Respite Care in Urbandale, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Urbandale, IA: the local picture

6,881

residents 65 or older (15% of Urbandale)

77%

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

22%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Polk County)

15

Medicare-certified hospices serve Urbandale ZIP codes

Most older adults in Urbandale 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 1,459 Urbandale residents aged 65 or older report a disability (22%) (31% in Polk County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 15 hospices serving Urbandale ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Urbandale compared with Polk County and Iowa

Census figure	Urbandale	Polk County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	32%	31%
Residents 65 or older	15%	14%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.5%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.2%	7.5%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	2.8%	5.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$86,630	$59,099	—

Older residents in towns around Urbandale

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Clive, IA	1.9 mi	3,026	24%
Grimes, IA	3.1 mi	1,199	27%
Windsor Heights, IA	4.1 mi	985	35%
Johnston, IA	4.8 mi	3,741	24%
West Des Moines, IA	6.0 mi	10,723	28%
Waukee, IA	6.2 mi	3,250	29%

Hospices serving Urbandale

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	3.0 mi	(515) 271-6777
Unitypoint Hospice	Urbandale, IA	3.0 mi	(515) 557-3100
Hospice Of The Midwest, LLC	Johnston, IA	4.7 mi	(515) 218-2143
Care Initiatives Hospice - West Des Moines	West Des Moines, IA	4.7 mi	(515) 223-3813
Suncrest Hospice, LLC	West Des Moines, IA	4.7 mi	(515) 327-6026

Nursing homes near Urbandale (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Deerfield Health Care Center	Urbandale, IA	2.1 mi	5 of 5	30	(515) 331-6900
Walnut Ridge	Clive, IA	2.1 mi	5 of 5	60	(515) 222-4000
Royal Oaks Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Urbandale, IA	2.5 mi	1 of 5	115	(515) 270-6838
Karen Acres Care Center	Urbandale, IA	3.0 mi	5 of 5	35	(515) 276-4969

Straight-line miles from the center of Urbandale. 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 Urbandale

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 21% of the $7,219 monthly median income of Urbandale 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 Urbandale: common questions

Which hospices serve Urbandale?

Medicare lists 15 hospices for Urbandale ZIP codes, including Wesleylife Hospice, Unitypoint Hospice, Hospice Of The Midwest, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Urbandale?

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 21% of the $7,219 monthly median income of Urbandale 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 Urbandale. 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 Urbandale

More senior care near Urbandale

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Urbandale

More for Urbandale 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 Urbandale, IA