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

Local figures

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

6,133

residents 65 or older (38% of St. Simons)

79%

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

18%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Glynn County)

13

Medicare-certified hospices serve St. Simons ZIP codes

Most older adults in St. Simons live with someone: 79% 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 1,055 St. Simons residents aged 65 or older report a disability (18%) (29% in Glynn County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 13 hospices serving St. Simons ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

St. Simons compared with Glynn County and Georgia

Census figure	St. Simons	Glynn County	Georgia
Residents 65+ with a disability	18%	29%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	21%	29%	26%
Residents 65 or older	38%	23%	15%
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.6%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	3.1%	9.9%	11%
Households with no vehicle	2.0%	4.5%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$94,770	$59,919	—

Older residents in towns around St. Simons

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Country Club Estates, GA	4.9 mi	1,124	40%
Brunswick, GA	5.7 mi	2,812	41%
Dock Junction, GA	7.8 mi	1,499	44%
St. Marys, GA	31 mi	3,250	33%
Kingsland, GA	33 mi	2,256	40%
Fernandina Beach, FL	36 mi	5,069	22%

Hospices serving St. Simons

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Georgia Hospice Care	Brunswick, GA	6.5 mi	(912) 574-7833
Gentiva	Brunswick, GA	6.5 mi	(912) 261-8760
Coastal Hospice Of Georgia	Brunswick, GA	11 mi	(912) 434-9810
Hearth Hospice Of Brunswick, LLC	Brunswick, GA	11 mi	(912) 574-5882
Hospice Of The Golden Isles	Brunswick, GA	11 mi	(912) 265-4735

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

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Heritage Oaks	Saint Simons Island, GA	0.8 mi	4 of 5	125	(912) 638-9988
Marsh's Edge	Saint Simons Island, GA	3.1 mi	5 of 5	20	(912) 291-2000
Senior Care Center - Brunswick	Brunswick, GA	5.8 mi	1 of 5	200	(912) 265-8528
Gracemore Nursing And Rehab	Brunswick, GA	6.4 mi	5 of 5	60	(912) 265-6771

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

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 15% of the $7,898 monthly median income of St. Simons 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. Simons: common questions

Which hospices serve St. Simons?

Medicare lists 13 hospices for St. Simons ZIP codes, including Georgia Hospice Care, Gentiva, Coastal Hospice Of Georgia.

How much does respite care cost in St. Simons?

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 15% of the $7,898 monthly median income of St. Simons 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. Simons. 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. Simons

More senior care near St. Simons

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in St. Simons

More for St. Simons 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. Simons, GA