Respite Care in Wilburton, OK: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Wilburton, OK: the local picture

359

residents 65 or older (14% of Wilburton)

48%

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

48%

of residents 65+ report a disability (52% in Latimer County)

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Wilburton ZIP codes

Most older adults in Wilburton live with someone: 48% 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 147 Wilburton residents aged 65 or older report a disability (48%) (52% in Latimer County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 11 hospices serving Wilburton ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Wilburton compared with Latimer County and Oklahoma

Census figure	Wilburton	Latimer County	Oklahoma
Residents 65+ with a disability	48%	52%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	52%	34%	30%
Residents 65 or older	14%	22%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	2.4%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	14%	11%
Households with no vehicle	5.3%	3.7%	5.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$26,875	$33,438	—

Older residents in towns around Wilburton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Longtown, OK	25 mi	1,111	48%
Stigler, OK	26 mi	490	31%
McAlester, OK	27 mi	2,856	50%
Eufaula, OK	30 mi	767	47%
Heavener, OK	39 mi	426	44%
Poteau, OK	41 mi	1,451	43%

Hospices serving Wilburton

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heartland Hospice (Mcalester)	Mcalester, OK	26 mi	(918) 302-0700
Southeast Hospice	Mcalester, OK	26 mi	(918) 302-3053
Hospice Of Mcalester, Oklahoma, Inc.	Mcalester, OK	26 mi	(918) 423-3911
Sans Bois Hospice, LLC	Stigler, OK	27 mi	(918) 967-1002
Oldham Hospice Services LLC	Stigler, OK	27 mi	(918) 552-8066

Nursing homes near Wilburton (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Latimer Nursing Home	Wilburton, OK	1.0 mi	2 of 5	48	(918) 465-2255
Tidwell Living Center	Wilburton, OK	1.0 mi	5 of 5	55	(918) 465-5020
Beare Manor	Hartshorne, OK	15 mi	5 of 5	60	(918) 297-7000
Talihina Manor	Talihina, OK	19 mi	4 of 5	69	(918) 567-2279

Straight-line miles from the center of Wilburton. 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 Wilburton

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 52% of the $2,240 monthly median income of Wilburton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma'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 Wilburton: common questions

Which hospices serve Wilburton?

Medicare lists 11 hospices for Wilburton ZIP codes, including Heartland Hospice (Mcalester), Southeast Hospice, Hospice Of Mcalester, Oklahoma, Inc..

How much does respite care cost in Wilburton?

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 52% of the $2,240 monthly median income of Wilburton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma'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 Wilburton. 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 Oklahoma.

More near Wilburton

More senior care near Wilburton

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wilburton

More for Wilburton families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); 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 Wilburton, OK