Respite Care in Portsmouth, VA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Portsmouth, VA: the local picture

15,037

residents 65 or older (15% of Portsmouth)

65%

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

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability

27

Medicare-certified hospices serve Portsmouth ZIP codes

Most older adults in Portsmouth live with someone: 65% 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 5,524 Portsmouth residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 27 hospices serving Portsmouth ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Portsmouth compared with Virginia

Census figure	Portsmouth	Virginia
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	27%
Residents 65 or older	15%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	12%	6.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$47,831	—

Older residents in towns around Portsmouth

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Norfolk, VA	7.6 mi	30,440	36%
Carrollton, VA	11 mi	983	33%
Chesapeake, VA	13 mi	36,797	33%
Hampton, VA	13 mi	22,962	37%
Smithfield, VA	16 mi	1,645	30%
Bethel Manor, VA	17 mi	5	0.0%

Hospices serving Portsmouth

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bon Secours Hospice	Suffolk, VA	6.1 mi	(757) 391-6028
Wings Over Virginia LLC	Norfolk, VA	7.9 mi	(757) 392-9684
Trinity Hospice LLC	Chesapeake, VA	11 mi	(757) 664-9441
Comfort Care Home Health And Hospice	Chesapeake, VA	11 mi	(757) 312-6460
Sentara Home Care Services - Chesapeake	Chesapeake, VA	11 mi	(757) 553-3000

Nursing homes near Portsmouth (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Autumn Care Of Portsmouth	Portsmouth, VA	2.5 mi	4 of 5	108	(757) 397-0725
Signature Healthcare Of Norfolk	Norfolk, VA	3.1 mi	3 of 5	169	(757) 623-5602
Portsmouth Health And Rehab	Portsmouth, VA	3.1 mi	1 of 5	120	(757) 393-6864
Harbor's Edge	Norfolk, VA	3.7 mi	5 of 5	33	(757) 233-0475

Straight-line miles from the center of Portsmouth. 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 Portsmouth

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 32% of the $3,986 monthly median income of Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth: common questions

Which hospices serve Portsmouth?

Medicare lists 27 hospices for Portsmouth ZIP codes, including Bon Secours Hospice, Wings Over Virginia LLC, Trinity Hospice LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Portsmouth?

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 32% of the $3,986 monthly median income of Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth. 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 Portsmouth

More senior care near Portsmouth

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Portsmouth

More for Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth, VA