Respite care is temporary care provided to a person with a disability, illness, or advanced age so that their primary caregiver can take a break. It can range from a few hours of in-home assistance to several weeks in a residential facility. The goal is to give caregivers relief from the physical and emotional demands of caregiving while ensuring their loved one receives appropriate care.

Texas offers multiple forms of respite: in-home respite (a paid caregiver comes to the home); adult day services (daytime programming at a licensed center); short-term residential respite at an assisted living facility or skilled nursing facility; and family caregiver respite programs through state and local agencies. The right type depends on the care needs involved, the duration of respite needed, and the caregiver’s budget.

Start with your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA), which can connect you with funded respite programs in your county. Texas Health and Human Services also administers the Texas Family Caregiver Support Program, which includes respite services. For hospital-level or post-surgical respite, contact local assisted living communities or skilled nursing facilities directly. A placement agent can facilitate short-term placements quickly if needed.

Medicare covers inpatient respite care only in the context of hospice — specifically, it allows a terminally ill hospice patient to be admitted to an inpatient facility for up to five days at a time to give the caregiver a break. Outside of hospice, Medicare does not cover respite care. Medicare Advantage plans vary — some include limited respite benefits as supplemental services. Check your specific plan.

Some Texas Medicaid waiver programs include respite care as a covered service for eligible individuals. The Community Attendant Services (CAS) program and STAR+PLUS waiver may cover in-home respite for individuals who meet functional and financial eligibility criteria. These programs often have waitlists. Contact 2-1-1 Texas or a benefits counselor to determine eligibility and apply.

Private-pay costs vary by type. In-home respite typically runs $25 to $35 per hour. Adult day services average $75 to $100 per day. Short-term residential stays at an assisted living facility range from $150 to $250 per day. Some assisted living communities offer two-week trial stays that serve as both respite and an opportunity for the family and potential resident to evaluate the community.

Yes. The Texas Lifespan Respite Network coordinates funded respite programs across the state. The Alzheimer’s Association provides caregiver support and some respite resources. Many faith communities offer volunteer respite through programs like Stephen Ministry. The National Respite Locator can identify local programs. Area Agencies on Aging often have grant-funded programs with sliding-scale fees based on income.

Adult day services provide daytime programming — activities, meals, health monitoring, socialization — for older adults or those with disabilities, typically during business hours on weekdays. They are an excellent respite option for working caregivers or those who need regular breaks during the day. Many centers specialize in memory care programming. Texas HHSC licenses and inspects adult day centers.

Prepare by visiting the respite location in advance if possible, bringing familiar items (photos, a favorite blanket, comfort objects), communicating clearly with staff about preferences, routines, and any behavioral considerations. For someone with dementia, frame the stay positively — focus on activities and people rather than absence. Prepare a detailed care summary including medications, triggers, preferences, and emergency contacts.

Resistance to respite care is common, especially with dementia. Frame it as a social opportunity rather than caregiving. Start with short durations — a few hours — before longer stays. Use a familiar face when possible (a friend, volunteer, or day center staff member your loved one has met before). Remember: your ability to continue caregiving long-term depends on your own health. Respite is not abandonment — it is sustainability.

It can, and sometimes that is the right outcome. A short-term respite stay at an assisted living community allows both the family and potential resident to experience the community before committing to permanent placement. Families often discover during a respite stay that their loved one adjusts better than expected — or that care needs are greater than can be safely managed at home. Respite as a trial is a smart approach to evaluating placement options.

Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion from the prolonged demands of caregiving. Symptoms include chronic fatigue, social isolation, resentment, depression, and health decline. Research consistently shows that caregivers who take regular respite breaks are more effective, sustain caregiving longer, and experience less depression than those who do not. Respite is not a luxury — it is an essential component of sustainable caregiving.