Respite Care in Waveland, MS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Waveland, MS: the local picture

1,424

residents 65 or older (20% of Waveland)

68%

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

42%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Hancock County)

8

Medicare-certified hospices serve Waveland ZIP codes

Most older adults in Waveland live with someone: 68% 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 594 Waveland residents aged 65 or older report a disability (42%) (36% in Hancock County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 8 hospices serving Waveland ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Waveland compared with Hancock County and Mississippi

Census figure	Waveland	Hancock County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	36%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	20%	23%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.1%	1.9%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.4%	12%	15%
Households with no vehicle	7.2%	3.5%	6.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,231	$49,682	—

Older residents in towns around Waveland

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Bay St. Louis, MS	2.8 mi	2,869	27%
Diamondhead, MS	6.5 mi	2,687	27%
Pass Christian, MS	9.4 mi	1,364	40%
Long Beach, MS	14 mi	3,434	42%
Gulfport, MS	21 mi	11,916	47%
Pearl River, LA	22 mi	418	33%

Hospices serving Waveland

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Notre Dame Hospice Of Mississippi	Diamondhead, MS	5.4 mi	(228) 687-1385
Deaconess Hospice	Biloxi, MS	29 mi	(228) 435-2265
Southern Care Inc Dba Gentiva	Biloxi, MS	29 mi	(228) 396-4756
Arden Of South Mississippi LLC	Poplarville, MS	40 mi	(601) 403-9822
Vitalcaring Group	Wiggins, MS	42 mi	(601) 799-2088

Nursing homes near Waveland (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Dunbar Village Terrace	Bay Saint Louis, MS	3.9 mi	4 of 5	60	(228) 466-3099
Memorial Woodland Village Nursing Center	Diamondhead, MS	5.7 mi	2 of 5	132	(228) 255-4832
Pass Christian Health And Rehabiliation Center	Pass Christian, MS	11 mi	2 of 5	60	(228) 452-4344
Coastal Health And Rehabilitation Center	Gulfport, MS	17 mi	1 of 5	180	(228) 864-6544

Straight-line miles from the center of Waveland. 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 Waveland

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $4,019 monthly median income of Waveland households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (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 Waveland: common questions

Which hospices serve Waveland?

Medicare lists 8 hospices for Waveland ZIP codes, including Notre Dame Hospice Of Mississippi, Deaconess Hospice, Southern Care Inc Dba Gentiva.

How much does respite care cost in Waveland?

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $4,019 monthly median income of Waveland households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (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 Waveland. 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 Mississippi.

More near Waveland

More senior care near Waveland

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waveland

More for Waveland 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 Waveland, MS