Respite Care in Sawgrass, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Sawgrass, FL: the local picture

1,931

residents 65 or older (39% of Sawgrass)

81%

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

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (25% in St. Johns County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Sawgrass ZIP codes

Most older adults in Sawgrass live with someone: 81% 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 523 Sawgrass residents aged 65 or older report a disability (27%) (25% in St. Johns County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Sawgrass ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Sawgrass compared with St. Johns County and Florida

Census figure	Sawgrass	St. Johns County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	25%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	19%	20%	25%
Residents 65 or older	39%	21%	21%
Residents 85 or older	5.1%	2.0%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.3%	6.7%	12%
Households with no vehicle	7.7%	3.1%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$97,372	$75,579	—

Older residents in towns around Sawgrass

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Palm Valley, FL	1.3 mi	5,349	13%
Jacksonville Beach, FL	5.7 mi	5,160	29%
Nocatee, FL	7.7 mi	5,756	16%
Neptune Beach, FL	8.5 mi	1,436	14%
Atlantic Beach, FL	10 mi	3,740	27%
Fruit Cove, FL	16 mi	4,988	25%

Hospices serving Sawgrass

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heartland Hospice (Jacksonville)	Jacksonville, FL	11 mi	(904) 737-2553
Community Hospice Of Northeast Florida Inc	Jacksonville, FL	14 mi	(904) 268-5200
Hospice Of Florida	Jacksonville, FL	19 mi	(904) 740-2310
Haven Hospice	Gainesville, FL	71 mi	(904) 378-2121
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	148 mi	(321) 751-6671

Nursing homes near Sawgrass (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Vicar's Landing Nursing Home	Ponte Vedra Beach, FL	1.3 mi	5 of 5	30	(904) 285-1055
Avante Villa At Jacksonville Beach Inc	Jacksonville Beach, FL	5.8 mi	3 of 5	165	(904) 249-7421
Cypress Village	Jacksonville, FL	6.7 mi	5 of 5	100	(904) 223-6100
Bartram Crossing	Jacksonville, FL	11 mi	2 of 5	100	(904) 824-3326

Straight-line miles from the center of Sawgrass. 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 Sawgrass

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 17% of the $8,114 monthly median income of Sawgrass households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Sawgrass: common questions

Which hospices serve Sawgrass?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Sawgrass ZIP codes, including Heartland Hospice (Jacksonville), Community Hospice Of Northeast Florida Inc, Hospice Of Florida.

How much does respite care cost in Sawgrass?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 17% of the $8,114 monthly median income of Sawgrass households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Sawgrass. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO covers Florida.

More near Sawgrass

More senior care near Sawgrass

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Sawgrass

More for Sawgrass 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 Sawgrass, FL