Respite Care in Ringgold, GA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Ringgold, GA: the local picture

705

residents 65 or older (21% of Ringgold)

38%

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

39%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Catoosa County)

19

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ringgold ZIP codes

Most older adults in Ringgold live with someone: 38% 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 274 Ringgold residents aged 65 or older report a disability (39%) (39% in Catoosa County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 19 hospices serving Ringgold ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Ringgold compared with Catoosa County and Georgia

Census figure	Ringgold	Catoosa County	Georgia
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	39%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	62%	25%	26%
Residents 65 or older	21%	19%	15%
Residents 85 or older	0.1%	2.0%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	21%	7.4%	11%
Households with no vehicle	3.3%	4.3%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$28,083	$49,124	—

Older residents in towns around Ringgold

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Fort Oglethorpe, GA	7.2 mi	2,805	48%
East Ridge, TN	8.4 mi	4,078	38%
Lakeview, GA	8.7 mi	897	38%
Varnell, GA	8.9 mi	246	36%
Apison, TN	8.9 mi	470	34%
Chickamauga, GA	9.8 mi	570	30%

Hospices serving Ringgold

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Caris Healthcare	Ringgold, GA	1.9 mi	(706) 944-9110
Hearth Hospice	Fort Oglethorpe, GA	7.4 mi	(706) 866-9854
Hospice Of Chattanooga Holdings, LLC	Chattanooga, TN	7.8 mi	(423) 892-4289
Caris Healthcare	Chattanooga, TN	7.8 mi	(423) 899-4044
Heartlite Hospice	Dalton, GA	13 mi	(706) 272-1035

Nursing homes near Ringgold (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nhc Healthcare Ft Oglethorpe	Fort Oglethorpe, GA	6.4 mi	5 of 5	135	(706) 866-7700
Life Care Center Of East Ridge	Chattanooga, TN	7.1 mi	3 of 5	108	(423) 894-1254
Pruitthealth - Fort Oglethorpe	Fort Oglethorpe, GA	7.5 mi	3 of 5	120	(706) 861-5154
Center For Advanced Rehab At Parkside, The	Rossville, GA	8.4 mi	3 of 5	125	(706) 858-5000

Straight-line miles from the center of Ringgold. 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 Ringgold

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 52% of the $2,340 monthly median income of Ringgold households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (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 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 Ringgold: common questions

Which hospices serve Ringgold?

Medicare lists 19 hospices for Ringgold ZIP codes, including Caris Healthcare, Hearth Hospice, Hospice Of Chattanooga Holdings, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Ringgold?

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 52% of the $2,340 monthly median income of Ringgold households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (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 Ringgold. 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 Georgia.

More near Ringgold

More senior care near Ringgold

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ringgold

More for Ringgold 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 Ringgold, GA