Respite Care in Fairfield, TX: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Fairfield, TX: the local picture

631

residents 65 or older (22% of Fairfield)

57%

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

44%

of residents 65+ report a disability (43% in Freestone County)

12

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fairfield ZIP codes

Most older adults in Fairfield live with someone: 57% 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 229 Fairfield residents aged 65 or older report a disability (44%) (43% in Freestone County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 12 hospices serving Fairfield ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Fairfield compared with Freestone County and Texas

Census figure	Fairfield	Freestone County	Texas
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	43%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	27%	25%
Residents 65 or older	22%	20%	13%
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	2.3%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	9.8%	12%
Households with no vehicle	3.9%	2.5%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$32,050	$42,441	—

Older residents in towns around Fairfield

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Teague, TX	8.9 mi	528	38%
Mexia, TX	19 mi	1,179	50%
Groesbeck, TX	25 mi	746	41%
Corsicana, TX	31 mi	3,864	42%
Palestine, TX	31 mi	2,907	38%
Athens, TX	39 mi	2,563	47%

Hospices serving Fairfield

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Enhabit Hospice	Kemp, TX	37 mi	(844) 474-4026
Bristol Hospice - North Central Texas	Waxahachie, TX	60 mi	(972) 923-2436
Providence Hospice	Waco, TX	61 mi	(254) 399-9099
Heart To Heart Hospice Of Tyler Ltd	Tyler, TX	64 mi	(903) 593-6619
Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Texas	Waco, TX	64 mi	(254) 756-0404

Nursing homes near Fairfield (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Fairfield Nursing & Rehabilitation Center	Fairfield, TX	1.0 mi	4 of 5	101	(903) 389-1236
Fairview Healthcare Residence	Fairfield, TX	1.2 mi	4 of 5	84	(903) 389-4121
Teague Nursing And Rehabilitation	Teague, TX	9.1 mi	5 of 5	76	(254) 739-2541
Skilled Care Of Mexia	Mexia, TX	18 mi	3 of 5	80	(254) 472-0630

Straight-line miles from the center of Fairfield. 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 Fairfield

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 38% of the $2,671 monthly median income of Fairfield 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 Fairfield: common questions

Which hospices serve Fairfield?

Medicare lists 12 hospices for Fairfield ZIP codes, including Enhabit Hospice, Bristol Hospice - North Central Texas, Providence Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Fairfield?

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 38% of the $2,671 monthly median income of Fairfield 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 Fairfield. 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 Fairfield

More senior care near Fairfield

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fairfield

More for Fairfield 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 Fairfield, TX