Senior Transportation in Port Lavaca, TX

Local figures

Senior Transportation in Port Lavaca, TX: the local picture

8.5%

of households have no vehicle (5.1% in Calhoun County)

1.2 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Port Lavaca)

2,088

residents 65 or older (18% of Port Lavaca)

41%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Calhoun County)

About 424 Port Lavaca households, 8.5%, have no vehicle (5.1% in Calhoun 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 Port Lavaca: Memorial Medical Center in Port Lavaca (1.2 mi); Jackson Healthcare Center in Edna (23 mi); Palacios Community Medical Center in Palacios (26 mi). Distances are straight-line, so allow more on the road.

41% 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.

Port Lavaca compared with Calhoun County and Texas

Census figure	Port Lavaca	Calhoun County	Texas
Households with no vehicle	8.5%	5.1%	5.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	39%	35%
Residents 65 or older	18%	19%	13%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	29%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	11%	12%
Residents 85 or older	5.6%	3.6%	1.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$52,113	$58,966	—

Older residents in towns around Port Lavaca

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Households with no car
Edna, TX	25 mi	958	10.0%
Palacios, TX	25 mi	1,007	8.5%
Victoria, TX	26 mi	10,308	7.2%
Refugio, TX	45 mi	558	22%
El Campo, TX	46 mi	2,023	6.4%
Rockport, TX	47 mi	3,238	7.2%

Hospitals near Port Lavaca

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Memorial Medical Center	Port Lavaca, TX	1.2 mi	4 of 5	(361) 552-6713
Jackson Healthcare Center	Edna, TX	23 mi	not rated	(361) 782-7800
Palacios Community Medical Center	Palacios, TX	26 mi	not rated	(361) 972-2511
Citizens Medical Center	Victoria, TX	26 mi	3 of 5	(361) 573-9181

Straight-line miles from the center of Port Lavaca. 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 Port Lavaca

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 23% of the $4,343 monthly median income of Port Lavaca 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 Port Lavaca: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Port Lavaca?

Memorial Medical Center in Port Lavaca, about 1.2 mi in a straight line from the center of Port Lavaca (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (361) 552-6713. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does senior transportation cost in Port Lavaca?

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 23% of the $4,343 monthly median income of Port Lavaca 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 Port Lavaca

More senior care near Port Lavaca

Senior Transportation in nearby cities

Other care in Port Lavaca

More for Port Lavaca 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 Port Lavaca, TX