Meal Preparation for Seniors in Refugio, TX

Local figures

Senior Meal Preparation in Refugio, TX: the local picture

16%

of residents 65+ have difficulty doing errands alone (17% in Refugio County)

28%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (31% in Refugio County)

22%

of households have no vehicle (10% in Refugio County)

558

residents 65 or older (20% of Refugio)

About 79 Refugio residents 65 or older have difficulty doing errands such as shopping alone (16%; 17% in Refugio County). Shopping and cooking are often the first things to become hard.

144 live alone, and many people eat better with company at the table.

22% of Refugio households have no car (10% in Refugio County), so a caregiver who shops on the way can matter as much as one who cooks.

Refugio compared with Refugio County and Texas

Census figure	Refugio	Refugio County	Texas
Residents 65+ with difficulty doing errands alone	16%	17%	14%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	31%	25%
Households with no vehicle	22%	10%	5.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	15%	12%
Residents 65 or older	20%	23%	13%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	29%	25%	35%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$28,000	$38,750	—

Older residents in towns around Refugio

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Errand difficulty (65+)
Rockport, TX	23 mi	3,238	10%
Sinton, TX	23 mi	753	18%
Taft, TX	24 mi	341	35%
Aransas Pass, TX	29 mi	1,807	16%
Portland, TX	29 mi	2,865	14%
Beeville, TX	30 mi	1,709	17%

What it covers

What a caregiver who cooks can help with

Planning meals around tastes and any diet the doctor set
Grocery shopping and putting it away
Cooking, and making extra for the days between visits
Company at meals, and noticing if appetite changes

Cost

What meal preparation costs in Refugio

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 43% of the $2,333 monthly median income of Refugio 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 caregiver who cooks

Meal help is non-medical and is often the first help a family arranges. A caregiver can follow a diet the doctor has set but does not design medical diets.

Questions worth asking: What do you like to cook, and can you follow a special diet? Can you shop on the way and keep receipts? Will you eat with my parent, or only cook? More in our senior meal preparation guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Senior Meal Preparation in Refugio: common questions

How much does meal preparation cost in Refugio?

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 43% of the $2,333 monthly median income of Refugio 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).

Can a caregiver cook for a special diet?

Yes, if the diet is written down: low salt, soft foods, diabetic-friendly meals and so on. Designing a medical diet is a job for a doctor or dietitian.

More near Refugio

More senior care near Refugio

Senior Meal Preparation in nearby cities

Other care in Refugio

More for Refugio 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.