Respite Care in Rice Lake, MN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Rice Lake, MN: the local picture

949

residents 65 or older (23% of Rice Lake)

80%

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

19%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in St. Louis County)

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Rice Lake ZIP codes

Most older adults in Rice Lake live with someone: 80% 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 184 Rice Lake residents aged 65 or older report a disability (19%) (30% in St. Louis County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 7 hospices serving Rice Lake ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Rice Lake compared with St. Louis County and Minnesota

Census figure	Rice Lake	St. Louis County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability	19%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	23%	21%	17%
Residents 85 or older	0.5%	2.5%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	9.5%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	1.9%	8.0%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,269	$54,929	—

Older residents in towns around Rice Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Hermantown, MN	9.0 mi	1,737	30%
Duluth, MN	9.3 mi	15,068	30%
Proctor, MN	12 mi	732	45%
Superior, WI	15 mi	4,778	37%
Cloquet, MN	22 mi	2,175	33%
Two Harbors, MN	23 mi	694	40%

Hospices serving Rice Lake

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Moments Hospice	Hermantown, MN	7.2 mi	(218) 520-0870
Caringedge Hospice Hermantown	Hermantown, MN	7.2 mi	(218) 723-8905
Gentiva 1	Hermantown, MN	7.2 mi	(218) 729-2517
Essentia Health St Mary's Hospice & Palliative Care Services	Duluth, MN	7.8 mi	(218) 786-4020
Aspirus St. Luke's At Home-Hospice-Duluth	Duluth, MN	7.8 mi	(218) 249-6100

Nursing homes near Rice Lake (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Hilltop Healthcare Rehabilitation And Skilled Nurs	Duluth, MN	6.2 mi	2 of 5	140	(218) 625-6400
Benedictine Health Center	Duluth, MN	6.8 mi	1 of 5	96	(218) 522-8900
Aftenro Home	Duluth, MN	6.8 mi	1 of 5	54	(218) 728-6600
Ecumen Lakeshore	Duluth, MN	7.4 mi	5 of 5	60	(218) 625-7100

Straight-line miles from the center of Rice Lake. 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 Rice Lake

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,689 monthly median income of Rice Lake households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Rice Lake: common questions

Which hospices serve Rice Lake?

Medicare lists 7 hospices for Rice Lake ZIP codes, including Moments Hospice, Caringedge Hospice Hermantown, Gentiva 1.

How much does respite care cost in Rice Lake?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,689 monthly median income of Rice Lake households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Rice Lake. 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 Minnesota.

More near Rice Lake

More senior care near Rice Lake

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Rice Lake

More for Rice Lake 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 Rice Lake, MN