Respite Care in Austin, TX: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Austin, TX: the local picture

102,081

residents 65 or older (10% of Austin)

69%

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

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Travis County)

101

Medicare-certified hospices serve Austin ZIP codes

Most older adults in Austin live with someone: 69% 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 28,222 Austin residents aged 65 or older report a disability (28%) (28% in Travis County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 101 hospices serving Austin ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Austin compared with Travis County and Texas

Census figure	Austin	Travis County	Texas
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	28%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	27%	25%
Residents 65 or older	10%	11%	13%
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	1.0%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.7%	12%
Households with no vehicle	7.1%	5.9%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,429	$77,381	—

Older residents in towns around Austin

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
West Lake Hills, TX	3.6 mi	810	30%
Barton Creek, TX	7.0 mi	1,378	17%
Steiner Ranch, TX	9.6 mi	1,691	32%
Hornsby Bend, TX	11 mi	804	44%
Wells Branch, TX	11 mi	1,451	36%
Shady Hollow, TX	11 mi	1,089	33%

Hospices serving Austin

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Resolutions Hospice Austin	Austin, TX	3.4 mi	(512) 343-5555
St. David's Hospice & Family Care	Austin, TX	3.4 mi	(512) 795-0204
Gentiva	Austin, TX	3.4 mi	(512) 651-9227
Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care - Austin	Austin, TX	3.4 mi	(512) 372-4194
Three Oaks Hospice	Austin, TX	3.4 mi	(512) 323-6500

Nursing homes near Austin (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Arbour At Westminster Manor	Austin, TX	1.2 mi	5 of 5	90	(512) 454-4711
Heritage Park Rehabilitation And Skilled Nursing C	Austin, TX	2.7 mi	2 of 5	197	(512) 474-1411
Brookdale Westlake Hills	Austin, TX	3.0 mi	2 of 5	90	(512) 328-3775
Coral Rehabilitation And Nursing Of Austin	Austin, TX	3.4 mi	not rated	157	(512) 452-5719

Straight-line miles from the center of Austin. 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 Austin

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 17% of the $5,952 monthly median income of Austin 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 Austin: common questions

Which hospices serve Austin?

Medicare lists 101 hospices for Austin ZIP codes, including Resolutions Hospice Austin, St. David's Hospice & Family Care, Gentiva.

How much does respite care cost in Austin?

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 17% of the $5,952 monthly median income of Austin 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 Austin. 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 Austin

More senior care near Austin

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Austin

More for Austin 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 Austin, TX