Respite Care in Southside, AL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Southside, AL: the local picture

1,962

residents 65 or older (21% of Southside)

86%

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

31%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Etowah County)

14

Medicare-certified hospices serve Southside ZIP codes

Most older adults in Southside live with someone: 86% 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 600 Southside residents aged 65 or older report a disability (31%) (37% in Etowah County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 14 hospices serving Southside ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Southside compared with Etowah County and Alabama

Census figure	Southside	Etowah County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	37%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	14%	30%	29%
Residents 65 or older	21%	20%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.7%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.2%	12%	12%
Households with no vehicle	1.4%	4.4%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$63,447	$44,181	—

Older residents in towns around Southside

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Rainbow City, AL	4.6 mi	1,947	33%
Glencoe, AL	6.3 mi	1,184	33%
Gadsden, AL	8.0 mi	6,020	39%
Attalla, AL	8.8 mi	1,350	39%
Hokes Bluff, AL	11 mi	1,091	27%
Alexandria, AL	12 mi	650	50%

Hospices serving Southside

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassus-Gadsden	Southside, AL	0.6 mi	(256) 782-3560
Enhabit Hospice Rainbow City	Rainbow City, AL	5.0 mi	(256) 203-8508
Aveanna Hospice Of Gadsden	Gadsden, AL	12 mi	(256) 547-3050
Prohealth Hospice-Gadsden	Gadsden, AL	12 mi	(256) 494-8170
Southerncare New Beacon - Anniston	Anniston, AL	23 mi	(205) 236-5334

Nursing homes near Southside (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Mcguffey Health & Rehabilitation Center	Gadsden, AL	5.6 mi	4 of 5	209	(256) 543-3467
Gadsden Health And Rehab Center	Gadsden, AL	6.9 mi	4 of 5	168	(256) 547-4938
Coosa Valley Health And Rehab	Glencoe, AL	7.0 mi	3 of 5	124	(256) 492-5350
Attalla Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Attalla, AL	8.3 mi	2 of 5	182	(256) 538-7852

Straight-line miles from the center of Southside. 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 Southside

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 22% of the $5,287 monthly median income of Southside 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 Southside: common questions

Which hospices serve Southside?

Medicare lists 14 hospices for Southside ZIP codes, including Compassus-Gadsden, Enhabit Hospice Rainbow City, Aveanna Hospice Of Gadsden.

How much does respite care cost in Southside?

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 22% of the $5,287 monthly median income of Southside 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 Southside. 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 Southside

More senior care near Southside

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Southside

More for Southside 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 Southside, AL