Respite Care in Pulaski, TN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Pulaski, TN: the local picture

1,711

residents 65 or older (21% of Pulaski)

75%

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

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Giles County)

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Pulaski ZIP codes

Most older adults in Pulaski live with someone: 75% 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 607 Pulaski residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%) (38% in Giles County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 3 hospices serving Pulaski ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Pulaski compared with Giles County and Tennessee

Census figure	Pulaski	Giles County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	38%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	25%	25%	29%
Residents 65 or older	21%	21%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.3%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.2%	7.2%	11%
Households with no vehicle	7.8%	5.2%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,977	$47,979	—

Older residents in towns around Pulaski

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Lawrenceburg, TN	17 mi	2,410	47%
Lewisburg, TN	22 mi	2,317	44%
Mount Pleasant, TN	26 mi	871	39%
Park City, TN	27 mi	500	36%
Fayetteville, TN	27 mi	1,433	45%
Harvest, AL	28 mi	957	36%

Hospices serving Pulaski

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Compassus - The Highland Rim	Tullahoma, TN	47 mi	(931) 455-9118
Gentiva	Nashville, TN	67 mi	(615) 889-5995
Caris Healthcare	Nashville, TN	70 mi	(615) 366-9952

Nursing homes near Pulaski (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nhc Healthcare, Pulaski	Pulaski, TN	1.1 mi	3 of 5	102	(931) 363-3572
Meadowbrook Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Pulaski, TN	1.6 mi	4 of 5	83	(931) 363-7548
Elk River Health And Nursing Center Of Ardmore, Ll	Ardmore, TN	16 mi	4 of 5	79	(931) 427-2143
Nhc Healthcare, Lawrenceburg	Lawrenceburg, TN	18 mi	4 of 5	96	(931) 762-6548

Straight-line miles from the center of Pulaski. 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 Pulaski

At the Tennessee median aide wage of $15.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,339 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $4,081 monthly median income of Pulaski households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Tennessee 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 TennCare CHOICES: how to get paid to care for a family member in Tennessee.

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 Pulaski: common questions

Which hospices serve Pulaski?

Medicare lists 3 hospices for Pulaski ZIP codes, including Hospice Compassus - The Highland Rim, Gentiva, Caris Healthcare.

How much does respite care cost in Pulaski?

At the Tennessee median aide wage of $15.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,339 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $4,081 monthly median income of Pulaski households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Tennessee 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 Pulaski. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide TennCare CHOICES: how to get paid to care for a family member in Tennessee covers Tennessee.

More near Pulaski

More senior care near Pulaski

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Pulaski

More for Pulaski 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 Pulaski, TN