Respite Care in Saylorville, IA for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Saylorville, IA: the local picture

705

residents 65 or older (21% of Saylorville)

86%

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

47%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Polk County)

14

Medicare-certified hospices serve Saylorville ZIP codes

Most older adults in Saylorville live with someone: 86% 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 329 Saylorville residents aged 65 or older report a disability (47%) (31% in Polk County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 14 hospices serving Saylorville ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Saylorville compared with Polk County and Iowa

Census figure	Saylorville	Polk County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	47%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	14%	32%	31%
Residents 65 or older	21%	14%	18%
Residents 85 or older	0.5%	1.5%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	2.1%	7.5%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	4.3%	5.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$64,063	$59,099	—

Older residents in towns around Saylorville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Ankeny, IA	3.7 mi	8,466	24%
Johnston, IA	5.1 mi	3,741	24%
Windsor Heights, IA	6.9 mi	985	35%
Des Moines, IA	7.5 mi	27,045	36%
Altoona, IA	7.9 mi	3,684	32%
Pleasant Hill, IA	8.5 mi	2,222	26%

Hospices serving Saylorville

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of The Midwest, LLC	Johnston, IA	3.9 mi	(515) 218-2143
St Croix Hospice	Ankeny, IA	4.1 mi	(515) 276-2700
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	6.1 mi	(515) 271-6777
Unitypoint Hospice	Urbandale, IA	6.1 mi	(515) 557-3100
Mercyone Des Moines Hospice	Des Moines, IA	6.2 mi	(515) 643-8383

Nursing homes near Saylorville (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
On With Life	Ankeny, IA	1.6 mi	4 of 5	28	(515) 965-1339
Sunny View Care Center	Ankeny, IA	2.7 mi	2 of 5	94	(515) 964-1101
The Bridges At Ankeny	Ankeny, IA	2.7 mi	3 of 5	100	(515) 963-9815
Mill-Pond	Ankeny, IA	3.8 mi	5 of 5	60	(515) 964-2273

Straight-line miles from the center of Saylorville. 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 Saylorville

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,339 monthly median income of Saylorville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Saylorville: common questions

Which hospices serve Saylorville?

Medicare lists 14 hospices for Saylorville ZIP codes, including Hospice Of The Midwest, LLC, St Croix Hospice, Wesleylife Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Saylorville?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,339 monthly median income of Saylorville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Saylorville. 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 Iowa.

More near Saylorville

More senior care near Saylorville

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Saylorville

More for Saylorville 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 Saylorville, IA