Respite Care in Smithville, MO: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Smithville, MO: the local picture

1,646

residents 65 or older (15% of Smithville)

74%

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

32%

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

22

Medicare-certified hospices serve Smithville ZIP codes

Most older adults in Smithville live with someone: 74% 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 527 Smithville residents aged 65 or older report a disability (32%) (33% in Clay County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 22 hospices serving Smithville ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Smithville compared with Clay County and Missouri

Census figure	Smithville	Clay County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	33%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	29%	30%
Residents 65 or older	15%	15%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	1.4%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.0%	9.2%	10%
Households with no vehicle	2.6%	4.7%	6.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,333	$57,117	—

Older residents in towns around Smithville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Platte City, MO	10 mi	824	26%
Kearney, MO	12 mi	1,967	33%
Gladstone, MO	13 mi	5,586	32%
Pleasant Valley, MO	13 mi	479	46%
Liberty, MO	13 mi	4,881	36%
Parkville, MO	14 mi	1,088	9.8%

Hospices serving Smithville

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Three Rivers Hospice	Platte City, MO	12 mi	(816) 431-2333
Faith Hospice & Palliative Care, LLC	Gladstone, MO	14 mi	(913) 296-7636
Harbor Hospice Of North Missouri, LP	Plattsburg, MO	14 mi	(816) 601-1512
Good Shepherd Hospice Of Mid-America, Inc.	Independence, MO	22 mi	(816) 822-2292
Saint Luke's Hospice	Kansas City, MO	24 mi	(816) 756-1160

Nursing homes near Smithville (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
New Mark Rehab And Healthcare Center	Kansas City, MO	7.0 mi	1 of 5	199	(816) 734-4433
Tiffany Springs Rehabilitation & Health Care Cente	Kansas City, MO	11 mi	3 of 5	120	(816) 741-5570
Norterre	Liberty, MO	12 mi	3 of 5	60	(816) 479-4793
Aspire Senior Living Platte City	Platte City, MO	12 mi	1 of 5	97	(816) 858-5222

Straight-line miles from the center of Smithville. 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 Smithville

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $4,944 monthly median income of Smithville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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 Smithville: common questions

Which hospices serve Smithville?

Medicare lists 22 hospices for Smithville ZIP codes, including Three Rivers Hospice, Faith Hospice & Palliative Care, LLC, Harbor Hospice Of North Missouri, LP.

How much does respite care cost in Smithville?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $4,944 monthly median income of Smithville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Smithville. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver covers Missouri.

More near Smithville

More senior care near Smithville

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Smithville

More for Smithville 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 Smithville, MO