Respite Care in Sparta, TN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Sparta, TN: the local picture

1,332

residents 65 or older (27% of Sparta)

61%

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

42%

of residents 65+ report a disability (45% in White County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Sparta ZIP codes

Most older adults in Sparta live with someone: 61% 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 513 Sparta residents aged 65 or older report a disability (42%) (45% in White County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Sparta ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Sparta compared with White County and Tennessee

Census figure	Sparta	White County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	45%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	26%	29%
Residents 65 or older	27%	21%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.4%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	12%	11%
Households with no vehicle	6.5%	3.8%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,106	$41,427	—

Older residents in towns around Sparta

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Cookeville, TN	15 mi	4,960	40%
Algood, TN	18 mi	784	35%
Monterey, TN	19 mi	407	43%
Smithville, TN	20 mi	859	54%
Lake Tansi, TN	23 mi	1,809	36%
McMinnville, TN	24 mi	2,373	39%

Hospices serving Sparta

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Kindred Hospice	Cookeville, TN	20 mi	(931) 528-5133
Hospice Of Cumberland County Inc	Crossville, TN	24 mi	(931) 484-4748
Caris Healthcare	Murfreesboro, TN	53 mi	(615) 217-8720
Hospice Of Chattanooga Holdings, LLC	Chattanooga, TN	66 mi	(423) 892-4289
Gentiva	Nashville, TN	79 mi	(615) 889-5995

Nursing homes near Sparta (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nhc Healthcare, Sparta	Sparta, TN	1.0 mi	3 of 5	96	(931) 836-2211
Life Care Center Of Sparta	Sparta, TN	1.4 mi	5 of 5	100	(931) 738-9430
Generations Center Of Spencer	Spencer, TN	13 mi	3 of 5	70	(931) 946-7768
Nhc Healthcare, Cookeville	Cookeville, TN	15 mi	5 of 5	104	(931) 528-5516

Straight-line miles from the center of Sparta. 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 Sparta

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 39% of the $3,426 monthly median income of Sparta 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 Sparta: common questions

Which hospices serve Sparta?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Sparta ZIP codes, including Kindred Hospice, Hospice Of Cumberland County Inc, Caris Healthcare.

How much does respite care cost in Sparta?

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 39% of the $3,426 monthly median income of Sparta 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 Sparta. 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 Sparta

More senior care near Sparta

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Sparta

More for Sparta 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 Sparta, TN