Respite Care in Harker Heights, TX for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Harker Heights, TX: the local picture

3,464

residents 65 or older (10% of Harker Heights)

73%

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

40%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Bell County)

25

Medicare-certified hospices serve Harker Heights ZIP codes

Most older adults in Harker Heights live with someone: 73% 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 1,314 Harker Heights residents aged 65 or older report a disability (40%) (38% in Bell County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 25 hospices serving Harker Heights ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Harker Heights compared with Bell County and Texas

Census figure	Harker Heights	Bell County	Texas
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	38%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	26%	25%
Residents 65 or older	10%	12%	13%
Residents 85 or older	0.7%	1.3%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	11%	12%
Households with no vehicle	7.2%	5.3%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$65,947	$54,865	—

Older residents in towns around Harker Heights

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Nolanville, TX	2.6 mi	682	45%
Killeen, TX	5.4 mi	13,315	40%
Belton, TX	9.8 mi	3,379	36%
Fort Hood, TX	10.0 mi	224	38%
Morgan's Point Resort, TX	13 mi	652	39%
Temple, TX	15 mi	13,547	39%

Hospices serving Harker Heights

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heart Of Texas Hospice	Killeen, TX	4.4 mi	(254) 313-9840
Baylor Scott & White Hospice - Temple	Temple, TX	15 mi	(254) 724-4090
True Heart Hospice And Palliative Care Of Texas LLC	Temple, TX	15 mi	(512) 649-2274
Enhabit Hospice	Temple, TX	15 mi	(254) 677-7377
Embrace Hospice	Temple, TX	15 mi	(254) 284-0045

Nursing homes near Harker Heights (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Harker Heights Nursing & Rehabilitation	Harker Heights, TX	1.6 mi	1 of 5	199	(254) 699-5051
Rosewood Heights	Killeen, TX	6.2 mi	3 of 5	64	(254) 690-6169
Avir At Killeen	Killeen, TX	6.7 mi	1 of 5	120	(254) 221-6380
Creekside Terrace Rehabilitation	Belton, TX	9.4 mi	4 of 5	126	(254) 831-6200

Straight-line miles from the center of Harker Heights. 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 Harker Heights

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 18% of the $5,496 monthly median income of Harker Heights 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 Harker Heights: common questions

Which hospices serve Harker Heights?

Medicare lists 25 hospices for Harker Heights ZIP codes, including Heart Of Texas Hospice, Baylor Scott & White Hospice - Temple, True Heart Hospice And Palliative Care Of Texas LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Harker Heights?

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 18% of the $5,496 monthly median income of Harker Heights 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 Harker Heights. 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 Harker Heights

More senior care near Harker Heights

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Harker Heights

More for Harker Heights 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 Harker Heights, TX