Respite Care in St. Stephens, NC for Caregivers

Local figures

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

1,924

residents 65 or older (20% of St. Stephens)

74%

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

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Catawba County)

13

Medicare-certified hospices serve St. Stephens ZIP codes

Most older adults in St. Stephens 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 629 St. Stephens residents aged 65 or older report a disability (33%) (31% in Catawba County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

St. Stephens compared with Catawba County and North Carolina

Census figure	St. Stephens	Catawba County	North Carolina
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	29%	28%
Residents 65 or older	20%	19%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.8%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	19%	9.5%	11%
Households with no vehicle	5.6%	5.2%	5.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,744	$48,859	—

Older residents in towns around St. Stephens

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Hickory, NC	3.2 mi	7,564	31%
Bethlehem, NC	4.0 mi	1,145	35%
Conover, NC	4.6 mi	1,545	32%
Long View, NC	6.9 mi	881	41%
Newton, NC	7.4 mi	2,733	30%
Mountain View, NC	7.8 mi	816	38%

Hospices serving St. Stephens

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Carolina Caring	Newton, NC	8.1 mi	(828) 466-0466
Alexander Hospice	Taylorsville, NC	10 mi	(828) 632-5026
Amorem	Lenoir, NC	18 mi	(828) 754-0101
Hospice Of Iredell County, Inc	Statesville, NC	23 mi	(704) 873-4719
Wake Forest Baptist Health Care At Home Hospice-WI	Wilkesboro, NC	27 mi	(336) 818-3177

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

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Greens At Hickory	Hickory, NC	2.9 mi	2 of 5	150	(828) 322-3343
Trinity Village	Hickory, NC	3.0 mi	5 of 5	104	(828) 328-2006
The Greens At Viewmont	Hickory, NC	4.0 mi	2 of 5	104	(828) 328-5646
Conover Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Conover, NC	4.8 mi	5 of 5	90	(828) 695-8282

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

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 49% of the $2,645 monthly median income of St. Stephens 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. Stephens: common questions

Which hospices serve St. Stephens?

Medicare lists 13 hospices for St. Stephens ZIP codes, including Carolina Caring, Alexander Hospice, Amorem.

How much does respite care cost in St. Stephens?

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 49% of the $2,645 monthly median income of St. Stephens 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. Stephens. 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. Stephens

More senior care near St. Stephens

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in St. Stephens

More for St. Stephens 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. Stephens, NC