Respite Care in Palestine, TX: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Palestine, TX: the local picture

2,907

residents 65 or older (15% of Palestine)

57%

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

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Anderson County)

20

Medicare-certified hospices serve Palestine ZIP codes

Most older adults in Palestine live with someone: 57% 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 1,045 Palestine residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%) (39% in Anderson County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 20 hospices serving Palestine ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Palestine compared with Anderson County and Texas

Census figure	Palestine	Anderson County	Texas
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	39%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	25%	25%
Residents 65 or older	15%	15%	13%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	0.9%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	10%	12%
Households with no vehicle	9.2%	5.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,281	$54,710	—

Older residents in towns around Palestine

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Jacksonville, TX	26 mi	1,988	30%
Shadybrook, TX	28 mi	540	40%
Rusk, TX	29 mi	676	38%
Fairfield, TX	31 mi	631	44%
Crockett, TX	32 mi	1,281	32%
Athens, TX	33 mi	2,563	47%

Hospices serving Palestine

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Vitalcaring Group	Crockett, TX	34 mi	(936) 545-0320
Cedar Lake Home Health And Hospice	Malakoff, TX	37 mi	(903) 489-2043
Choice Hospice	Tyler, TX	41 mi	(903) 509-3015
Traditions Health	Tyler, TX	41 mi	(903) 787-5897
Heritage Hospice Of East Texas	Tyler, TX	41 mi	(903) 218-6870

Nursing homes near Palestine (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Legacy At Town Creek	Palestine, TX	0.8 mi	1 of 5	199	(903) 727-8500
Trucare Living Centers	Palestine, TX	2.1 mi	5 of 5	120	(903) 723-2592
Avir At Town Creek	Palestine, TX	2.4 mi	3 of 5	102	(903) 729-2261
Greenbrier Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Of Pale	Palestine, TX	2.8 mi	4 of 5	120	(903) 729-6024

Straight-line miles from the center of Palestine. 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 Palestine

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 27% of the $3,690 monthly median income of Palestine 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 Palestine: common questions

Which hospices serve Palestine?

Medicare lists 20 hospices for Palestine ZIP codes, including Vitalcaring Group, Cedar Lake Home Health And Hospice, Choice Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Palestine?

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 27% of the $3,690 monthly median income of Palestine 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 Palestine. 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 Palestine

More senior care near Palestine

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Palestine

More for Palestine 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 Palestine, TX