Respite Care in Whiteville, NC: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Whiteville, NC: the local picture

838

residents 65 or older (18% of Whiteville)

43%

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

31%

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

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Whiteville ZIP codes

Most older adults in Whiteville live with someone: 43% 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 229 Whiteville residents aged 65 or older report a disability (31%) (36% in Columbus County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Whiteville compared with Columbus County and North Carolina

Census figure	Whiteville	Columbus County	North Carolina
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	36%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	57%	37%	28%
Residents 65 or older	18%	21%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	2.1%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	27%	14%	11%
Households with no vehicle	14%	5.5%	5.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$27,083	$35,742	—

Older residents in towns around Whiteville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Tabor City, NC	16 mi	802	49%
Elizabethtown, NC	21 mi	1,003	41%
Loris, SC	22 mi	581	44%
Lumberton, NC	28 mi	3,055	45%
Carolina Shores, NC	30 mi	2,554	30%
Shallotte, NC	30 mi	1,100	28%

Hospices serving Whiteville

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Amedisys Hospice Care	Pembroke, NC	37 mi	(855) 809-0997
Lower Cape Fear Lifecare	Wilmington, NC	44 mi	(910) 796-7900
Liberty Home Care And Hospice	Wilmington, NC	47 mi	(910) 251-8111
Gentiva	Fayetteville, NC	54 mi	(910) 323-9816
Hospice Of The Carolina Foothills	Saluda, NC	215 mi	(864) 432-8717

Nursing homes near Whiteville (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Shoreland Health Care And Retirement Center Inc	Whiteville, NC	0.3 mi	3 of 5	89	(910) 642-4300
Liberty Commons Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Whiteville, NC	1.1 mi	1 of 5	107	(910) 642-4245
Premier Living And Rehab Center	Lake Waccamaw, NC	11 mi	1 of 5	127	(910) 646-3132
Bladen East Health And Rehab	Elizabethtown, NC	21 mi	2 of 5	90	(910) 862-8100

Straight-line miles from the center of Whiteville. 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 Whiteville

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 58% of the $2,257 monthly median income of Whiteville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina'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 Whiteville: common questions

Which hospices serve Whiteville?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Whiteville ZIP codes, including Amedisys Hospice Care, Lower Cape Fear Lifecare, Liberty Home Care And Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Whiteville?

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 58% of the $2,257 monthly median income of Whiteville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina'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 Whiteville. 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 North Carolina.

More near Whiteville

More senior care near Whiteville

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Whiteville

More for Whiteville 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 Whiteville, NC