Respite Care in Thomson, GA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Thomson, GA: the local picture

1,082

residents 65 or older (16% of Thomson)

67%

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

40%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in McDuffie County)

17

Medicare-certified hospices serve Thomson ZIP codes

Most older adults in Thomson 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 394 Thomson residents aged 65 or older report a disability (40%) (37% in McDuffie County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 17 hospices serving Thomson ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Thomson compared with McDuffie County and Georgia

Census figure	Thomson	McDuffie County	Georgia
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	37%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	19%	26%
Residents 65 or older	16%	19%	15%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.6%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	30%	18%	11%
Households with no vehicle	8.8%	4.8%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$26,926	$41,613	—

Older residents in towns around Thomson

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Harlem, GA	11 mi	608	81%
Grovetown, GA	17 mi	1,565	52%
Evans, GA	22 mi	7,045	33%
Martinez, GA	23 mi	5,959	38%
Washington, GA	23 mi	851	38%
Augusta, GA	25 mi	30,767	44%

Hospices serving Thomson

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Allay Hospice, Inc	Thomson, GA	0.6 mi	(706) 595-9896
Helping Hands Hospice	Augusta, GA	24 mi	(706) 432-8321
Pruitthealth Hospice-Augusta	Augusta, GA	24 mi	(706) 650-1522
Medical Services Of America Hospice	Augusta, GA	24 mi	(706) 447-2626
Empyrean Hospice Of Georgia, LLC-(Augusta)	Augusta, GA	24 mi	(706) 842-7477

Nursing homes near Thomson (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Thomson Health And Rehabilitation	Thomson, GA	1.3 mi	3 of 5	150	(706) 595-5574
Warrenton Woods Of Journey LLC	Warrenton, GA	11 mi	2 of 5	110	(706) 465-3328
Reserve At Appling Of Journey LLC, The	Appling, GA	17 mi	1 of 5	100	(706) 541-0462
Gibson Health Opco LLC	Gibson, GA	17 mi	5 of 5	104	(706) 598-3201

Straight-line miles from the center of Thomson. 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 Thomson

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 54% of the $2,244 monthly median income of Thomson households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (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 Thomson: common questions

Which hospices serve Thomson?

Medicare lists 17 hospices for Thomson ZIP codes, including Allay Hospice, Inc, Helping Hands Hospice, Pruitthealth Hospice-Augusta.

How much does respite care cost in Thomson?

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 54% of the $2,244 monthly median income of Thomson households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (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 Thomson. 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 Georgia.

More near Thomson

More senior care near Thomson

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Thomson

More for Thomson 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 Thomson, GA