Respite Care in Onalaska, TX: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Onalaska, TX: the local picture

540

residents 65 or older (17% of Onalaska)

63%

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

49%

of residents 65+ report a disability (42% in Polk County)

19

Medicare-certified hospices serve Onalaska ZIP codes

Most older adults in Onalaska 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 265 Onalaska residents aged 65 or older report a disability (49%) (42% in Polk County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 19 hospices serving Onalaska ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Onalaska compared with Polk County and Texas

Census figure	Onalaska	Polk County	Texas
Residents 65+ with a disability	49%	42%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	26%	25%
Residents 65 or older	17%	19%	13%
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	1.3%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	12%	12%
Households with no vehicle	3.8%	3.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,537	$47,857	—

Older residents in towns around Onalaska

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
West Livingston, TX	10 mi	987	52%
Livingston, TX	13 mi	1,105	40%
Huntsville, TX	28 mi	5,567	34%
Diboll, TX	32 mi	924	43%
Cleveland, TX	34 mi	1,129	43%
Willis, TX	35 mi	947	29%

Hospices serving Onalaska

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Harbor Hospice Of Livingston LP	Livingston, TX	16 mi	(936) 327-8010
1ST Quality Hospice LLC	Livingston, TX	16 mi	(409) 331-9909
1ST Choice Hospice LLC	Huntsville, TX	31 mi	(936) 295-7100
Vitalcaring Group	Crockett, TX	38 mi	(936) 545-0320
Heart To Heart Hospice Of Lufkin LLC	Lufkin, TX	40 mi	(936) 569-9143

Nursing homes near Onalaska (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Bradford At Brookside	Livingston, TX	12 mi	3 of 5	125	(936) 328-5021
Timberwood Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Livingston, TX	15 mi	4 of 5	120	(936) 327-4446
Groveton Nursing Home	Groveton, TX	17 mi	3 of 5	47	(936) 642-1221
Trinity Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center	Trinity, TX	17 mi	1 of 5	76	(936) 744-1300

Straight-line miles from the center of Onalaska. 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 Onalaska

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 31% of the $3,211 monthly median income of Onalaska 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 Onalaska: common questions

Which hospices serve Onalaska?

Medicare lists 19 hospices for Onalaska ZIP codes, including Harbor Hospice Of Livingston LP, 1ST Quality Hospice LLC, 1ST Choice Hospice LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Onalaska?

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 31% of the $3,211 monthly median income of Onalaska 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 Onalaska. 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 Onalaska

More senior care near Onalaska

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Onalaska

More for Onalaska 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 Onalaska, TX