Respite Care in Wiggins, MS: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Wiggins, MS: the local picture

598

residents 65 or older (14% of Wiggins)

56%

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

57%

of residents 65+ report a disability (50% in Stone County)

14

Medicare-certified hospices serve Wiggins ZIP codes

Most older adults in Wiggins live with someone: 56% 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 275 Wiggins residents aged 65 or older report a disability (57%) (50% in Stone County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 14 hospices serving Wiggins ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Wiggins compared with Stone County and Mississippi

Census figure	Wiggins	Stone County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with a disability	57%	50%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	23%	30%
Residents 65 or older	14%	17%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	2.1%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	11%	15%
Households with no vehicle	14%	6.1%	6.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,679	$49,049	—

Older residents in towns around Wiggins

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Poplarville, MS	23 mi	332	15%
Gulfport, MS	30 mi	11,916	47%
Latimer, MS	31 mi	1,043	41%
D'Iberville, MS	32 mi	1,769	45%
Biloxi, MS	32 mi	7,920	39%
Lucedale, MS	33 mi	400	54%

Hospices serving Wiggins

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Vitalcaring Group	Wiggins, MS	0.5 mi	(601) 799-2088
Arden Of South Mississippi LLC	Poplarville, MS	25 mi	(601) 403-9822
Deaconess Hospice	Biloxi, MS	26 mi	(228) 435-2265
Southern Care Inc Dba Gentiva	Biloxi, MS	26 mi	(228) 396-4756
Enhabit Hospice Of The Gulf Coast	Biloxi, MS	28 mi	(228) 374-4434

Nursing homes near Wiggins (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Azalea Gardens Nursing Center	Wiggins, MS	0.3 mi	4 of 5	99	(601) 928-5281
Stone County Rehabilitation And Nursing Ctr Inc	Wiggins, MS	1.5 mi	3 of 5	59	(601) 928-1889
Lamar Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center	Lumberton, MS	23 mi	1 of 5	120	(601) 794-8566
Pearl River Co Nursing Home	Poplarville, MS	24 mi	5 of 5	105	(601) 795-4543

Straight-line miles from the center of Wiggins. 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 Wiggins

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 27% of the $3,640 monthly median income of Wiggins 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 Wiggins: common questions

Which hospices serve Wiggins?

Medicare lists 14 hospices for Wiggins ZIP codes, including Vitalcaring Group, Arden Of South Mississippi LLC, Deaconess Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Wiggins?

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 27% of the $3,640 monthly median income of Wiggins 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 Wiggins. 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 Wiggins

More senior care near Wiggins

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wiggins

More for Wiggins 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 Wiggins, MS