Respite Care in Memphis, TN: A Family Guide

Respite care in Memphis, Tennessee gives family caregivers a structured break — in-home companion visits, adult day programs, and short residential stays — while keeping the senior in familiar routines. In and around Memphis, in-home respite typically runs $25–$40 per hour, while adult day programs run $80–$200 per day. Memphis is Tennessee’s second-largest city with 630,000 residents, a major regional medical hub, and a substantial senior population including many lifelong residents in family caregiving roles, and respite is one of the highest-leverage interventions families in the area can use to extend aging in place.

Who uses respite care in Memphis?

Memphis families turn to respite at familiar inflection points: a spouse caregiver burning out, an adult child managing care from out of town, a senior recovering from a hospital stay, or a primary caregiver needing a planned vacation. The local senior population around Memphis — supported by Methodist University Hospital and Baptist Memorial Hospital and similar regional systems — generates steady demand for both ongoing weekly respite and one-off longer breaks. the Aging Commission of the Mid-South maintains a community-resources directory that Memphis families can reference at https://www.agingcommission.org.

What respite options exist near Memphis, Tennessee?

Four respite options are typically available in the Memphis area:

• In-home respite: a trained caregiver visits the home for a few hours, a day, or overnight. Hourly rate $25–$40, with rates in Memphis running 8 to 15 percent below the national average.
• Adult day programs: structured daytime care 1–5 days per week. Tennessee’s programs are coordinated through the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability.
• Residential respite: 1–14 day stays at an assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing facility in or near Memphis.
• Hospice respite: Medicare-covered 5-day inpatient stays for hospice patients, accessed through your hospice nurse.

How much does respite care cost in Memphis?

National 2026 averages adjust for the Memphis market by roughly 8 to 15 percent below the national average. Typical Memphis-area pricing:

• In-home, 4-hour visit: $100–$170
• In-home, weekly (8 hours): ~$200–$340 per week
• Adult day, 5 days/week: $1,600–$4,000 monthly
• Residential respite, per 24-hour day: $250–$500

Many Memphis families build sustainable schedules combining 2 adult day program days with 1 weekly in-home respite visit, landing the monthly cost in the $1,500–$2,800 range.

How does Tennessee Medicaid cover respite in Memphis?

Tennessee’s primary mechanism is TennCare CHOICES in Long-Term Services and Supports. For income-eligible seniors in Memphis, this typically covers a defined number of respite hours per year (often 240–720) plus adult day program enrollment. Read the program details at the Tennessee Medicaid site, then call the Aging Commission of the Mid-South for enrollment assistance. The the Tennessee Department of Health, Health Care Facilities Division sets licensing standards that respite providers in Memphis must meet.

VA respite benefits for Memphis veterans

Veterans living in or near Memphis can access VA respite benefits through the Memphis VA Medical Center. The VA’s Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) program covers up to 30 days per year of respite for eligible veterans, including in-home, adult day, and residential options. The application starts with the veteran’s VA primary-care team. Many Memphis-area veterans don’t realize the benefit exists — it’s worth asking.

How Memphis caregivers find local respite resources

Three starting points specific to Memphis:

1. Call the Aging Commission of the Mid-South — they administer the federal National Family Caregiver Support Program in the Memphis area and can connect families to free or sliding-scale respite hours.
2. The Alzheimer’s Association local chapter near Memphis sometimes offers dementia respite scholarships.
3. The ARCH National Respite Network has a state-by-state directory at archrespite.org listing Tennessee respite programs near Memphis.

If you’re starting to plan respite for a Memphis family member, a free 15-minute call with a respite care coordinator can map the schedule and funding that fits your situation. Talk to a RespiteCare advisor when you’re ready.