Respite Care in Abilene, TX: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Abilene, TX: the local picture

17,807

residents 65 or older (14% of Abilene)

71%

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

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability

15

Medicare-certified hospices serve Abilene ZIP codes

Most older adults in Abilene live with someone: 71% 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 6,469 Abilene residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 15 hospices serving Abilene ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Abilene compared with Texas

Census figure	Abilene	Texas
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	25%
Residents 65 or older	14%	13%
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	12%
Households with no vehicle	4.4%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$54,977	—

Older residents in towns around Abilene

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Potosi, TX	8.8 mi	717	27%
Clyde, TX	14 mi	603	58%
Merkel, TX	16 mi	463	56%
Anson, TX	23 mi	594	51%
Sweetwater, TX	39 mi	1,817	41%
Stamford, TX	42 mi	579	51%

Hospices serving Abilene

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hendrick Hospice Care Inc	Abilene, TX	1.5 mi	(325) 670-2273
Kinder Hearts Hospice	Abilene, TX	1.7 mi	(325) 672-6135
Hospice Of The Big Country	Abilene, TX	2.5 mi	(325) 793-5450
Gentiva	Abilene, TX	2.7 mi	(325) 691-9948
Enhabit Hospice	Abilene, TX	4.8 mi	(325) 266-0260

Nursing homes near Abilene (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Avir At Coronado	Abilene, TX	0.9 mi	1 of 5	188	(325) 673-3531
Hendrick Skilled Nursing Facility	Abilene, TX	1.3 mi	5 of 5	20	(325) 670-6151
The Oaks At Radford Hills Healthcare Center	Abilene, TX	1.5 mi	2 of 5	116	(325) 672-3236
Northern Oaks Living & Rehabilitation Center	Abilene, TX	2.0 mi	3 of 5	96	(325) 676-1677

Straight-line miles from the center of Abilene. 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 Abilene

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $4,581 monthly median income of Abilene households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas'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 STAR+PLUS in Texas: using consumer directed services to pay a family caregiver.

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 Abilene: common questions

Which hospices serve Abilene?

Medicare lists 15 hospices for Abilene ZIP codes, including Hendrick Hospice Care Inc, Kinder Hearts Hospice, Hospice Of The Big Country.

How much does respite care cost in Abilene?

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $4,581 monthly median income of Abilene households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas'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 Abilene. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide STAR+PLUS in Texas: using consumer directed services to pay a family caregiver covers Texas.

More near Abilene

More senior care near Abilene

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Abilene

More for Abilene 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 Abilene, TX