Texas caregiver respite guide
Last checked: May 18, 2026
Respite care means short-term help so a family caregiver can rest, work, go to an appointment, sleep, or handle a crisis. In Texas, respite may come through the aging network, Medicaid long-term care, VA health care, adult day services, local nonprofits, or private pay.
Texas rules can change. Counties, managed care plans, waiver contractors, and local agencies may use different names. Always confirm the current rule with Texas Health and Human Services, your local Area Agency on Aging, your Medicaid plan, or the VA office that serves your family.
Quick answer
Texas does have respite routes for family caregivers, but there is not one single respite program for everyone. Start with the Aging and Disability Resource Center, your local Area Agency on Aging, the Medicaid STAR+PLUS plan if your loved one has Medicaid, or the VA if the person is a Veteran.
Ask for a caregiver assessment, a respite voucher, adult day services, or a STAR+PLUS HCBS respite review. If the first answer is no, ask what program was checked, why it was denied, and where else your county sends caregivers for short-term relief.
Start here
- Call the Texas ADRC: Ask for respite help for a family caregiver. The statewide number is 855-YES-ADRC, also written as 855-937-2372.
- If the person is 60 or older: Ask for your local Area Agency on Aging and the Family Caregiver Support Program. Texas HHS also lists 800-252-9240 for AAA services.
- If the person has Medicaid or VA care: Call the STAR+PLUS service coordinator or the VA Caregiver Support Line. Ask for respite, adult day services, or an urgent reassessment.
Related help: Respite care for caregivers, caregiver phone scripts, and caregiver checklists.
Free and low-cost respite routes in Texas
The table below shows where most Texas families should start. A program may still say no if funds are closed, the person does not meet the rules, or the service is not offered in that county.
| Route | Who it may help | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Aging and Disability Resource Center | Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers who need help finding local respite, home care, benefits, meals, transport, or support | Call 855-937-2372 and ask for respite options in your county |
| Area Agency on Aging | Caregivers of many adults age 60 or older, and some older relatives caring for children or adults with disabilities | Ask for the Family Caregiver Support Program, respite voucher, or caregiver assessment |
| Texas Medicaid STAR+PLUS | Some adults age 65 or older, and some adults with disabilities, who have Medicaid long-term services and supports | Call the Medicaid managed care plan and ask for the service coordinator |
| STAR+PLUS HCBS respite | STAR+PLUS HCBS members who need emergency or short-term respite to relieve an unpaid caregiver | Ask the service coordinator for a respite care services review |
| VA respite | Caregivers of eligible Veterans who get VA health care and have a care need approved by VA | Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 or the local VA Caregiver Support Program team |
| Adult day services | Adults who can attend a day program and need supervision, health support, meals, activities, or care while the caregiver works or rests | Ask the ADRC, AAA, Medicaid plan, VA, or local day center about payment options |
Important Texas warning: A service name on one website may not match the name used by your county, managed care plan, contractor, or local provider. Ask the worker to write down the exact program name, the agency name, and the reason if you are told no.
What respite care is and who may pay
Respite care is a short break from caregiving. It may be a few hours in the home. It may be a day program. It may be a short stay in a facility. The goal is to keep the person safe while the regular caregiver is not doing all the care.
Respite can be paid by a public program, a local voucher, Medicaid, VA health care, hospice, a nonprofit grant, private insurance, or the family. The payer matters because each one has its own rules.
Original Medicare is not a main respite payer for daily caregiving. One key exception is Medicare hospice. If the person is on Medicare hospice and the hospice team arranges short-term inpatient respite, Medicare may cover up to 5 days at a time in a Medicare-approved setting.
Area Agency on Aging route
For many families, the aging network is the best first call. Texas has Area Agencies on Aging, often called AAAs. They help people age 60 and older, their family members, and caregivers find local services.
The caregiver program tied to AAAs comes from the National Family Caregiver Support Program. This federal program gives states funds for caregiver support. Services can include information, help getting services, counseling or training, respite care, and limited extra support.
In Texas, the local AAA may screen the caregiver and the person receiving care. The AAA may ask what care tasks you do, how many hours you help, whether the person can be left alone, and what kind of break would be safe. The AAA may offer a respite voucher, a contracted provider, adult day service referral, caregiver training, or a waitlist.
Phone script for the AAA or ADRC
“I am a family caregiver in Texas. I need respite because I cannot keep providing care without a break. I need to ask about the Family Caregiver Support Program, respite vouchers, adult day care, and any emergency respite in my county. Can you screen us or tell me the next office to call?”
If the person is under 60, still call the ADRC. ADRCs help older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers find long-term services and supports. They can tell you if another disability, Medicaid, local nonprofit, or county route fits better.
