Respite Care in Richlands, VA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Richlands, VA: the local picture

1,295

residents 65 or older (25% of Richlands)

57%

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

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Tazewell County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Richlands ZIP codes

Most older adults in Richlands live with someone: 57% 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 433 Richlands residents aged 65 or older report a disability (33%) (37% in Tazewell County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Richlands ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Richlands compared with Tazewell County and Virginia

Census figure	Richlands	Tazewell County	Virginia
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	37%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	29%	27%
Residents 65 or older	25%	24%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	1.8%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	13%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	11%	6.6%	6.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$26,354	$39,647	—

Older residents in towns around Richlands

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Tazewell, VA	17 mi	1,062	31%
Lebanon, VA	20 mi	1,014	49%
Marion, VA	24 mi	1,241	31%
Welch, WV	26 mi	403	62%
Abingdon, VA	28 mi	2,046	33%
Bluefield, VA	31 mi	1,257	40%

Hospices serving Richlands

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Medical Services Of America Home Health & Hospice	Richlands, VA	0.4 mi	(276) 964-4202
Legacy Hospice & Palliative Care	Cedar Bluff, VA	2.8 mi	(276) 596-9181
Helping Hands Hospice, Inc	Cedar Bluff, VA	2.8 mi	(276) 964-4313
Home Nursing Company Inc	Lebanon, VA	21 mi	(276) 889-4318
Caris Healthcare, LP (Abingdon)	Abingdon, VA	30 mi	(276) 494-0465

Nursing homes near Richlands (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Clinch Valley Medical Center	Richlands, VA	0.4 mi	5 of 5	24	(276) 596-6000
Heritage Hall Tazewell	Tazewell, VA	18 mi	2 of 5	180	(276) 988-2515
Heritage Hall Grundy	Grundy, VA	20 mi	5 of 5	120	(276) 935-8144
Maple Grove Nursing & Rehab Center	Lebanon, VA	20 mi	3 of 5	60	(276) 889-0733

Straight-line miles from the center of Richlands. 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 Richlands

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 57% of the $2,196 monthly median income of Richlands 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 Richlands: common questions

Which hospices serve Richlands?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Richlands ZIP codes, including Medical Services Of America Home Health & Hospice, Legacy Hospice & Palliative Care, Helping Hands Hospice, Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Richlands?

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 57% of the $2,196 monthly median income of Richlands 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 Richlands. 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 Richlands

More senior care near Richlands

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Richlands

More for Richlands 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 Richlands, VA