Last verified: March 2026. These figures may change. Check the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (2-1-1) for the most current details.
Key Takeaways
- Respite care in Texas gives family caregivers a temporary break while trained providers look after their loved one, available in-home, at adult day centers, or in residential facilities
- Texas Medicaid covers up to 30 days of respite per year through the STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver at no cost, but the waitlist stretches years
- The VA provides at least 30 days of respite per year for enrolled veterans who meet clinical criteria
- Private-pay costs range from approximately $15-$30/hour for in-home care to $140-$233/day for short-term facility stays, according to the 2024 Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey
- Your local Area Agency on Aging offers free respite through the National Family Caregiver Support Program with no waitlist. Call 2-1-1 to connect.
In This Guide
- What Respite Care Looks Like
- What It Costs
- Medicaid Coverage Through STAR+PLUS
- VA Respite Programs
- What Medicare Covers
- Other Ways to Get Help
- How to Find Providers
- FAQ
If you're the one showing up every day to help a parent or spouse, you already know the toll it takes. Respite care in Texas means someone else steps in for a few hours, a weekend, or longer so you can rest, handle your own appointments, or just breathe.
This guide covers the respite care options in Texas for 2026: what's available, what it costs, and who qualifies for free or low-cost programs through Medicaid, the VA, and your local Area Agency on Aging. You can chat with Brevy to check your eligibility in a few minutes.
Important: The figures and rules described here are based on 2024 data from the Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey and current Medicaid rules from Texas HHS. Eligibility rules change frequently. Contact Texas Health and Human Services at 2-1-1 or a Medicaid planning attorney to verify current requirements for your situation.
What Respite Care Looks Like in Texas
Respite care comes in three forms, and the right fit depends on your loved one's needs and your schedule.
In-home respite brings a caregiver to your loved one's home. They handle personal care like bathing, dressing, and meals, plus medication reminders, light housekeeping, and companionship. If nursing tasks are needed, a registered nurse can provide or delegate them. This works well when your loved one is most comfortable staying put.
Adult day care centers provide structured daytime programs, typically five days a week during business hours. Texas has three models: social (focused on activities and meals), medical/health (adds nursing care and therapy), and specialized (for dementia or developmental disabilities). Texas requires a staff-to-participant ratio of 1:8. Many centers offer door-to-door transportation, planned activities, and meals with dietary accommodations. Beyond the care itself, your loved one gets daily social interaction, which matters more than most people realize.
Short-term facility stays place your loved one in a nursing home, assisted living community, or adult foster care home for round-the-clock care. These stays include meals, housekeeping, personal care, supervision, and transportation. This is the best option when you need multiple consecutive days off for surgery recovery, a family event, or a vacation you've been putting off.
What Respite Care Costs in Texas
Private-pay costs vary by the type of care and where in Texas you live. According to the 2024 Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey, here's what to expect:
In-home respite: approximately $15-$30 per hour for a home health aide, with a Texas median of about $30/hour. At 20 hours per week, that's roughly $2,600/month. Rates swing by region: expect to pay more in Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth, less in South Texas border cities.
Adult day care: approximately $33-$100 per day, depending on the program model. The CareScout median is around $100/day (about $2,167/month for five days a week). Basic social model programs can run as low as $33/day. This is the most affordable daily care option in Texas.
Nursing facility stays: approximately $180-$233 per day, based on Texas's 2024 median semi-private to private room rates.
Assisted living stays: typically $140-$200 per day, including room, board, and personal care. About 58% of Texas assisted living communities charge a one-time entrance fee, even for short stays. Ask about this upfront.
Overall, Texas respite care costs run approximately 11-15% below the national average across all care types.
Not sure what you can afford? Chat with Brevy to compare your options -- it takes a few minutes.
Medicaid Respite Care Through STAR+PLUS
If your family qualifies for Texas Medicaid, the STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver covers respite care at no cost to you.
What You Get
The waiver covers up to 30 days of respite per Individual Service Plan (ISP) year, which works out to 720 hours. Your managed care organization (MCO) can approve additional days on a case-by-case basis if you need more.
You have two options:
- In-home respite: A licensed provider comes to your loved one's home for personal care and, if needed, nursing services. You can also use consumer-directed care, meaning you hire your own caregiver, including adult children. Spouses can't serve as paid respite providers.
- Out-of-home respite: A temporary stay in a nursing facility, personal care facility, or adult foster care home. Room and board are included at no cost, with no copayment.
All respite services must stay within your loved one's overall STAR+PLUS cost limit, which is capped at 202% of the annualized cost of nursing facility care.
Do You Qualify?
To be eligible for STAR+PLUS respite, your loved one must:
- Have income at or below $2,982/month (300% of the SSI federal benefit rate)
- Have assets at or below $2,000
- Meet nursing facility level of care criteria
- Live in their own home, not in a facility
- Have an unpaid caregiver who needs relief
One thing to know: the STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver has a waiting list that can stretch years. People transitioning from nursing homes get priority placement.
How to Apply
Apply online at YourTexasBenefits.com, by phone at 2-1-1, or in person at your local HHS office. For the STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver specifically, call 1-877-438-5658. Have your bank statements and proof of income ready before you start. The income verification step is where most applications stall.
Want to see if your family qualifies? Start a free eligibility check with Brevy -- no paperwork needed.
VA Respite Programs for Texas Veterans
If your loved one is a veteran enrolled in VA health care, respite care is part of the standard benefits package.
