Respite Care in Tavares, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Tavares, FL: the local picture

7,343

residents 65 or older (36% of Tavares)

72%

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

40%

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

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Tavares ZIP codes

Most older adults in Tavares live with someone: 72% 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 2,829 Tavares residents aged 65 or older report a disability (40%) (32% in Lake County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Tavares ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Tavares compared with Lake County and Florida

Census figure	Tavares	Lake County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	22%	25%
Residents 65 or older	36%	27%	21%
Residents 85 or older	5.6%	3.0%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.1%	8.1%	12%
Households with no vehicle	5.1%	4.1%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,531	$56,909	—

Older residents in towns around Tavares

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Astatula, FL	4.3 mi	308	21%
Tangerine, FL	7.2 mi	904	22%
Eustis, FL	7.9 mi	4,879	45%
Mount Dora, FL	8.1 mi	5,793	34%
Leesburg, FL	9.5 mi	8,696	31%
Minneola, FL	11 mi	1,689	17%

Hospices serving Tavares

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Lake & Sumter Inc	Tavares, FL	2.8 mi	(352) 343-1341
Arc Hospice Of Florida LLC	Leesburg, FL	8.4 mi	(917) 647-1536
Compassionate Care Hospice Of Lake And Sumter Inc	The Villages, FL	15 mi	(352) 415-0778
Adventhealth Hospice Care Central Florida	Altamonte Springs, FL	22 mi	(407) 682-0808
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	77 mi	(321) 751-6671

Nursing homes near Tavares (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Solaris Healthcare Waterman	Tavares, FL	4.9 mi	5 of 5	120	(352) 609-4000
Avante At MT Dora, Inc	Mount Dora, FL	5.7 mi	3 of 5	116	(352) 383-4161
Ruleme Center	Eustis, FL	5.8 mi	4 of 5	138	(352) 357-1990
Lake Eustis Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Eustis, FL	6.9 mi	2 of 5	90	(352) 357-3565

Straight-line miles from the center of Tavares. 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 Tavares

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 40% of the $3,544 monthly median income of Tavares 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 Tavares: common questions

Which hospices serve Tavares?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Tavares ZIP codes, including Hospice Of Lake & Sumter Inc, Arc Hospice Of Florida LLC, Compassionate Care Hospice Of Lake And Sumter Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Tavares?

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 40% of the $3,544 monthly median income of Tavares 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 Tavares. 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 Tavares

More senior care near Tavares

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Tavares

More for Tavares 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 Tavares, FL