Respite Care in Tama, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Tama, IA: the local picture

496

residents 65 or older (16% of Tama)

77%

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

19%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Tama County)

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Tama ZIP codes

Most older adults in Tama live with someone: 77% 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 88 Tama residents aged 65 or older report a disability (19%) (24% in Tama County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 7 hospices serving Tama ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Tama compared with Tama County and Iowa

Census figure	Tama	Tama County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	19%	24%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	27%	31%
Residents 65 or older	16%	21%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	3.3%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.5%	9.6%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	4.3%	2.5%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$57,574	$51,037	—

Older residents in towns around Tama

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Grinnell, IA	18 mi	2,034	34%
Marshalltown, IA	18 mi	4,563	39%
Marengo, IA	29 mi	577	29%
Grundy Center, IA	29 mi	629	32%
Newton, IA	30 mi	3,381	31%
Vinton, IA	31 mi	1,156	30%

Hospices serving Tama

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Iowa River Hospice	Marshalltown, IA	18 mi	(641) 753-7704
Essence Of Life Hospice	Amana, IA	37 mi	(319) 622-3195
Hospice Compassus - Northeast Iowa	Cedar Rapids, IA	46 mi	(319) 362-2500
Hospice Of Mercy	Hiawatha, IA	46 mi	(319) 398-6496
Hospice Of The Midwest, LLC	Johnston, IA	62 mi	(515) 218-2143

Nursing homes near Tama (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Sunny Hill Care Center	Tama, IA	0.8 mi	1 of 5	57	(641) 484-4061
Accura Healthcare Of Toledo	Toledo, IA	1.7 mi	3 of 5	55	(641) 484-5080
Sunrise Hill Care Center	Traer, IA	17 mi	4 of 5	76	(319) 478-2730
Belle Plaine Specialty Care	Belle Plaine, IA	17 mi	4 of 5	46	(319) 444-2500

Straight-line miles from the center of Tama. 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 Tama

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $4,798 monthly median income of Tama households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Tama: common questions

Which hospices serve Tama?

Medicare lists 7 hospices for Tama ZIP codes, including Iowa River Hospice, Essence Of Life Hospice, Hospice Compassus - Northeast Iowa.

How much does respite care cost in Tama?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $4,798 monthly median income of Tama households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Tama. 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 Iowa.

More near Tama

More senior care near Tama

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Tama

More for Tama 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 Tama, IA