Respite Care in Wise, VA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Wise, VA: the local picture

514

residents 65 or older (18% of Wise)

58%

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

61%

of residents 65+ report a disability (54% in Wise County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Wise ZIP codes

Most older adults in Wise live with someone: 58% 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 314 Wise residents aged 65 or older report a disability (61%) (54% in Wise County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Wise compared with Wise County and Virginia

Census figure	Wise	Wise County	Virginia
Residents 65+ with a disability	61%	54%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	29%	27%
Residents 65 or older	18%	20%	17%
Residents 85 or older	0.0%	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.7%	16%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	7.2%	9.1%	6.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,306	$35,825	—

Older residents in towns around Wise

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Norton, VA	4.0 mi	761	44%
Big Stone Gap, VA	13 mi	924	61%
Bloomingdale, TN	28 mi	2,040	47%
Lebanon, VA	28 mi	1,014	49%
Mount Carmel, TN	29 mi	1,272	39%
Kingsport, TN	32 mi	13,132	41%

Hospices serving Wise

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice & Palliative Care Of Virginia	Norton, VA	3.6 mi	(276) 679-7212
Home Nursing Company Inc	Lebanon, VA	28 mi	(276) 889-4318
Ballad Health Hospice	Abingdon, VA	37 mi	(276) 619-4500
Caris Healthcare, LP (Abingdon)	Abingdon, VA	37 mi	(276) 494-0465
Medical Services Of America Home Health & Hospice	Richlands, VA	43 mi	(276) 964-4202

Nursing homes near Wise (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Heritage Hall Wise	Wise, VA	1.3 mi	4 of 5	97	(276) 328-2721
Norton Community Hospital SNF Unit	Norton, VA	4.7 mi	5 of 5	44	(276) 679-9100
Heritage Hall Big Stone Gap	Big Stone Gap, VA	12 mi	4 of 5	180	(276) 523-3000
Heritage Hall Clintwood	Clintwood, VA	14 mi	4 of 5	100	(276) 926-4693

Straight-line miles from the center of Wise. 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 Wise

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $3,692 monthly median income of Wise households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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 Wise: common questions

Which hospices serve Wise?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Wise ZIP codes, including Hospice & Palliative Care Of Virginia, Home Nursing Company Inc, Ballad Health Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Wise?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $3,692 monthly median income of Wise households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Wise. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus covers Virginia.

More near Wise

More senior care near Wise

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wise

More for Wise 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 Wise, VA