Respite Care in Thief River Falls, MN for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Thief River Falls, MN: the local picture

1,733

residents 65 or older (20% of Thief River Falls)

54%

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

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Pennington County)

2

Medicare-certified hospices serve Thief River Falls ZIP codes

Most older adults in Thief River Falls live with someone: 54% 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 620 Thief River Falls residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%) (33% in Pennington County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 2 hospices serving Thief River Falls ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Thief River Falls compared with Pennington County and Minnesota

Census figure	Thief River Falls	Pennington County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	33%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	46%	38%	30%
Residents 65 or older	20%	19%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.0%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	9.9%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	7.6%	5.7%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,917	$50,668	—

Older residents in towns around Thief River Falls

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Crookston, MN	31 mi	1,519	31%
East Grand Forks, MN	41 mi	1,137	33%
Grand Forks, ND	44 mi	8,315	26%
Roseau, MN	54 mi	570	34%
Grafton, ND	60 mi	930	40%

Hospices serving Thief River Falls

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hia Hospice	Fargo, ND	96 mi	(701) 356-1500
Vivie Hospice	Alexandria, MN	159 mi	(320) 759-1275

Nursing homes near Thief River Falls (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Thief River Care Center	Thief River Falls, MN	0.5 mi	2 of 5	70	(218) 683-8100
Oakland Park Communities, Inc.	Thief River Falls, MN	0.7 mi	1 of 5	35	(218) 681-1675

Straight-line miles from the center of Thief River Falls. 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 Thief River Falls

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,576 monthly median income of Thief River Falls households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Thief River Falls: common questions

Which hospices serve Thief River Falls?

Medicare lists 2 hospices for Thief River Falls ZIP codes, including Hia Hospice, Vivie Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Thief River Falls?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,576 monthly median income of Thief River Falls households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Thief River Falls. 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 Minnesota.

More near Thief River Falls

More senior care near Thief River Falls

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Thief River Falls

More for Thief River Falls 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 Thief River Falls, MN