Respite Care in Port St. Joe, FL for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Port St. Joe, FL: the local picture

1,068

residents 65 or older (30% of Port St. Joe)

73%

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

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Gulf County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Port St. Joe ZIP codes

Most older adults in Port St. Joe live with someone: 73% 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 289 Port St. Joe residents aged 65 or older report a disability (29%) (34% in Gulf County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Port St. Joe ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Port St. Joe compared with Gulf County and Florida

Census figure	Port St. Joe	Gulf County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	34%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	24%	25%
Residents 65 or older	30%	24%	21%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	1.7%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.5%	7.9%	12%
Households with no vehicle	5.5%	3.7%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$47,162	$55,128	—

Older residents in towns around Port St. Joe

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Callaway, FL	26 mi	1,609	39%
Eastpoint, FL	27 mi	689	32%
Parker, FL	28 mi	854	36%
Springfield, FL	30 mi	1,456	56%
Cedar Grove, FL	32 mi	653	64%
Panama City, FL	32 mi	6,220	35%

Hospices serving Port St. Joe

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Emerald Coast Hospice	Panama City, FL	34 mi	(850) 769-0055
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Tallahassee, FL	79 mi	(850) 575-4998
Big Bend Hospice Inc	Tallahassee, FL	79 mi	(850) 878-5310
Heritage Hospice, Inc	Marietta, GA	295 mi	(770) 423-5959
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	301 mi	(321) 751-6671

Nursing homes near Port St. Joe (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Shores Nursing And Rehab Center	Port Saint Joe, FL	0.8 mi	1 of 5	120	(850) 229-8244

Straight-line miles from the center of Port St. Joe. 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 Port St. Joe

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $3,930 monthly median income of Port St. Joe households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Port St. Joe: common questions

Which hospices serve Port St. Joe?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Port St. Joe ZIP codes, including Emerald Coast Hospice, Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida, Big Bend Hospice Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Port St. Joe?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $3,930 monthly median income of Port St. Joe households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Port St. Joe. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO covers Florida.

More near Port St. Joe

More senior care near Port St. Joe

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Port St. Joe

More for Port St. Joe 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 Port St. Joe, FL