Respite Care in St. James, NC: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in St. James, NC: the local picture

4,439

residents 65 or older (63% of St. James)

92%

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

13%

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

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve St. James ZIP codes

Most older adults in St. James live with someone: 92% 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 581 St. James residents aged 65 or older report a disability (13%) (24% in Brunswick County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

St. James compared with Brunswick County and North Carolina

Census figure	St. James	Brunswick County	North Carolina
Residents 65+ with a disability	13%	24%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	8.4%	20%	28%
Residents 65 or older	63%	34%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	2.0%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	0.6%	5.7%	11%
Households with no vehicle	0.0%	2.4%	5.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$117,045	$69,925	—

Older residents in towns around St. James

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Oak Island, NC	2.4 mi	3,796	19%
Southport, NC	5.3 mi	2,014	23%
Boiling Spring Lakes, NC	7.0 mi	1,290	19%
Carolina Beach, NC	13 mi	1,351	21%
Shallotte, NC	16 mi	1,100	28%
Myrtle Grove, NC	17 mi	2,200	27%

Hospices serving St. James

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Lower Cape Fear Lifecare	Wilmington, NC	21 mi	(910) 796-7900
Liberty Home Care And Hospice	Wilmington, NC	23 mi	(910) 251-8111
Amedisys Hospice Care	Pembroke, NC	81 mi	(855) 809-0997
Gentiva	Fayetteville, NC	92 mi	(910) 323-9816
Amedisys Hospice Of South Carolina	Florence, SC	97 mi	(803) 774-4036

Nursing homes near St. James (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Liberty Commons Nursing & Rehab Center Of Southpor	Southport, NC	4.7 mi	3 of 5	99	(910) 457-9581
Bolivia Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Bolivia, NC	10 mi	1 of 5	90	(910) 755-5955
Autumn Care Of Shallotte	Shallotte, NC	17 mi	2 of 5	100	(910) 754-8858
Autumn Care Of Myrtle Grove	Wilmington, NC	17 mi	1 of 5	90	(910) 792-1455

Straight-line miles from the center of St. James. 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 St. James

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 13% of the $9,754 monthly median income of St. James 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 St. James: common questions

Which hospices serve St. James?

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

How much does respite care cost in St. James?

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 13% of the $9,754 monthly median income of St. James 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 St. James. 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 St. James

More senior care near St. James

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in St. James

More for St. James 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 St. James, NC