Respite Care in Kilgore, TX: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Kilgore, TX: the local picture

1,550

residents 65 or older (12% of Kilgore)

63%

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

28%

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

25

Medicare-certified hospices serve Kilgore ZIP codes

Most older adults in Kilgore live with someone: 63% 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 405 Kilgore residents aged 65 or older report a disability (28%) (36% in Gregg County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Kilgore compared with Gregg County and Texas

Census figure	Kilgore	Gregg County	Texas
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	36%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	30%	25%
Residents 65 or older	12%	16%	13%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	2.1%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	9.9%	12%
Households with no vehicle	5.0%	4.6%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,341	$52,858	—

Older residents in towns around Kilgore

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Liberty City, TX	6.2 mi	688	45%
White Oak, TX	9.2 mi	753	47%
Longview, TX	10 mi	13,805	35%
Gladewater, TX	11 mi	942	36%
Lake Cherokee, TX	13 mi	1,114	27%
Henderson, TX	17 mi	2,190	44%

Hospices serving Kilgore

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Three Oaks Hospice	Longview, TX	9.6 mi	(903) 551-3400
Lifecare Health Services	Longview, TX	9.6 mi	(903) 297-9300
Harbor Hospice Of Longview LP	Longview, TX	11 mi	(903) 238-8290
Prime Care Hospice LLC	Longview, TX	11 mi	(903) 291-6164
Traditions Hospice	Longview, TX	12 mi	(903) 663-2331

Nursing homes near Kilgore (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Willow Rehab & Nursing	Kilgore, TX	1.8 mi	3 of 5	118	(903) 983-7775
Arbor Grace Guest Care Center	Kilgore, TX	2.3 mi	1 of 5	127	(903) 984-3511
Pine Tree Lodge Nursing Center	Longview, TX	10 mi	1 of 5	92	(903) 759-3994
Avir At Overton	Overton, TX	10 mi	2 of 5	100	(903) 834-6166

Straight-line miles from the center of Kilgore. 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 Kilgore

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 $4,195 monthly median income of Kilgore 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 Kilgore: common questions

Which hospices serve Kilgore?

Medicare lists 25 hospices for Kilgore ZIP codes, including Three Oaks Hospice, Lifecare Health Services, Harbor Hospice Of Longview LP.

How much does respite care cost in Kilgore?

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 $4,195 monthly median income of Kilgore 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 Kilgore. 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 Kilgore

More senior care near Kilgore

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Kilgore

More for Kilgore 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 Kilgore, TX