Respite Care in Pharr, TX: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Pharr, TX: the local picture

8,674

residents 65 or older (11% of Pharr)

75%

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

44%

of residents 65+ report a disability (47% in Hidalgo County)

46

Medicare-certified hospices serve Pharr ZIP codes

Most older adults in Pharr live with someone: 75% 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 3,806 Pharr residents aged 65 or older report a disability (44%) (47% in Hidalgo County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 46 hospices serving Pharr ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Pharr compared with Hidalgo County and Texas

Census figure	Pharr	Hidalgo County	Texas
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	47%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	25%	22%	25%
Residents 65 or older	11%	12%	13%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	1.3%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	29%	22%	12%
Households with no vehicle	5.3%	5.6%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$29,386	$35,326	—

Older residents in towns around Pharr

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
San Juan, TX	3.2 mi	4,490	48%
Alamo, TX	4.9 mi	3,198	40%
Hidalgo, TX	5.0 mi	1,840	45%
McAllen, TX	5.3 mi	18,978	44%
South Alamo, TX	5.4 mi	518	65%
North Alamo, TX	5.5 mi	538	50%

Hospices serving Pharr

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Caring Hearts Of Texas	Pharr, TX	1.0 mi	(956) 803-0895
St. Joseph's Hospice Care	Pharr, TX	1.0 mi	(956) 781-9900
San Jose Hospice Care	Pharr, TX	1.0 mi	(956) 783-5673
Superior Hospice Of Mcallen LLC	Mcallen, TX	3.7 mi	(956) 878-1636
Alora Hospice And Palliative Care LLC	San Juan, TX	3.8 mi	(956) 216-0013

Nursing homes near Pharr (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Windsor Las Palmas Nursing And Rehabilitation Cent	Mcallen, TX	1.7 mi	5 of 5	120	(956) 972-0049
Mcallen Transitional Care Center	Mcallen, TX	1.7 mi	4 of 5	100	(956) 686-9100
Alfredo Gonzalez Texas State Veterans Home	Mcallen, TX	2.0 mi	2 of 5	160	(956) 682-4224
San Juan Nursing Home, Inc.	San Juan, TX	3.1 mi	4 of 5	114	(956) 787-1771

Straight-line miles from the center of Pharr. 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 Pharr

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 41% of the $2,449 monthly median income of Pharr 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 Pharr: common questions

Which hospices serve Pharr?

Medicare lists 46 hospices for Pharr ZIP codes, including Caring Hearts Of Texas, St. Joseph's Hospice Care, San Jose Hospice Care.

How much does respite care cost in Pharr?

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 41% of the $2,449 monthly median income of Pharr 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 Pharr. 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 Pharr

More senior care near Pharr

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Pharr

More for Pharr 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 Pharr, TX