Medicaid respite
Texas Medicaid respite is not one simple benefit for every Medicaid member. The respite route often depends on whether the person is in STAR+PLUS, whether they receive Home and Community Based Services, and what the service plan says.
STAR+PLUS
STAR+PLUS is a Texas Medicaid managed care program for adults who have disabilities or are age 65 or older. It includes health coverage and long-term services and supports for people who meet the rules.
If your loved one has STAR+PLUS, call the health plan and ask for the service coordinator. Say that the unpaid caregiver needs respite and that the person may need a new assessment or service plan change.
STAR+PLUS HCBS respite care services
Texas HHSC’s STAR+PLUS handbook says respite care services in the STAR+PLUS HCBS program are for emergency or short-term relief for people who normally provide unpaid care to a STAR+PLUS HCBS member who cannot care for themself.
This means the person usually must already meet the STAR+PLUS HCBS rules. It also means the service must be approved in the plan. Ask the service coordinator to check the current respite rule and whether your family can get respite at home, in an adult day setting, or another approved setting.
Community First Choice and other Medicaid supports
Community First Choice, often called CFC, provides certain services and supports to people who have Medicaid, live in the community, and meet CFC rules. CFC is not the same thing as respite, but attendant services or other long-term supports may lower the hours that fall on the family caregiver.
Ask the Medicaid plan this question: “Can CFC, Personal Assistance Services, Day Activity and Health Services, or another long-term service reduce the unpaid care I am giving?”
Consumer Directed Services
Consumer Directed Services, or CDS, is a service delivery option. It lets some people who receive Texas Medicaid services hire and manage the people who provide their services. A Financial Management Services Agency handles payroll and tax tasks.
CDS does not create extra respite hours by itself. But if a Medicaid service is approved and can be self-directed, CDS may give the person more say in who provides the help. Ask the service coordinator and the Financial Management Services Agency who can be hired and what rules apply to family members.
Phone script for the STAR+PLUS plan
“I need to speak with the service coordinator. I am the unpaid caregiver. I need an assessment for respite and adult day services. Please check STAR+PLUS HCBS respite, CFC, Personal Assistance Services, and DAHS. If you cannot approve this, please send the reason in writing and tell me how to appeal.”
For more background, see Medicaid HCBS waivers explained, Medicaid spend-down, and Medicaid look-back period.
VA respite
If the person you care for is a Veteran, call the VA early. VA respite can be a strong route when the Veteran is enrolled in VA health care and the VA care team approves the need.
VA describes three formal respite options. In-home respite sends a home health agency worker to the Veteran’s home. Adult day health respite lets the Veteran attend an adult day health care program. Nursing home respite lets the Veteran stay in a VA Community Living Center or a community nursing home for a short time.
Start with the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 or ask your local VA medical center for the Caregiver Support Program team. Ask for a Caregiver Support Coordinator and a respite care review.
Phone script for VA respite
“I care for a Veteran and need a break so I can keep the care safe. Can you connect me with the Caregiver Support Program team? I want to ask about in-home respite, adult day health respite, and nursing home respite.”
If the Veteran may also qualify for a pension benefit, read VA Aid and Attendance. That benefit is not the same as VA respite, but it may help some families pay for care.
Adult day care
Adult day care can be respite if the person can safely attend a program outside the home. In Texas Medicaid language, you may see the term Day Activity and Health Services, or DAHS.
Texas HHSC says DAHS facilities were previously called adult day care centers. These facilities provide health, social, and related support services. Texas handbook language says DAHS can include nursing, personal care, physical rehabilitative services, nutrition, transportation, and other support services.
Adult day care may be paid by Medicaid, VA, a local respite voucher, a nonprofit, long-term care insurance, or private pay. The payment route depends on the person’s coverage and the center’s contracts.
What to ask an adult day center
- Are you licensed or certified through Texas HHSC?
- Do you accept STAR+PLUS, VA, respite vouchers, or private pay?
- Can you handle dementia, wandering risk, diabetes care, oxygen, transfers, or toileting?
- Is transport included?
- What paperwork is needed before the first day?
Use the care cost calculator to compare adult day care, in-home care, and family time off. If you also want to know whether a family caregiver can be paid, start with Can I get paid to be a caregiver? or the caregiver pay quiz.
How to ask for respite
Be clear that this is a care safety issue, not just a wish for time off. The office needs to know what will happen if no backup care is found.
