Respite Care in Sebring, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Sebring, FL: the local picture

3,005

residents 65 or older (26% of Sebring)

66%

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

41%

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

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Sebring ZIP codes

Most older adults in Sebring live with someone: 66% 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 1,119 Sebring residents aged 65 or older report a disability (41%) (37% in Highlands County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 11 hospices serving Sebring ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Sebring compared with Highlands County and Florida

Census figure	Sebring	Highlands County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	37%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	25%	25%
Residents 65 or older	26%	36%	21%
Residents 85 or older	2.9%	4.5%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	12%	12%
Households with no vehicle	9.8%	5.6%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,936	$51,234	—

Older residents in towns around Sebring

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Avon Park, FL	8.9 mi	3,201	53%
Frostproof, FL	20 mi	1,108	38%
Wauchula, FL	23 mi	515	51%
Crooked Lake Park, FL	26 mi	352	35%
Alturas, FL	29 mi	851	32%
Fort Meade, FL	30 mi	1,295	44%

Hospices serving Sebring

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Okeechobee Incorporated	Okeechobee, FL	42 mi	(813) 467-2321
Compassionate Care Hospice Of Central Florida Inc	Lakeland, FL	45 mi	(863) 709-0099
Good Shepherd Hospice	Lakeland, FL	52 mi	(863) 682-0067
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	64 mi	(321) 751-6671
Empath Tidewell Hospice	Sarasota, FL	65 mi	(941) 552-7500

Nursing homes near Sebring (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Vivo Healthcare Sebring	Sebring, FL	1.3 mi	3 of 5	104	(863) 382-2153
Palms At Sebring Nursing And Rehabilitation The	Sebring, FL	1.6 mi	1 of 5	120	(863) 385-0161
Oaks At Avon	Avon Park, FL	9.9 mi	4 of 5	104	(863) 453-5200
Lake Placid Health And Rehabilitation Center	Lake Placid, FL	12 mi	2 of 5	180	(863) 465-7200

Straight-line miles from the center of Sebring. 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 Sebring

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 34% of the $4,161 monthly median income of Sebring 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 Sebring: common questions

Which hospices serve Sebring?

Medicare lists 11 hospices for Sebring ZIP codes, including Hospice Of Okeechobee Incorporated, Compassionate Care Hospice Of Central Florida Inc, Good Shepherd Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Sebring?

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 34% of the $4,161 monthly median income of Sebring 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 Sebring. 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 Sebring

More senior care near Sebring

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Sebring

More for Sebring 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 Sebring, FL