Senior Transportation in Refugio, TX: Rides With a Caregiver

Local figures

Senior Transportation in Refugio, TX: the local picture

22%

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

0.7 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Refugio)

558

residents 65 or older (20% of Refugio)

53%

of residents 65+ report a disability (47% in Refugio County)

About 209 Refugio households, 22%, have no vehicle (10% in Refugio 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 Refugio: Refugio County Memorial Hospital in Refugio (0.7 mi); Christus Spohn Hospital Beeville in Beeville (31 mi); Christus Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi (38 mi). Distances are straight-line, so allow more on the road.

53% 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.

Refugio compared with Refugio County and Texas

Census figure	Refugio	Refugio County	Texas
Households with no vehicle	22%	10%	5.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	53%	47%	35%
Residents 65 or older	20%	23%	13%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	31%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	15%	12%
Residents 85 or older	2.9%	2.4%	1.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$28,000	$38,750	—

Older residents in towns around Refugio

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Households with no car
Rockport, TX	23 mi	3,238	7.2%
Sinton, TX	23 mi	753	4.0%
Taft, TX	24 mi	341	4.3%
Aransas Pass, TX	29 mi	1,807	13%
Portland, TX	29 mi	2,865	4.8%
Beeville, TX	30 mi	1,709	6.2%

Hospitals near Refugio

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Refugio County Memorial Hospital	Refugio, TX	0.7 mi	not rated	(361) 526-2321
Christus Spohn Hospital Beeville	Beeville, TX	31 mi	2 of 5	(361) 354-2000
Christus Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi	Corpus Christi, TX	38 mi	3 of 5	(361) 902-4103
Citizens Medical Center	Victoria, TX	39 mi	3 of 5	(361) 573-9181

Straight-line miles from the center of Refugio. 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 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 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 Refugio: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Refugio?

Refugio County Memorial Hospital in Refugio, about 0.7 mi in a straight line from the center of Refugio (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (361) 526-2321. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does senior transportation 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).

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 Refugio

More senior care near Refugio

Senior Transportation 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.

Senior Transportation and Escorted Rides in Refugio, TX