Respite Care in Sheffield, AL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Sheffield, AL: the local picture

2,392

residents 65 or older (26% of Sheffield)

69%

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

43%

of residents 65+ report a disability (41% in Colbert County)

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Sheffield ZIP codes

Most older adults in Sheffield live with someone: 69% 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 1,024 Sheffield residents aged 65 or older report a disability (43%) (41% in Colbert County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Sheffield compared with Colbert County and Alabama

Census figure	Sheffield	Colbert County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	41%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	29%	29%
Residents 65 or older	26%	20%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	2.0%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	13%	12%
Households with no vehicle	5.5%	4.6%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$39,565	$41,996	—

Older residents in towns around Sheffield

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Tuscumbia, AL	2.7 mi	1,963	46%
Muscle Shoals, AL	3.7 mi	3,033	34%
Florence, AL	5.4 mi	7,294	43%
Underwood-Petersville, AL	8.2 mi	787	36%
Russellville, AL	17 mi	1,593	47%
Iuka, MS	29 mi	798	51%

Hospices serving Sheffield

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Alabama Hospice Of The Shoals	Tuscumbia, AL	4.9 mi	(256) 314-1204
Amedisys Hospice Of Florence	Florence, AL	5.6 mi	(256) 760-7877
Preferred Hospice	Florence, AL	5.6 mi	(256) 767-1322
Compassus-Florence	Florence, AL	12 mi	(256) 757-2414
Aveanna Hospice Of Decatur	Decatur, AL	42 mi	(256) 905-0280

Nursing homes near Sheffield (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Keller Landing	Tuscumbia, AL	1.2 mi	5 of 5	109	(256) 383-1535
Cottage Of The Shoals	Tuscumbia, AL	2.3 mi	4 of 5	103	(256) 383-4541
El Reposo Nursing Facility	Florence, AL	3.2 mi	3 of 5	60	(256) 757-2143
Cypress Cove Care Center	Muscle Shoals, AL	3.5 mi	5 of 5	90	(256) 381-4330

Straight-line miles from the center of Sheffield. 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 Sheffield

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 35% of the $3,297 monthly median income of Sheffield 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 Sheffield: common questions

Which hospices serve Sheffield?

Medicare lists 10 hospices for Sheffield ZIP codes, including Alabama Hospice Of The Shoals, Amedisys Hospice Of Florence, Preferred Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Sheffield?

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 35% of the $3,297 monthly median income of Sheffield 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 Sheffield. 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 Sheffield

More senior care near Sheffield

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Sheffield

More for Sheffield 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 Sheffield, AL