Respite Care in Selma, AL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Selma, AL: the local picture

3,193

residents 65 or older (19% of Selma)

56%

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

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (46% in Dallas County)

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Selma ZIP codes

Most older adults in Selma live with someone: 56% 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 1,151 Selma residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%) (46% in Dallas County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 10 hospices serving Selma ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Selma compared with Dallas County and Alabama

Census figure	Selma	Dallas County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	46%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	41%	29%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	1.5%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	20%	12%
Households with no vehicle	18%	14%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$28,527	$30,948	—

Older residents in towns around Selma

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Valley Grande, AL	4.8 mi	841	39%
Marion, AL	22 mi	590	67%
Prattville, AL	34 mi	5,983	43%
Pine Level, AL	36 mi	712	37%
Brent, AL	37 mi	497	42%
Centreville, AL	38 mi	664	37%

Hospices serving Selma

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Traditions Health Of Selma	Selma, AL	0.7 mi	(334) 418-0566
Enhabit Hospice Prattville	Montgomery, AL	45 mi	(334) 289-1007
Baptist Hospice	Montgomery, AL	47 mi	(334) 395-5000
Aveanna Hospice Of Demopolis	Demopolis, AL	47 mi	(334) 289-2106
Amedisys Hospice Of Montgomery	Montgomery, AL	50 mi	(334) 395-7789

Nursing homes near Selma (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Bellway Health And Rehabilitation Center	Selma, AL	0.9 mi	2 of 5	172	(334) 874-7425
Lighthouse Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center	Selma, AL	2.2 mi	2 of 5	68	(334) 875-1868
Park Place	Selma, AL	2.5 mi	3 of 5	103	(334) 872-3471
Southland Nursing Home	Marion, AL	21 mi	5 of 5	91	(334) 683-6141

Straight-line miles from the center of Selma. 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 Selma

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $2,377 monthly median income of Selma households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (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 Selma: common questions

Which hospices serve Selma?

Medicare lists 10 hospices for Selma ZIP codes, including Traditions Health Of Selma, Enhabit Hospice Prattville, Baptist Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Selma?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $2,377 monthly median income of Selma households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (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 Selma. 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 Alabama.

More near Selma

More senior care near Selma

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Selma

More for Selma 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 Selma, AL