Standard VA Respite
The VA provides at least 30 days of respite per calendar year for veterans who meet clinical criteria. You can split those 30 days across three types:
- Home respite: A home health aide visits for up to 6 hours per visit. Each visit counts as one respite day, even if it's shorter than 6 hours.
- Adult day health care: The veteran attends a VA or community center for social activities, nursing care, and therapy.
- Nursing home respite: A temporary stay in a VA Community Living Center or community nursing home for up to 30 days per year. Schedule these in advance when possible.
Copays are capped at $15/day for outpatient respite (home and adult day) and $97/day for overnight nursing home stays. The first 21 days each year are copay-free. Veterans with a service-connected disability rated 50% or higher are generally exempt from copays entirely.
Caregiver Programs
The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) provides at least 30 days of respite per year, plus a monthly stipend paid directly to the caregiver, CHAMPVA health insurance (if the caregiver lacks other coverage), and mental health counseling. To qualify, the veteran needs a service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher and must need personal care for at least six continuous months.
Even without PCAFC, the Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS) offers peer support, skills training, and referrals to respite services for caregivers of any enrolled veteran. No formal application required.
Contact the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET).
What Medicare Covers (and Doesn't)
The short answer? Not much. Medicare only covers respite care under the hospice benefit. There's no general Medicare respite program for non-hospice patients.
If your loved one is enrolled in hospice (meaning a doctor has certified a terminal illness with six months or less to live and your loved one has chosen palliative care), Medicare covers up to 5 consecutive days of inpatient respite per episode. You'll pay 5% of the Medicare-approved amount per day, with the total capped at $1,736 (the 2026 Part A deductible).
Medicare doesn't cover in-home respite, adult day care, or assisted living stays outside of hospice. This catches many families off guard.
Other Ways to Get Respite Care
Free Respite Through Your Local AAA
The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) provides free respite care through Texas's 28 Area Agencies on Aging. Funded under the Older Americans Act, this program offers in-home respite, adult day care, and short-term facility stays at no charge, subject to available funding.
Who qualifies: adult family members caring for someone age 60 or older, caregivers of Alzheimer's patients of any age, and relatives age 55 or older caring for children under 18 or adults with disabilities.
There are no federally mandated dollar caps on what you can receive. The amount depends on your local AAA's budget and demand. Calling early in the fiscal year gives you the best shot at getting hours before funds run out.
Faith-Based and Nonprofit Programs
Some churches, synagogues, and community nonprofits in Texas offer free or sliding-scale respite, especially for dementia caregivers. These aren't always well-advertised. Your local 2-1-1 line or Aging and Disability Resource Center can help you find what's available in your area.
Have questions about your situation? Ask Brevy -- it's free and takes a few minutes.
How to Find Adult Respite Care Near You
Texas has several free tools and phone lines to connect you with respite providers:
- Call 2-1-1 Texas. This free, 24/7 line connects you to local respite providers, transportation, meals, and other caregiver support services.
- Contact your Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-252-9240. Texas has 28 AAAs serving adults 60 and older, and they'll walk you through what's available in your county.
- Use the ARCH National Respite Locator at archrespite.org. This free tool searches for respite providers, programs, and funding sources nationwide.
- Call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to connect with your local AAA and community services.
- For veterans: Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
- For Medicaid: Apply at YourTexasBenefits.com or call 1-877-541-7905.
Ready to get started? Talk to Brevy about your eligibility -- they'll help you figure out your next step.
FAQ
How much does respite care cost in Texas?
According to the 2024 Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey, in-home respite care in Texas costs approximately $15-$30 per hour, with a median of about $30/hour for a home health aide. Adult day care runs approximately $33-$100 per day, and short-term nursing facility stays cost approximately $180-$233 per day. Texas costs are generally 11-15% below the national average.
Does Texas Medicaid pay for respite care?
Yes. The STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver covers up to 30 days of respite per year, both in-home and in residential facilities, at no cost to you. You'll need income at or below $2,982/month and assets at or below $2,000, plus nursing facility level of care. The waitlist can stretch years.
Can veterans get free respite care in Texas?
Yes. The VA provides at least 30 days of respite per calendar year for enrolled veterans, with the first 21 days copay-free. Veterans in the PCAFC program receive at least 30 days of guaranteed respite plus a monthly stipend. Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 to get started.
Does Medicare cover respite care?
Only under the hospice benefit. If your loved one is enrolled in hospice, Medicare covers up to 5 consecutive days of inpatient respite care, with a 5% coinsurance capped at $1,736 (the 2026 Part A deductible). There's no general Medicare respite benefit for non-hospice patients.
Sources
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission, "STAR+PLUS Handbook: Respite Care Services," hhs.texas.gov
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, "Respite Care for Veterans," va.gov
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, "Copay Rates," va.gov
- VA Caregiver Support, "Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers," caregiver.va.gov
- Medicare.gov, "Hospice Care Coverage," medicare.gov
- Administration for Community Living, "National Family Caregiver Support Program," acl.gov
- Genworth/CareScout, "2024 Cost of Care Survey: Median Cost Data Tables," assets.carescout.com
- Elder Options of Texas, "Adult Day Care Services for Caregivers," elderoptionsoftexas.com
- Texas HHS, "Caregiver Support Resources," hhs.texas.gov
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Medicaid rules vary by state and change frequently. Always verify eligibility and benefits with your state Medicaid agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.