Respite Care in Sharpes, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Sharpes, FL: the local picture

607

residents 65 or older (21% of Sharpes)

82%

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

51%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Brevard County)

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Sharpes ZIP codes

Most older adults in Sharpes live with someone: 82% 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 308 Sharpes residents aged 65 or older report a disability (51%) (33% in Brevard County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 3 hospices serving Sharpes ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Sharpes compared with Brevard County and Florida

Census figure	Sharpes	Brevard County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	51%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	18%	26%	25%
Residents 65 or older	21%	24%	21%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	3.0%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.1%	8.1%	12%
Households with no vehicle	4.7%	4.9%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$58,182	$58,980	—

Older residents in towns around Sharpes

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
North Merritt Island, FL	3.2 mi	2,520	35%
Port St. John, FL	3.7 mi	4,405	38%
Cocoa, FL	4.6 mi	4,259	37%
Cocoa West, FL	5.9 mi	859	36%
Rockledge, FL	8.6 mi	7,233	34%
Titusville, FL	9.6 mi	11,443	33%

Hospices serving Sharpes

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St. Francis Hospice	Titusville, FL	9.4 mi	(321) 269-4240
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	22 mi	(321) 751-6671
Hospice Of Health First Inc	West Melbourne, FL	27 mi	(321) 434-1744

Nursing homes near Sharpes (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Solaris Healthcare Merritt Island	Merritt Island, FL	5.0 mi	5 of 5	180	(321) 454-4035
Space Coast Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Merritt Island, FL	5.4 mi	1 of 5	120	(321) 453-0202
Rockledge Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center	Rockledge, FL	7.9 mi	2 of 5	107	(321) 632-6300
Sunrise Point Health And Rehabilitation Center	Rockledge, FL	8.2 mi	1 of 5	100	(321) 632-7341

Straight-line miles from the center of Sharpes. 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 Sharpes

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 29% of the $4,849 monthly median income of Sharpes 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 Sharpes: common questions

Which hospices serve Sharpes?

Medicare lists 3 hospices for Sharpes ZIP codes, including St. Francis Hospice, Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida, Hospice Of Health First Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Sharpes?

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 29% of the $4,849 monthly median income of Sharpes 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 Sharpes. 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 Sharpes

More senior care near Sharpes

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Sharpes

More for Sharpes 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 Sharpes, FL