Respite Care in Waxahachie, TX: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Waxahachie, TX: the local picture

5,491

residents 65 or older (12% of Waxahachie)

74%

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

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Ellis County)

63

Medicare-certified hospices serve Waxahachie ZIP codes

Most older adults in Waxahachie live with someone: 74% 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 1,765 Waxahachie residents aged 65 or older report a disability (33%) (33% in Ellis County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 63 hospices serving Waxahachie ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Waxahachie compared with Ellis County and Texas

Census figure	Waxahachie	Ellis County	Texas
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	33%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	20%	25%
Residents 65 or older	12%	13%	13%
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	1.1%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.1%	7.5%	12%
Households with no vehicle	5.0%	3.7%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,472	$65,332	—

Older residents in towns around Waxahachie

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Red Oak, TX	8.2 mi	1,752	31%
Midlothian, TX	9.7 mi	4,885	26%
Ovilla, TX	9.9 mi	866	30%
Glenn Heights, TX	10 mi	1,324	27%
Palmer, TX	10 mi	230	37%
Ennis, TX	13 mi	2,859	36%

Hospices serving Waxahachie

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bristol Hospice - North Central Texas	Waxahachie, TX	1.6 mi	(972) 923-2436
Traditions Health	Waxahachie, TX	1.6 mi	(972) 878-2273
Heart To Heart Hospice Of Midlothian	Midlothian, TX	10 mi	(817) 676-1903
Harbor Hospice Of Dallas, L.P.	Desoto, TX	14 mi	(469) 329-3321
Heart To Heart Hospice Of Dallas, LLC	Dallas, TX	18 mi	(214) 944-1453

Nursing homes near Waxahachie (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Focused Care Of Waxahachie	Waxahachie, TX	1.1 mi	1 of 5	152	(972) 937-2298
Legend Oaks Healthcare And Rehabilitation - Waxaha	Waxahachie, TX	2.1 mi	1 of 5	121	(972) 937-1650
Pleasant Manor Healthcare And Rehabilitation	Waxahachie, TX	3.7 mi	3 of 5	132	(972) 937-7320
Red Oak Health And Rehabilitation Center	Red Oak, TX	9.2 mi	3 of 5	144	(469) 552-0500

Straight-line miles from the center of Waxahachie. 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 Waxahachie

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 20% of the $4,956 monthly median income of Waxahachie 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 Waxahachie: common questions

Which hospices serve Waxahachie?

Medicare lists 63 hospices for Waxahachie ZIP codes, including Bristol Hospice - North Central Texas, Traditions Health, Heart To Heart Hospice Of Midlothian.

How much does respite care cost in Waxahachie?

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 20% of the $4,956 monthly median income of Waxahachie 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 Waxahachie. 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 Waxahachie

More senior care near Waxahachie

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waxahachie

More for Waxahachie 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 Waxahachie, TX