Respite Care in St. Marys, GA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in St. Marys, GA: the local picture

3,250

residents 65 or older (17% of St. Marys)

74%

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

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Camden County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve St. Marys ZIP codes

Most older adults in St. Marys live with someone: 74% 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 1,061 St. Marys residents aged 65 or older report a disability (33%) (36% in Camden County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving St. Marys ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

St. Marys compared with Camden County and Georgia

Census figure	St. Marys	Camden County	Georgia
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	36%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	21%	26%
Residents 65 or older	17%	15%	15%
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	1.3%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.6%	11%
Households with no vehicle	6.1%	4.4%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$84,696	$64,464	—

Older residents in towns around St. Marys

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Yulee, FL	8.4 mi	2,956	41%
Fernandina Beach, FL	10 mi	5,069	22%
Kingsland, GA	14 mi	2,256	40%
Hilliard, FL	21 mi	474	45%
Nassau Village-Ratliff, FL	22 mi	1,432	46%
Folkston, GA	26 mi	528	24%

Hospices serving St. Marys

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva	Brunswick, GA	30 mi	(912) 261-8760
Georgia Hospice Care	Brunswick, GA	30 mi	(912) 574-7833
Hearth Hospice Of Brunswick, LLC	Brunswick, GA	36 mi	(912) 574-5882
Hospice Of The Golden Isles	Brunswick, GA	36 mi	(912) 265-4735
Coastal Hospice Of Georgia	Brunswick, GA	36 mi	(912) 434-9810

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

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Senior Care Center - St Marys	Saint Marys, GA	2.1 mi	1 of 5	78	(912) 882-4281
Fernandina Beach Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Fernandina Beach, FL	10 mi	4 of 5	120	(904) 261-0771
River City Nursing And Rehab Center	Jacksonville, FL	19 mi	5 of 5	116	(904) 321-1909
Lanier Rehabilitation Center	Jacksonville, FL	20 mi	3 of 5	120	(904) 757-0600

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

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 17% of the $7,058 monthly median income of St. Marys households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (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 St. Marys: common questions

Which hospices serve St. Marys?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for St. Marys ZIP codes, including Gentiva, Georgia Hospice Care, Hearth Hospice Of Brunswick, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in St. Marys?

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 17% of the $7,058 monthly median income of St. Marys households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (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 St. Marys. 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 Georgia.

More near St. Marys

More senior care near St. Marys

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in St. Marys

More for St. Marys 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. Marys, GA