Respite Care in Wallace, FL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Wallace, FL: the local picture

846

residents 65 or older (20% of Wallace)

85%

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

48%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Santa Rosa County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Wallace ZIP codes

Most older adults in Wallace live with someone: 85% 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 404 Wallace residents aged 65 or older report a disability (48%) (35% in Santa Rosa County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Wallace compared with Santa Rosa County and Florida

Census figure	Wallace	Santa Rosa County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	48%	35%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	15%	21%	25%
Residents 65 or older	20%	17%	21%
Residents 85 or older	0.0%	1.5%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.1%	7.4%	12%
Households with no vehicle	0.0%	3.4%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$76,625	$68,515	—

Older residents in towns around Wallace

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Pace, FL	4.3 mi	5,080	37%
Pea Ridge, FL	7.7 mi	580	40%
Gonzalez, FL	7.9 mi	2,356	37%
Point Baker, FL	8.6 mi	391	41%
Milton, FL	9.1 mi	1,808	53%
Ferry Pass, FL	11 mi	6,481	41%

Hospices serving Wallace

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva I	Pensacola, FL	13 mi	(704) 662-1761
Peoples Hospice And Palliative Care Of Florida LLC	Pensacola, FL	17 mi	(850) 378-5618
Emerald Coast Hospice	Panama City, FL	97 mi	(850) 769-0055
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Tallahassee, FL	177 mi	(850) 575-4998
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	428 mi	(321) 751-6671

Nursing homes near Wallace (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Pruitthealth - Santa Rosa	Milton, FL	8.1 mi	5 of 5	120	(850) 983-8888
Sandy Ridge Center For Rehabilitation And Healing	Milton, FL	8.4 mi	4 of 5	60	(850) 626-9225
Willowbrooke Court At Azalea Trace	Pensacola, FL	9.3 mi	5 of 5	24	(850) 478-5200
Aviata At University Hills	Pensacola, FL	9.3 mi	4 of 5	120	(850) 474-0570

Straight-line miles from the center of Wallace. 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 Wallace

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 22% of the $6,385 monthly median income of Wallace 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 Wallace: common questions

Which hospices serve Wallace?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Wallace ZIP codes, including Gentiva I, Peoples Hospice And Palliative Care Of Florida LLC, Emerald Coast Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Wallace?

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 22% of the $6,385 monthly median income of Wallace 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 Wallace. 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 Wallace

More senior care near Wallace

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wallace

More for Wallace 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 Wallace, FL