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

Local figures

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

342

residents 65 or older (12% of St. Marys)

85%

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

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Pottawatomie County)

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve St. Marys ZIP codes

Most older adults in St. Marys live with someone: 85% 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 90 St. Marys residents aged 65 or older report a disability (29%) (30% in Pottawatomie County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 7 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 Pottawatomie County and Kansas

Census figure	St. Marys	Pottawatomie County	Kansas
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	15%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	12%	15%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.1%	11%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	3.0%	1.7%	5.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,167	$55,026	—

Older residents in towns around St. Marys

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Wamego, KS	13 mi	601	19%
Topeka, KS	23 mi	23,158	35%
Holton, KS	26 mi	667	43%
Manhattan, KS	29 mi	5,364	26%
Fort Riley, KS	41 mi	0	—
Osage City, KS	41 mi	537	52%

Hospices serving St. Marys

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Croix Hospice	Topeka, KS	21 mi	(785) 256-9632
Midland Care Hospice	Topeka, KS	21 mi	(785) 232-2044
Interim Health Care Of Topeka	Topeka, KS	21 mi	(785) 272-1616
Elara Caring	Topeka, KS	23 mi	(785) 228-0400
Accord Hospice Of Manhattan LLC	Manhattan, KS	31 mi	(785) 376-0946

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

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Community Hospital Onaga Ltcu	St Marys, KS	0.4 mi	5 of 5	26	(785) 437-2286
Rossville Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Rossville, KS	7.6 mi	1 of 5	81	(785) 584-6104
Good Samaritan - Wamego	Wamego, KS	14 mi	4 of 5	45	(785) 456-9482
Westy Community Care Home	Westmoreland, KS	18 mi	2 of 5	40	(785) 457-2801

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 Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,097 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. Kansas'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. Marys: common questions

Which hospices serve St. Marys?

Medicare lists 7 hospices for St. Marys ZIP codes, including St Croix Hospice, Midland Care Hospice, Interim Health Care Of Topeka.

How much does respite care cost in St. Marys?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,097 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. Kansas'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. 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 Kansas.

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 (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); 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, KS