Respite Care in Sweetwater, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Sweetwater, FL: the local picture

3,374

residents 65 or older (17% of Sweetwater)

80%

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

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Putnam County)

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Sweetwater ZIP codes

Most older adults in Sweetwater live with someone: 80% 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 879 Sweetwater residents aged 65 or older report a disability (26%) (38% in Putnam County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 10 hospices serving Sweetwater ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Sweetwater compared with Putnam County and Florida

Census figure	Sweetwater	Putnam County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	38%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	29%	25%
Residents 65 or older	17%	24%	21%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	2.2%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	26%	14%	12%
Households with no vehicle	6.7%	6.8%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$33,750	$44,837	—

Older residents in towns around Sweetwater

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Tamiami, FL	2.2 mi	11,934	27%
Fountainebleau, FL	2.7 mi	10,339	28%
Doral, FL	2.8 mi	7,068	26%
Westchester, FL	3.4 mi	11,971	31%
Westwood Lakes, FL	4.3 mi	2,322	24%
Olympia Heights, FL	4.9 mi	2,501	38%

Hospices serving Sweetwater

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva	Miami, FL	5.9 mi	(786) 388-1400
Bristol Hospice - Miami Dade, LLC	Miami, FL	5.9 mi	(786) 382-0433
Continuum Care Of Miami Dade LLC	Miami, FL	5.9 mi	(305) 463-1600
Moments Hospice Of Miami LLC	Miami Lakes, FL	7.3 mi	(305) 454-6000
Amedisys Hospice	Hialeah, FL	7.5 mi	(786) 566-6176

Nursing homes near Sweetwater (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Palmetto Subacute Care Center	Miami, FL	4.6 mi	5 of 5	95	(305) 261-2525
Coral Gables Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Miami, FL	5.1 mi	5 of 5	87	(305) 261-1363
West Gables Health Care Center	Miami, FL	5.1 mi	5 of 5	120	(305) 265-9391
Waterford Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Hialeah Gardens, FL	6.4 mi	4 of 5	214	(305) 556-9900

Straight-line miles from the center of Sweetwater. 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 Sweetwater

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 50% of the $2,813 monthly median income of Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater: common questions

Which hospices serve Sweetwater?

Medicare lists 10 hospices for Sweetwater ZIP codes, including Gentiva, Bristol Hospice - Miami Dade, LLC, Continuum Care Of Miami Dade LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Sweetwater?

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 50% of the $2,813 monthly median income of Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater. 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 Sweetwater

More senior care near Sweetwater

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Sweetwater

More for Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater, FL