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If you care for a loved one at home, you may wonder who pays for respite care or how to find good help in the New Braunfels and San Antonio area. During the holidays, that question often feels even heavier. You want to show up for family traditions and still keep your loved one safe and supported.
Respite care gives you breathing room while a trained caregiver steps in. With the new Medicare GUIDE program and local support from ComForCare, short-term respite care for elderly loved ones has become more accessible than ever.
In this guide, you will see what respite care is, how it works in Central Texas, how Medicare and respite care connect, and how a local respite care provider like ComForCare can help you get started.
Respite care is short-term in-home support that gives you a break while someone trusted cares for your loved one. You might schedule a few hours each week, extra help during the holidays, or coverage while you attend appointments in San Antonio.
For older adults in and around New Braunfels, short-term respite care for elderly loved ones may include:
Big Takeaway: Respite care helps your loved one stay in the comfort of their home, close to the Guadalupe and Comal rivers, favorite churches, and familiar routines, while you step away to rest or handle other parts of life.
New Braunfels sits between Austin and San Antonio along I-35, and many families split time between these cities. That often means long days driving to medical centers in San Antonio, then coming home to provide hands-on care.
At ComForCare, we offer in-home care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for as little as a few hours per week or around-the-clock support in any setting you call home. This includes private homes in New Braunfels, apartments near downtown, and independent or assisted living communities in the area.
When considering respite care for your loved one, you may be concerned about the cost. Fortunately, there are multiple ways that respite care can be fully or partially covered. In Central Texas, most families pay through a mix of:
Many families pay out of pocket on an hourly basis. This gives you flexibility to start small and increase time as needs grow.
Some policies cover in-home care and respite. Call your insurer and ask about benefits for in-home personal care or respite care.
Veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for in-home support or respite through VA programs. A local respite care provider like ComForCare New Braunfels can help you understand how in-home care may work with VA benefits.
In Texas, certain Medicaid waivers and community programs may help pay for personal care or respite services for those who qualify.
Local senior centers or faith communities sometimes offer short breaks, adult day activities, or grants that stretch your budget.
The answer depends on the situation. Medicare and respite care intersect in two main ways.
Medicare covers short-term respite for people enrolled in the hospice benefit. In that case, Medicare may cover up to five consecutive days of inpatient respite care at a Medicare-approved facility, allowing family members to rest.
This hospice respite benefit helps some families, but it may not be suitable for everyone. Many caregivers in New Braunfels and San Antonio need help earlier in the journey, especially during dementia care.
The GUIDE Model (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) is a nationwide Medicare model that started July 1, 2024, and will operate for eight years. GUIDE focuses on people living with dementia and their unpaid caregivers.
Under GUIDE:
Most important for many caregivers, GUIDE includes up to $2,500 per year in funded respite services for each eligible participant. These respite hours can cover in-home caregivers, adult day programs, or short overnight stays in approved settings so caregivers can rest.
Typical eligibility for GUIDE includes:
The respite benefit renews annually, allowing families to plan recurring breaks instead of a one-time stay.
ComForCare provides in-home care and respite services to New Braunfels and nearby communities, with caregivers available day and night.
During a respite visit, a caregiver can:
Right now, the GUIDE model provides up to $2,500 in respite care per year for each eligible participant. The number of hours depends on the hourly rate and the mix of in-home, adult day, or overnight care you choose. A local respite care provider can help you plan how to use those hours.
No. ComForCare serves the New Braunfels area and its surrounding communities, including parts of the San Antonio metro and the nearby regions in Comal and Guadalupe counties. When you call, share your address so the team can confirm service coverage.
If you feel worn down, short-tempered, or worried about your own health, that is a strong signal to ask for help now. Many families in New Braunfels and San Antonio wish they had started respite sooner. A quick call can open the door to options, even if you are not ready to schedule care right away.
Respite care helps your loved one stay safe and supported at home while you rest, run errands, or spend time with other family members. In New Braunfels and San Antonio, you can choose short-term respite care for elderly loved ones that fits your schedule, your budget, and your goals.
For many families caring for someone with dementia, the GUIDE model now brings Medicare and respite care together in a new way. ComForCare can help you sort through who pays for respite care in your situation, discuss payment options in plain language, and explore whether GUIDE may be able to assist your family.
If you care for a loved one in New Braunfels, San Antonio, or along the I-35 corridor and you feel tired or overwhelmed, you don’t have to handle everything alone. ComForCare New Braunfels can help you understand your options for respite care that San Antonio and New Braunfels families trust, including private pay, insurance, and the GUIDE model for dementia.
Call the ComForCare office at (830) 632-5887 or contact our team online today. Ask about respite care for family caregivers, short-term respite care for elderly loved ones, and support with GUIDE enrollment so you can take care of yourself and keep caring for the person you love.
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