Respite Care in Sleepy Eye, MN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Sleepy Eye, MN: the local picture

748

residents 65 or older (22% of Sleepy Eye)

60%

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

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Brown County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Sleepy Eye ZIP codes

Most older adults in Sleepy Eye live with someone: 60% 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 164 Sleepy Eye residents aged 65 or older report a disability (26%) (27% in Brown County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Sleepy Eye ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Sleepy Eye compared with Brown County and Minnesota

Census figure	Sleepy Eye	Brown County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	27%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	33%	30%
Residents 65 or older	22%	22%	17%
Residents 85 or older	5.1%	3.9%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	12%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	9.6%	4.9%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,759	$50,504	—

Older residents in towns around Sleepy Eye

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
New Ulm, MN	13 mi	2,869	28%
St. James, MN	22 mi	712	25%
Redwood Falls, MN	25 mi	1,237	36%
Lake Crystal, MN	28 mi	501	24%
North Mankato, MN	35 mi	2,411	23%
Windom, MN	35 mi	1,101	24%

Hospices serving Sleepy Eye

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Centracare Hospice	Redwood Falls, MN	26 mi	(507) 637-4579
Stch South Central MN Opco LLC	Mankato, MN	37 mi	(507) 735-6221
Moments Hospice	Mankato, MN	37 mi	(507) 609-8800
Allina Health Hospice & Palliative Care	Minneapolis, MN	85 mi	(651) 635-9173
Ecumen Hospice	Shoreview, MN	95 mi	(651) 714-0200

Nursing homes near Sleepy Eye (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Divine Providence Community Home	Sleepy Eye, MN	0.7 mi	2 of 5	50	(507) 794-3011
Sleepy Eye Rehabilitati Center	Sleepy Eye, MN	0.8 mi	4 of 5	61	(507) 794-7995
Oak Hills Living Center	New Ulm, MN	12 mi	4 of 5	94	(507) 233-0800
Gil-Mor Manor	Morgan, MN	13 mi	2 of 5	35	(507) 249-3143

Straight-line miles from the center of Sleepy Eye. 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 Sleepy Eye

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 46% of the $3,480 monthly median income of Sleepy Eye households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Sleepy Eye: common questions

Which hospices serve Sleepy Eye?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Sleepy Eye ZIP codes, including Centracare Hospice, Stch South Central MN Opco LLC, Moments Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Sleepy Eye?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 46% of the $3,480 monthly median income of Sleepy Eye households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Sleepy Eye. 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 Minnesota.

More near Sleepy Eye

More senior care near Sleepy Eye

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Sleepy Eye

More for Sleepy Eye 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 Sleepy Eye, MN