Respite Care in Starke, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Starke, FL: the local picture

797

residents 65 or older (14% of Starke)

33%

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

27%

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

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Starke ZIP codes

Most older adults in Starke live with someone: 33% 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 136 Starke residents aged 65 or older report a disability (27%) (29% in Bradford County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 4 hospices serving Starke ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Starke compared with Bradford County and Florida

Census figure	Starke	Bradford County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	29%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	67%	33%	25%
Residents 65 or older	14%	18%	21%
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	1.8%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	18%	12%
Households with no vehicle	8.7%	6.2%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$22,264	$39,930	—

Older residents in towns around Starke

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Middleburg, FL	15 mi	1,893	32%
Asbury Lake, FL	21 mi	1,834	33%
Oakleaf Plantation, FL	23 mi	3,028	28%
Macclenny, FL	23 mi	1,260	63%
Gainesville, FL	23 mi	17,357	35%
Lakeside, FL	24 mi	5,934	37%

Hospices serving Starke

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Haven Hospice	Gainesville, FL	25 mi	(904) 378-2121
Community Hospice Of Northeast Florida Inc	Jacksonville, FL	35 mi	(904) 268-5200
Hph Hospice	Brooksville, FL	100 mi	(866) 940-0962
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	151 mi	(321) 751-6671

Nursing homes near Starke (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Windsor Health And Rehabilitation Center	Starke, FL	0.6 mi	4 of 5	120	(904) 964-3383
Riverwood Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center	Starke, FL	1.0 mi	2 of 5	120	(904) 964-6220
Pavilion For Health Care, The	Penney Farms, FL	18 mi	5 of 5	50	(904) 297-9700
Middleburg Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Middleburg, FL	21 mi	4 of 5	120	(502) 568-7800

Straight-line miles from the center of Starke. 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 Starke

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 76% of the $1,855 monthly median income of Starke households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Starke: common questions

Which hospices serve Starke?

Medicare lists 4 hospices for Starke ZIP codes, including Haven Hospice, Community Hospice Of Northeast Florida Inc, Hph Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Starke?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 76% of the $1,855 monthly median income of Starke households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Starke. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO covers Florida.

More near Starke

More senior care near Starke

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Starke

More for Starke 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 Starke, FL