Respite Care in Waverly, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Waverly, IA: the local picture

1,954

residents 65 or older (19% of Waverly)

70%

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

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Bremer County)

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Waverly ZIP codes

Most older adults in Waverly 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 523 Waverly residents aged 65 or older report a disability (28%) (24% in Bremer County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 7 hospices serving Waverly ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Waverly compared with Bremer County and Iowa

Census figure	Waverly	Bremer County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	24%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	27%	31%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	18%
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	2.5%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.2%	6.4%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	2.5%	2.6%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$66,563	$66,340	—

Older residents in towns around Waverly

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Cedar Falls, IA	14 mi	6,557	28%
Waterloo, IA	17 mi	11,387	33%
Hudson, IA	20 mi	467	29%
Evansdale, IA	20 mi	998	29%
New Hampton, IA	24 mi	695	35%
Charles City, IA	26 mi	1,702	44%

Hospices serving Waverly

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Care Initiatives Hospice - Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls, IA	14 mi	(319) 232-6148
Unitypoint Hospice	Waterloo, IA	16 mi	(319) 235-5027
Cedar Valley Hospice	Waterloo, IA	18 mi	(319) 272-2002
St Croix Hospice	Charles City, IA	26 mi	(641) 394-2700
Mercyone North Iowa Hospice	Mason City, IA	47 mi	(641) 428-6268

Nursing homes near Waverly (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Woodland Terrace	Waverly, IA	1.3 mi	5 of 5	100	(319) 352-4540
Shell Rock Senior Living	Shell Rock, IA	5.3 mi	1 of 5	41	(319) 885-4341
Denver Sunset Home	Denver, IA	7.6 mi	4 of 5	31	(319) 984-5372
Clarksville Skilled Nursing & Rehab Center	Clarksville, IA	11 mi	4 of 5	42	(319) 278-4900

Straight-line miles from the center of Waverly. 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 Waverly

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 27% of the $5,547 monthly median income of Waverly 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 Waverly: common questions

Which hospices serve Waverly?

Medicare lists 7 hospices for Waverly ZIP codes, including Care Initiatives Hospice - Cedar Falls, Unitypoint Hospice, Cedar Valley Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Waverly?

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 27% of the $5,547 monthly median income of Waverly 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 Waverly. 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 Waverly

More senior care near Waverly

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waverly

More for Waverly 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 Waverly, IA