Documents and notes to gather
- Full name, date of birth, address, and county for the person receiving care
- Medicaid, Medicare, VA, or insurance card numbers, if any
- Diagnosis list and medication list
- Doctor, clinic, home health, hospice, or hospital discharge papers
- Power of attorney, guardianship papers, or consent forms, if you have them
- A short list of daily tasks you do, such as bathing, dressing, meals, transfers, medication reminders, wound care, or supervision
- Dates and times when you need relief, such as work shifts, surgery, sleep, or a family emergency
- Notes about falls, wandering, unsafe cooking, missed medicine, or times the person cannot be left alone
Ask in this order
- Ask for screening: “Can you screen us for caregiver respite or a respite voucher?”
- Ask for an assessment: “Can someone assess the person’s care needs and my caregiver stress?”
- Ask about funding: “Is there current funding, a waitlist, or another program in this county?”
- Ask for adult day options: “Is there a day program that accepts Medicaid, VA, vouchers, or sliding fees?”
- Ask for a written answer: “If this is denied, can you give me the reason and appeal steps in writing?”
If the first answer is no
A no can mean many things. It may mean the person is not eligible. It may mean funding is closed. It may mean you called the wrong office. It may mean the worker checked only one program.
Ask these follow-up questions:
- “What program did you check?”
- “Was this denied because of age, income, care level, county, diagnosis, or lack of funds?”
- “Is there a waitlist?”
- “Is there emergency respite?”
- “Can you refer me to the ADRC, AAA, Medicaid service coordinator, VA, or a local nonprofit?”
If a Medicaid service is denied, read the notice. It should explain appeal or fair hearing rights. Keep the envelope, the notice, and a log of every call.
Resumen en espanol
En Texas, el respiro para cuidadores puede venir por la red de envejecimiento, Medicaid STAR+PLUS, VA, cuidado diurno para adultos, o programas locales. Llame al ADRC al 855-937-2372 y pida ayuda de respiro para un cuidador familiar.
Si la persona tiene Medicaid, pida hablar con el coordinador de servicios de STAR+PLUS. Si la persona es Veterano, llame a la linea de apoyo para cuidadores de VA al 1-855-260-3274.
FAQ
Does Texas pay family caregivers for respite?
Sometimes a program pays an approved provider to give respite. Some Medicaid services may be self-directed through Consumer Directed Services if the service and person meet the rules. Do not assume a family member can be paid until the Medicaid plan, VA, AAA, or other payer confirms it in writing.
Who should I call first for respite in Texas?
Call the Texas ADRC at 855-937-2372 if you are not sure where to start. If the person is age 60 or older, also ask for the local Area Agency on Aging. If the person has STAR+PLUS or VA care, call that plan or VA team too.
Can STAR+PLUS cover respite?
STAR+PLUS HCBS respite care services may be available for emergency or short-term relief when an unpaid caregiver normally cares for a STAR+PLUS HCBS member who cannot care for themself. The service must be approved under the current plan rules.
Is adult day care the same as respite?
Adult day care is not always called respite, but it can give the caregiver a break while the person gets supervision and services during the day. In Texas Medicaid, you may see the term Day Activity and Health Services, or DAHS.
What if the respite program says there is no funding?
Ask to be placed on the waitlist, ask when funds may reopen, and ask for a referral to the ADRC, AAA, Medicaid plan, VA, adult day centers, and local nonprofits. If Medicaid denies a covered service, ask for the denial in writing and read the appeal steps.
About this guide
This guide was written for family caregivers in Texas who need a real break and a clear first call. It focuses on public benefits, coverage routes, local agencies, phone scripts, documents, and next steps.
For tax questions about care costs, see caregiver tax deductions. For phone prep, use phone scripts before you call.
Disclaimer
This is general information, not legal, tax, medical, or financial advice. Rules can change, and local offices may apply them differently. For legal or tax questions, talk with a qualified professional in your state.
Official sources used
- Texas Health and Human Services: Caregiver Support and Resources
- Texas Health and Human Services: Aging and Disability Resource Centers
- Texas Health and Human Services: Find an ADRC
- Texas Health and Human Services: Area Agencies on Aging
- Texas HHS AAA Manual: Title III-E National Family Caregiver Support Program Services
- Texas Health and Human Services: STAR+PLUS
- Texas HHS STAR+PLUS Handbook: Respite Care Services
- Texas HHS STAR+PLUS Handbook: Long Term Services and Supports
- Texas Health and Human Services: Community First Choice
- Texas HHS Community Care Services Eligibility Handbook: Consumer Directed Services
- Texas Health and Human Services: Day Activity and Health Services
- Texas HHS Community Care Services Eligibility Handbook: Day Activity and Health Services
- Texas HHSC: Take Time Texas Respite Search
- Texas Department of Family and Protective Services: Adult Protective Services
- Texas Department of Family and Protective Services: Report Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation
- VA Caregiver Support Program: Respite Care
- VA Caregiver Support Line
- Administration for Community Living: National Family Caregiver Support Program
- Medicare.gov: Hospice Care Coverage
