Respite Care in Smithville, TX: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Smithville, TX: the local picture

962

residents 65 or older (23% of Smithville)

67%

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

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Bastrop County)

26

Medicare-certified hospices serve Smithville ZIP codes

Most older adults in Smithville live with someone: 67% 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 225 Smithville residents aged 65 or older report a disability (26%) (29% in Bastrop County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 26 hospices serving Smithville ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Smithville compared with Bastrop County and Texas

Census figure	Smithville	Bastrop County	Texas
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	29%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	21%	25%
Residents 65 or older	23%	15%	13%
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	1.2%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.2%	12%
Households with no vehicle	3.6%	3.4%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$54,896	$65,730	—

Older residents in towns around Smithville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Circle D-KC Estates, TX	12 mi	347	24%
Bastrop, TX	12 mi	1,625	35%
Camp Swift, TX	15 mi	915	39%
La Grange, TX	18 mi	857	23%
Giddings, TX	18 mi	995	40%
Wyldwood, TX	21 mi	468	24%

Hospices serving Smithville

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Serenity Hospice	Bastrop, TX	12 mi	(512) 985-6107
Enhabit Hospice	Austin, TX	38 mi	(512) 284-9642
Sonder Hospice	Austin, TX	40 mi	(512) 354-7222
Heart To Heart Hospice Of Austin Ltd	Austin, TX	40 mi	(512) 707-2600
Jol Healthcare	Kyle, TX	41 mi	(512) 786-4198

Nursing homes near Smithville (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Towers Nursing Home	Smithville, TX	1.1 mi	4 of 5	120	(512) 237-4606
Windsor Nursing And Rehabilitation Center Of Bastr	Bastrop, TX	13 mi	2 of 5	96	(512) 321-2529
Bastrop Lost Pines Nursing And Rehabilitation Cent	Bastrop, TX	13 mi	1 of 5	120	(512) 321-3527
Silver Pines Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Bastrop, TX	13 mi	4 of 5	114	(512) 321-6220

Straight-line miles from the center of Smithville. 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 Smithville

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 22% of the $4,575 monthly median income of Smithville 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 Smithville: common questions

Which hospices serve Smithville?

Medicare lists 26 hospices for Smithville ZIP codes, including Serenity Hospice, Enhabit Hospice, Sonder Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Smithville?

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 22% of the $4,575 monthly median income of Smithville 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 Smithville. 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 Smithville

More senior care near Smithville

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Smithville

More for Smithville 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 Smithville, TX