Respite Care in Smithville, TN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Smithville, TN: the local picture

859

residents 65 or older (16% of Smithville)

45%

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

54%

of residents 65+ report a disability (42% in DeKalb County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Smithville ZIP codes

Most older adults in Smithville live with someone: 45% 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 411 Smithville residents aged 65 or older report a disability (54%) (42% in DeKalb County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 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 DeKalb County and Tennessee

Census figure	Smithville	DeKalb County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	54%	42%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	55%	31%	29%
Residents 65 or older	16%	19%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.0%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	24%	13%	11%
Households with no vehicle	18%	7.0%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$21,463	$37,211	—

Older residents in towns around Smithville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Woodbury, TN	17 mi	311	48%
McMinnville, TN	19 mi	2,373	39%
Sparta, TN	20 mi	1,332	42%
Cookeville, TN	22 mi	4,960	40%
Algood, TN	27 mi	784	35%
Lebanon, TN	34 mi	7,242	32%

Hospices serving Smithville

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Amedisys Hospice	Murfreesboro, TN	34 mi	(615) 316-2243
Caris Healthcare	Murfreesboro, TN	34 mi	(615) 217-8720
Hospice Compassus - The Highland Rim	Tullahoma, TN	48 mi	(931) 455-9118
Alive Hospice Inc	Nashville, TN	56 mi	(615) 327-1085
Gentiva	Nashville, TN	60 mi	(615) 889-5995

Nursing homes near Smithville (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nhc Healthcare, Smithville	Smithville, TN	0.2 mi	3 of 5	114	(615) 597-4284
Woodbury Health And Rehabilitation Center	Woodbury, TN	17 mi	3 of 5	82	(615) 563-5939
Willow Branch Health And Rehabilitation	Mcminnville, TN	18 mi	2 of 5	140	(931) 668-2011
Life Care Center Of Sparta	Sparta, TN	19 mi	5 of 5	100	(931) 738-9430

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 Tennessee median aide wage of $15.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,339 a month in wages, which is 75% of the $1,789 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. Tennessee 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 TennCare CHOICES: how to get paid to care for a family member in Tennessee.

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 6 hospices for Smithville ZIP codes, including Amedisys Hospice, Caris Healthcare, Hospice Compassus - The Highland Rim.

How much does respite care cost in Smithville?

At the Tennessee median aide wage of $15.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,339 a month in wages, which is 75% of the $1,789 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. Tennessee 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 Smithville. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide TennCare CHOICES: how to get paid to care for a family member in Tennessee covers Tennessee.

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, TN