Respite Care in Ennis, TX: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Ennis, TX: the local picture

2,859

residents 65 or older (13% of Ennis)

75%

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

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Ellis County)

34

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ennis ZIP codes

Most older adults in Ennis live with someone: 75% 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 949 Ennis residents aged 65 or older report a disability (36%) (33% in Ellis County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 34 hospices serving Ennis ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Ennis compared with Ellis County and Texas

Census figure	Ennis	Ellis County	Texas
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	33%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	25%	20%	25%
Residents 65 or older	13%	13%	13%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.1%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.0%	7.5%	12%
Households with no vehicle	5.5%	3.7%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$54,691	$65,332	—

Older residents in towns around Ennis

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Palmer, TX	7.2 mi	230	37%
Waxahachie, TX	13 mi	5,491	33%
Ferris, TX	15 mi	284	38%
Red Oak, TX	15 mi	1,752	31%
Wilmer, TX	19 mi	545	45%
Corsicana, TX	19 mi	3,864	42%

Hospices serving Ennis

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bristol Hospice - North Central Texas	Waxahachie, TX	13 mi	(972) 923-2436
Traditions Health	Waxahachie, TX	13 mi	(972) 878-2273
Arc Hospice And Palliative Care	Corsicana, TX	19 mi	(903) 874-7700
Heart To Heart Hospice Of Midlothian	Midlothian, TX	23 mi	(817) 676-1903
Harbor Hospice Of Dallas, L.P.	Desoto, TX	24 mi	(469) 329-3321

Nursing homes near Ennis (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Ennis Care Center	Ennis, TX	0.9 mi	2 of 5	155	(972) 875-9051
Legend Oaks Healthcare And Rehabilitation - Ennis	Ennis, TX	1.2 mi	5 of 5	124	(972) 875-4800
Bluebonnet Rehab At Ennis	Ennis, TX	1.4 mi	4 of 5	136	(972) 875-8643
Pleasant Manor Healthcare And Rehabilitation	Waxahachie, TX	13 mi	3 of 5	132	(972) 937-7320

Straight-line miles from the center of Ennis. 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 Ennis

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 $4,558 monthly median income of Ennis 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 Ennis: common questions

Which hospices serve Ennis?

Medicare lists 34 hospices for Ennis ZIP codes, including Bristol Hospice - North Central Texas, Traditions Health, Arc Hospice And Palliative Care.

How much does respite care cost in Ennis?

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 $4,558 monthly median income of Ennis 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 Ennis. 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 Ennis

More senior care near Ennis

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ennis

More for Ennis 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 Ennis, TX