Respite Care in Gatesville, TX: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Gatesville, TX: the local picture

1,795

residents 65 or older (11% of Gatesville)

65%

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

57%

of residents 65+ report a disability (45% in Coryell County)

22

Medicare-certified hospices serve Gatesville ZIP codes

Most older adults in Gatesville live with someone: 65% 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 852 Gatesville residents aged 65 or older report a disability (57%) (45% in Coryell County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 22 hospices serving Gatesville ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Gatesville compared with Coryell County and Texas

Census figure	Gatesville	Coryell County	Texas
Residents 65+ with a disability	57%	45%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	28%	25%
Residents 65 or older	11%	11%	13%
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	0.8%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.0%	11%	12%
Households with no vehicle	6.0%	5.6%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$35,586	$54,502	—

Older residents in towns around Gatesville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
McGregor, TX	19 mi	858	43%
Fort Hood, TX	21 mi	224	38%
Copperas Cove, TX	24 mi	4,564	46%
Killeen, TX	25 mi	13,315	40%
Clifton, TX	26 mi	1,004	43%
Morgan's Point Resort, TX	26 mi	652	39%

Hospices serving Gatesville

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heart Of Texas Hospice	Killeen, TX	23 mi	(254) 313-9840
Gentle Transitions Hospice	Moody, TX	24 mi	(254) 598-1389
Hospice Sunset	Clifton, TX	28 mi	(254) 675-3391
Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Texas	Waco, TX	31 mi	(254) 756-0404
Bluebonnet Health Services	Waco, TX	31 mi	(254) 751-1790

Nursing homes near Gatesville (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Coryell Health Rehabliving At The Meadows	Gatesville, TX	2.0 mi	4 of 5	106	(254) 404-2500
Hillside Medical Lodge	Gatesville, TX	2.2 mi	3 of 5	128	(254) 865-7575
Mcgregor Wellness & Rehabilitation	Mc Gregor, TX	19 mi	2 of 5	186	(254) 840-3281
St. Joseph's Care Center	Mcgregor, TX	19 mi	not rated	100	(254) 236-9710

Straight-line miles from the center of Gatesville. 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 Gatesville

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 34% of the $2,966 monthly median income of Gatesville 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 Gatesville: common questions

Which hospices serve Gatesville?

Medicare lists 22 hospices for Gatesville ZIP codes, including Heart Of Texas Hospice, Gentle Transitions Hospice, Hospice Sunset.

How much does respite care cost in Gatesville?

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 34% of the $2,966 monthly median income of Gatesville 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 Gatesville. 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 Gatesville

More senior care near Gatesville

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gatesville

More for Gatesville 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 Gatesville, TX