Respite Care in Winterset, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Winterset, IA: the local picture

1,188

residents 65 or older (22% of Winterset)

46%

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

44%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Madison County)

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Winterset ZIP codes

Most older adults in Winterset live with someone: 46% 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 479 Winterset residents aged 65 or older report a disability (44%) (31% in Madison County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Winterset compared with Madison County and Iowa

Census figure	Winterset	Madison County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	54%	34%	31%
Residents 65 or older	22%	18%	18%
Residents 85 or older	3.4%	1.5%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.3%	6.7%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	12%	6.6%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,800	$59,507	—

Older residents in towns around Winterset

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Adel, IA	18 mi	792	21%
Waukee, IA	18 mi	3,250	29%
West Des Moines, IA	18 mi	10,723	28%
Norwalk, IA	19 mi	2,002	35%
Clive, IA	21 mi	3,026	24%
Urbandale, IA	23 mi	6,881	22%

Hospices serving Winterset

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Suncrest Hospice, LLC	West Des Moines, IA	19 mi	(515) 327-6026
Care Initiatives Hospice - Greenfield	Greenfield, IA	22 mi	(641) 743-6226
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	25 mi	(515) 271-6777
Unitypoint Hospice	Urbandale, IA	25 mi	(515) 557-3100
Mercyone Des Moines Hospice	Des Moines, IA	27 mi	(515) 643-8383

Nursing homes near Winterset (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Azria Health Winterset	Winterset, IA	1.4 mi	2 of 5	65	(515) 462-1711
Edgewater, A Wesleylife Community	West Des Moines, IA	17 mi	4 of 5	40	(515) 978-2400
Cedar Ridge Village	West Des Moines, IA	18 mi	3 of 5	40	(515) 369-2100
Adel Acres	Adel, IA	18 mi	1 of 5	50	(515) 993-4511

Straight-line miles from the center of Winterset. 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 Winterset

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 41% of the $3,650 monthly median income of Winterset 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 Winterset: common questions

Which hospices serve Winterset?

Medicare lists 11 hospices for Winterset ZIP codes, including Suncrest Hospice, LLC, Care Initiatives Hospice - Greenfield, Wesleylife Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Winterset?

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 41% of the $3,650 monthly median income of Winterset 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 Winterset. 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 Winterset

More senior care near Winterset

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Winterset

More for Winterset 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 Winterset, IA