Respite Care in Waseca, MN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Waseca, MN: the local picture

1,516

residents 65 or older (17% of Waseca)

70%

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

37%

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

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Waseca ZIP codes

Most older adults in Waseca live with someone: 70% 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 544 Waseca residents aged 65 or older report a disability (37%) (32% in Waseca County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 10 hospices serving Waseca ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Waseca compared with Waseca County and Minnesota

Census figure	Waseca	Waseca County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	32%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	25%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	19%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	2.5%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	9.7%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	8.0%	4.9%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,750	$53,521	—

Older residents in towns around Waseca

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Owatonna, MN	14 mi	5,174	29%
Faribault, MN	19 mi	4,113	37%
Eagle Lake, MN	20 mi	357	11%
Le Center, MN	24 mi	347	35%
Mankato, MN	24 mi	5,772	29%
Montgomery, MN	25 mi	557	16%

Hospices serving Waseca

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Stch South Central MN Opco LLC	Mankato, MN	25 mi	(507) 735-6221
Moments Hospice	Mankato, MN	25 mi	(507) 609-8800
Prairie Grace Hospice, LLC	Mankato, MN	25 mi	(507) 821-0430
St Croix Hospice	Albert Lea, MN	30 mi	(507) 416-4247
Mayo Clinic Hospice	Rochester, MN	52 mi	(507) 284-4002

Nursing homes near Waseca (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lakeshore Rehabilitation Center LLC	Waseca, MN	0.7 mi	2 of 5	52	(507) 835-2800
Whispering Creek	Janesville, MN	11 mi	5 of 5	35	(507) 231-5113
Benedictine Living Community Owatonna	Owatonna, MN	11 mi	1 of 5	79	(507) 444-4200
New Richland Care Center	New Richland, MN	13 mi	1 of 5	45	(507) 465-3292

Straight-line miles from the center of Waseca. 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 Waseca

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 39% of the $4,063 monthly median income of Waseca 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 Waseca: common questions

Which hospices serve Waseca?

Medicare lists 10 hospices for Waseca ZIP codes, including Stch South Central MN Opco LLC, Moments Hospice, Prairie Grace Hospice, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Waseca?

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 39% of the $4,063 monthly median income of Waseca 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 Waseca. 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 Waseca

More senior care near Waseca

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waseca

More for Waseca 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 Waseca, MN