slidell, LA	17 mi	4 of 5	120	(985) 643-0307

Straight-line miles from the center of Picayune. 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 Picayune

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 42% of the $2,358 monthly median income of Picayune 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 Picayune: common questions

Which hospices serve Picayune?

Medicare lists 16 hospices for Picayune ZIP codes, including Notre Dame Hospice Of Mississippi, Arden Of South Mississippi LLC, Passages Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Picayune?

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 42% of the $2,358 monthly median income of Picayune 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 Picayune. 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 Picayune

More senior care near Picayune

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Picayune

More for Picayune 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 Picayune, MS