Respite Care in Starkville, MS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Starkville, MS: the local picture

2,917

residents 65 or older (11% of Starkville)

67%

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

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Oktibbeha County)

12

Medicare-certified hospices serve Starkville ZIP codes

Most older adults in Starkville live with someone: 67% 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 888 Starkville residents aged 65 or older report a disability (33%) (32% in Oktibbeha County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 12 hospices serving Starkville ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Starkville compared with Oktibbeha County and Mississippi

Census figure	Starkville	Oktibbeha County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	32%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	11%	12%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	14%	15%
Households with no vehicle	6.5%	5.4%	6.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$57,428	$54,571	—

Older residents in towns around Starkville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Mississippi State, MS	2.2 mi	0	—
West Point, MS	14 mi	1,985	25%
Columbus, MS	24 mi	4,787	31%
Louisville, MS	27 mi	1,340	43%
New Hope, MS	28 mi	484	13%
Macon, MS	28 mi	412	64%

Hospices serving Starkville

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva	Starkville, MS	1.0 mi	(662) 615-1519
Legacy Hospice Of The South	Starkville, MS	1.0 mi	(662) 338-0007
Baptist Hospice-Golden Triangle	Columbus, MS	21 mi	(662) 243-1173
Quality Hospice Care, Inc	Philadelphia, MS	52 mi	(601) 656-5252
Vitalcaring Group	Tupelo, MS	55 mi	(662) 205-5740

Nursing homes near Starkville (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Starkville Manor Health Care And Rehabilitation Ce	Starkville, MS	0.9 mi	not rated	119	(662) 323-6360
Carrington, LLC D/B/A The Carrington	Starkville, MS	5.4 mi	5 of 5	60	(662) 323-2202
Dugan Memorial Home	West Point, MS	15 mi	5 of 5	60	(662) 494-3640
West Point Community Living Center	West Point, MS	16 mi	1 of 5	100	(662) 494-6011

Straight-line miles from the center of Starkville. 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 Starkville

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $4,786 monthly median income of Starkville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (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 Starkville: common questions

Which hospices serve Starkville?

Medicare lists 12 hospices for Starkville ZIP codes, including Gentiva, Legacy Hospice Of The South, Baptist Hospice-Golden Triangle.

How much does respite care cost in Starkville?

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $4,786 monthly median income of Starkville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (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 Starkville. 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 Mississippi.

More near Starkville

More senior care near Starkville

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Starkville

More for Starkville 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 Starkville, MS