Respite Care in Amarillo, TX: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Amarillo, TX: the local picture

30,530

residents 65 or older (15% of Amarillo)

68%

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

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability

19

Medicare-certified hospices serve Amarillo ZIP codes

Most older adults in Amarillo live with someone: 68% 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 11,022 Amarillo residents aged 65 or older report a disability (37%). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 19 hospices serving Amarillo ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Amarillo compared with Texas

Census figure	Amarillo	Texas
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	25%
Residents 65 or older	15%	13%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	12%
Households with no vehicle	5.9%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,996	—

Older residents in towns around Amarillo

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Bushland, TX	13 mi	307	47%
Canyon, TX	15 mi	1,991	36%
Panhandle, TX	28 mi	593	33%
Borger, TX	40 mi	1,959	35%
Hereford, TX	41 mi	1,773	29%
Tulia, TX	46 mi	738	39%

Hospices serving Amarillo

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bsa Hospice Of The Southwest	Amarillo, TX	3.5 mi	(806) 356-0026
Kinder Hearts Hospice Of Amarillo	Amarillo, TX	3.5 mi	(806) 576-0075
High Plains Senior Care Hospice	Amarillo, TX	3.5 mi	(806) 350-7100
Gentiva	Amarillo, TX	3.7 mi	(806) 372-7696
Enhabit Hospice	Amarillo, TX	3.7 mi	(806) 223-4741

Nursing homes near Amarillo (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Ware Memorial Care Center	Amarillo, TX	0.4 mi	4 of 5	120	(806) 373-0471
Georgia Manor Nursing Home	Amarillo, TX	2.9 mi	2 of 5	76	(806) 355-6517
Heritage Convalescent Center	Amarillo, TX	3.8 mi	2 of 5	116	(806) 352-5295
Amarillo Medical Lodge	Amarillo, TX	3.8 mi	5 of 5	102	(806) 352-2731

Straight-line miles from the center of Amarillo. 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 Amarillo

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 26% of the $3,916 monthly median income of Amarillo 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 Amarillo: common questions

Which hospices serve Amarillo?

Medicare lists 19 hospices for Amarillo ZIP codes, including Bsa Hospice Of The Southwest, Kinder Hearts Hospice Of Amarillo, High Plains Senior Care Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Amarillo?

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 26% of the $3,916 monthly median income of Amarillo 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 Amarillo. 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 Amarillo

More senior care near Amarillo

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Amarillo

More for Amarillo 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 Amarillo, TX