Respite Care in Pleasant Hill, IA for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Pleasant Hill, IA: the local picture

2,222

residents 65 or older (20% of Pleasant Hill)

74%

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

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Polk County)

8

Medicare-certified hospices serve Pleasant Hill ZIP codes

Most older adults in Pleasant Hill 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 549 Pleasant Hill residents aged 65 or older report a disability (26%) (31% in Polk County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 8 hospices serving Pleasant Hill ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Pleasant Hill compared with Polk County and Iowa

Census figure	Pleasant Hill	Polk County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	32%	31%
Residents 65 or older	20%	14%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	1.5%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.9%	7.5%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	1.4%	5.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$67,957	$59,099	—

Older residents in towns around Pleasant Hill

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Altoona, IA	3.8 mi	3,684	32%
Des Moines, IA	5.7 mi	27,045	36%
Carlisle, IA	5.9 mi	523	36%
Bondurant, IA	7.3 mi	577	41%
Saylorville, IA	8.5 mi	705	47%
Mitchellville, IA	8.7 mi	263	21%

Hospices serving Pleasant Hill

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Everystep	Des Moines, IA	1.6 mi	(515) 274-3400
Mercyone Des Moines Hospice	Des Moines, IA	5.1 mi	(515) 643-8383
St Croix Hospice	Ankeny, IA	9.0 mi	(515) 276-2700
Hospice Of The Midwest, LLC	Johnston, IA	11 mi	(515) 218-2143
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	12 mi	(515) 271-6777

Nursing homes near Pleasant Hill (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Parkridge Specialty Care	Pleasant Hill, IA	0.6 mi	1 of 5	90	(515) 265-5348
Prairie Vista Village	Altoona, IA	3.3 mi	5 of 5	46	(515) 967-8700
Valley View Village	Des Moines, IA	3.4 mi	3 of 5	79	(515) 265-2571
Altoona Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Altoona, IA	4.0 mi	1 of 5	106	(515) 967-4267

Straight-line miles from the center of Pleasant Hill. 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 Pleasant Hill

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,663 monthly median income of Pleasant Hill households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 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 Pleasant Hill: common questions

Which hospices serve Pleasant Hill?

Medicare lists 8 hospices for Pleasant Hill ZIP codes, including Everystep, Mercyone Des Moines Hospice, St Croix Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Pleasant Hill?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,663 monthly median income of Pleasant Hill households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Pleasant Hill. 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 Iowa.

More near Pleasant Hill

More senior care near Pleasant Hill

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Pleasant Hill

More for Pleasant Hill 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 Pleasant Hill, IA