Respite Care in Pontotoc, MS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Pontotoc, MS: the local picture

990

residents 65 or older (17% of Pontotoc)

50%

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

57%

of residents 65+ report a disability (50% in Pontotoc County)

17

Medicare-certified hospices serve Pontotoc ZIP codes

Most older adults in Pontotoc live with someone: 50% 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 509 Pontotoc residents aged 65 or older report a disability (57%) (50% in Pontotoc County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 17 hospices serving Pontotoc ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Pontotoc compared with Pontotoc County and Mississippi

Census figure	Pontotoc	Pontotoc County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with a disability	57%	50%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	50%	26%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	16%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.5%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	14%	15%
Households with no vehicle	2.9%	2.2%	6.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,436	$43,781	—

Older residents in towns around Pontotoc

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Tupelo, MS	16 mi	6,418	33%
New Albany, MS	17 mi	1,427	49%
Verona, MS	17 mi	263	52%
Saltillo, MS	20 mi	786	23%
Guntown, MS	24 mi	145	54%
Houston, MS	25 mi	769	22%

Hospices serving Pontotoc

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Shepherd Hospice Care, LLC	New Albany, MS	16 mi	(662) 539-7086
Homecare Hospice North LLC Dba Legacy Hospice Of The South	New Albany, MS	16 mi	(662) 539-7339
Vitalcaring Group	Tupelo, MS	16 mi	(662) 205-5740
Enhabit Hospice Of Northeast Mississippi	Tupelo, MS	16 mi	(662) 844-2870
North Mississippi Medical Ctr	Tupelo, MS	16 mi	(662) 377-3612

Nursing homes near Pontotoc (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Pontotoc Nursing Home	Pontotoc, MS	0.9 mi	5 of 5	44	(662) 489-5510
Pontotoc Health & Rehab Center	Pontotoc, MS	1.1 mi	5 of 5	60	(662) 489-6411
Sunshine Health Care, Inc	Pontotoc, MS	1.9 mi	5 of 5	60	(662) 489-1189
Cedars Health Center	Tupelo, MS	15 mi	3 of 5	140	(662) 844-1441

Straight-line miles from the center of Pontotoc. 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 Pontotoc

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 30% of the $3,370 monthly median income of Pontotoc 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 Pontotoc: common questions

Which hospices serve Pontotoc?

Medicare lists 17 hospices for Pontotoc ZIP codes, including Shepherd Hospice Care, LLC, Homecare Hospice North LLC Dba Legacy Hospice Of The South, Vitalcaring Group.

How much does respite care cost in Pontotoc?

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 30% of the $3,370 monthly median income of Pontotoc 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 Pontotoc. 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 Pontotoc

More senior care near Pontotoc

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Pontotoc

More for Pontotoc 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 Pontotoc, MS