Senior Transportation in Kilgore, TX: Rides With a Caregiver

Local figures

Senior Transportation in Kilgore, TX: the local picture

5.0%

of households have no vehicle (4.6% in Gregg County)

11 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Longview)

1,550

residents 65 or older (12% of Kilgore)

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Gregg County)

About 224 Kilgore households, 5.0%, have no vehicle (4.6% in Gregg County). The Census figure covers all ages, but older adults who stop driving are a large part of it.

Hospitals with an emergency department near Kilgore: Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview (11 mi); Longview Regional Medical Center in Longview (12 mi); UT Health East Texas Henderson Hospital in Henderson (13 mi). Distances are straight-line, so allow more on the road.

28% of residents 65 and older report a disability. If walking is hard, look for a caregiver who is comfortable with walkers and car transfers, not only a driver.

Kilgore compared with Gregg County and Texas

Census figure	Kilgore	Gregg County	Texas
Households with no vehicle	5.0%	4.6%	5.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	36%	35%
Residents 65 or older	12%	16%	13%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	30%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	9.9%	12%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	2.1%	1.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,341	$52,858	—

Older residents in towns around Kilgore

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Households with no car
Liberty City, TX	6.2 mi	688	0.0%
White Oak, TX	9.2 mi	753	1.6%
Longview, TX	10 mi	13,805	5.6%
Gladewater, TX	11 mi	942	3.4%
Lake Cherokee, TX	13 mi	1,114	0.0%
Henderson, TX	17 mi	2,190	6.7%

Hospitals near Kilgore

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center	Longview, TX	11 mi	4 of 5	(903) 927-6712
Longview Regional Medical Center	Longview, TX	12 mi	3 of 5	(903) 758-1818
UT Health East Texas Henderson Hospital	Henderson, TX	13 mi	5 of 5	(903) 657-7541
University Of Texas Health Science Center At Tyler	Tyler, TX	21 mi	4 of 5	(903) 877-7777

Straight-line miles from the center of Kilgore. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver who drives can help with

Rides to doctor, dental and therapy appointments
Waiting during the appointment and taking notes
Grocery shopping, pharmacy and errands
Trips to church, the senior center and family

Cost

What senior transportation costs in Kilgore

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 24% of the $4,195 monthly median income of Kilgore 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 drives

Giving up driving is a common reason older adults start to miss appointments and see fewer people. Before a caregiver drives, agree whose car is used, check that the auto insurance covers it, and agree a mileage rate in writing. The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center and the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can point you to free and low-cost ride programs.

Questions worth asking: May I see your license and proof of auto insurance? Will you drive your car or ours? How do you help someone with a walker in and out of the car? More in our senior transportation guide.

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

Questions

Senior Transportation in Kilgore: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Kilgore?

Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, about 11 mi in a straight line from the center of Kilgore (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (903) 927-6712. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does senior transportation cost in Kilgore?

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 24% of the $4,195 monthly median income of Kilgore 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 Medicare pay for rides to appointments?

Original Medicare covers emergency ambulance trips, not routine rides. Medicaid covers non-emergency medical transportation for eligible members, and some Medicare Advantage plans include rides (Medicare.gov).

More near Kilgore

More senior care near Kilgore

Senior Transportation in nearby cities

Other care in Kilgore

More for Kilgore 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.

Senior Transportation and Escorted Rides in Kilgore, TX