Respite Care in Galveston, TX: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Galveston, TX: the local picture

11,180

residents 65 or older (21% of Galveston)

64%

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

39%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Galveston County)

67

Medicare-certified hospices serve Galveston ZIP codes

Most older adults in Galveston live with someone: 64% 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 4,340 Galveston residents aged 65 or older report a disability (39%) (36% in Galveston County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 67 hospices serving Galveston ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Galveston compared with Galveston County and Texas

Census figure	Galveston	Galveston County	Texas
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	36%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	26%	25%
Residents 65 or older	21%	16%	13%
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.5%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	12%	12%
Households with no vehicle	11%	5.4%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,525	$59,920	—

Older residents in towns around Galveston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Hitchcock, TX	7.1 mi	1,085	55%
La Marque, TX	13 mi	2,935	33%
Santa Fe, TX	16 mi	2,233	36%
Texas City, TX	18 mi	8,901	45%
Dickinson, TX	19 mi	2,659	27%
San Leon, TX	21 mi	882	42%

Hospices serving Galveston

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
North Star Hospice, LLC	Galveston, TX	10 mi	(409) 539-5634
Hopestone Hospice & Palliative Care	Texas City, TX	14 mi	(409) 935-0169
Hospice Care Team Inc	Texas City, TX	14 mi	(409) 938-0070
Choice Health At Home	Texas City, TX	14 mi	(409) 935-0169
Better Care Matters	Texas City, TX	15 mi	(346) 379-1541

Nursing homes near Galveston (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Galveston Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Galveston, TX	7.2 mi	1 of 5	150	(409) 740-7330
The Meridian	Galveston, TX	13 mi	3 of 5	96	(409) 763-6437
Bayou Pines Care Center	La Marque, TX	14 mi	2 of 5	120	(409) 938-8282
The Shoal	Texas City, TX	14 mi	5 of 5	134	(713) 358-0700

Straight-line miles from the center of Galveston. 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 Galveston

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 24% of the $4,294 monthly median income of Galveston 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 Galveston: common questions

Which hospices serve Galveston?

Medicare lists 67 hospices for Galveston ZIP codes, including North Star Hospice, LLC, Hopestone Hospice & Palliative Care, Hospice Care Team Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Galveston?

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 24% of the $4,294 monthly median income of Galveston 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 Galveston. 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 Galveston

More senior care near Galveston

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Galveston

More for Galveston 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 Galveston, TX