Respite Care in Southport, NC: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Southport, NC: the local picture

2,014

residents 65 or older (48% of Southport)

84%

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

23%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Brunswick County)

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Southport ZIP codes

Most older adults in Southport live with someone: 84% 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 433 Southport residents aged 65 or older report a disability (23%) (24% in Brunswick County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 7 hospices serving Southport ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Southport compared with Brunswick County and North Carolina

Census figure	Southport	Brunswick County	North Carolina
Residents 65+ with a disability	23%	24%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	16%	20%	28%
Residents 65 or older	48%	34%	17%
Residents 85 or older	7.0%	2.0%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.1%	5.7%	11%
Households with no vehicle	2.6%	2.4%	5.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$70,372	$69,925	—

Older residents in towns around Southport

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
St. James, NC	5.3 mi	4,439	13%
Oak Island, NC	6.5 mi	3,796	19%
Boiling Spring Lakes, NC	8.5 mi	1,290	19%
Carolina Beach, NC	9.7 mi	1,351	21%
Myrtle Grove, NC	15 mi	2,200	27%
Silver Lake, NC	16 mi	1,396	23%

Hospices serving Southport

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Lower Cape Fear Lifecare	Wilmington, NC	21 mi	(910) 796-7900
Liberty Home Care And Hospice	Wilmington, NC	21 mi	(910) 251-8111
Amedisys Hospice Care	Pembroke, NC	85 mi	(855) 809-0997
Gentiva	Fayetteville, NC	96 mi	(910) 323-9816
3HC	Goldsboro, NC	99 mi	(919) 735-5887

Nursing homes near Southport (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Liberty Commons Nursing & Rehab Center Of Southpor	Southport, NC	0.7 mi	3 of 5	99	(910) 457-9581
Autumn Care Of Myrtle Grove	Wilmington, NC	15 mi	1 of 5	90	(910) 792-1455
Bolivia Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Bolivia, NC	15 mi	1 of 5	90	(910) 755-5955
Trinity Grove	Wilmington, NC	16 mi	3 of 5	100	(910) 442-3000

Straight-line miles from the center of Southport. 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 Southport

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $5,864 monthly median income of Southport households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Southport: common questions

Which hospices serve Southport?

Medicare lists 7 hospices for Southport ZIP codes, including Lower Cape Fear Lifecare, Liberty Home Care And Hospice, Amedisys Hospice Care.

How much does respite care cost in Southport?

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $5,864 monthly median income of Southport households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Southport. 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 North Carolina.

More near Southport

More senior care near Southport

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Southport

More for Southport 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 Southport, NC