Caring for an aging loved one is one of the hardest jobs there is — and you shouldn't have to do it alone. Below are 29 verified Texas programs offering emotional support, respite, training, financial help, peer groups, and legal planning — most of them completely free.
Last updated July 2026
Start here in Texas
Texas HHS — Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs)
One call connects Texas family caregivers to free counseling, respite, training, and support groups through their local Area Agency on Aging.
Texas HHS — Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs)
Free
Statewide — 28 Area Agencies on Aging covering all 254 counties
Texas's primary caregiver entry point. Free information, referrals, and options counseling through 28 regional AAAs and ADRCs covering all 254 Texas counties. Connects caregivers to NFCSP, CFC, STAR+PLUS, Take Time Texas, SHIP, ombudsman, and all HHS caregiver programs.
Call 855-937-2372 or visit hhs.texas.gov to find your local AAA/ADRC. Texas has 28 AAAs — one of the largest state AAA networks in the country. Texas State Plan on Aging 2023-2027 in effect
Statewide — six chapters: Houston/SE TX, Dallas/NE TX, North Central TX, Capital of TX, West TX, San Antonio/South TX
Around the clock emotional support, crisis assistance, and care consultations for dementia caregivers. Six ALZ chapters serve all 254 Texas counties. 400,000+ Texans living with Alzheimer's; 1.4 million caregivers providing 1.5 billion hours annually.
Houston/SE TX: www.alz.org/texas | Dallas/NE TX: alz.org/dallasnetexas | N Central TX: alz.org/northcentraltexas | Capital of TX: alz.org/texascapital | W TX: alz.org/westtexas | SA/S TX: alz.org/sanantonio. Call 800-272-3900 for all chapters
Texas HHS Caregiver Support Program providing information, referrals, counseling, and connection to services statewide. Caregivers of adults 60+ or any age with Alzheimer's access support through their local AAA. Texas Caregiver Coalition active in advocacy.
Contact your local AAA at 855-937-2372 — caregiver support services vary by region across Texas's 28 AAA service areas
Free 24/7 confidential emotional support for caregivers experiencing burnout, distress, or crisis. Available by call or text. Texas has 1.4 million family caregivers many of whom face significant emotional strain.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — call or text
Free 24/7 connection to local health and human services including emotional support, crisis intervention, and caregiver resource referrals across all 254 Texas counties. Texas 211 is one of the most comprehensive statewide 211 systems in the country.
Call or text 211 anytime — also available online at 211texas.org. Available in English and Spanish. Texas 211 covers all 254 counties
Texas's dedicated state respite program for caregivers who need support taking time to care for themselves. Provides respite vouchers and coordination to help caregivers access temporary breaks from caregiving. Funded through NFCSP and state appropriations.
Contact your local AAA at 855-937-2372 or visit apps.hhs.texas.gov/taketimetexas/. One of the few states with a branded statewide respite program specifically named for caregivers
NFCSP-funded temporary respite care for family caregivers of adults 60+ or any age with Alzheimer's through Texas's 28 AAAs. In-home and adult day options. Contact your local AAA to access respite.
Contact AAA at 855-937-2372 — Texas AAA Form 2270 required to apply for OAA caregiver support services
Statewide network connecting Texas caregivers to respite services, training, and resources. Partners with Texas HHS, AAAs, and community organizations to expand respite access across all 254 Texas counties including rural communities.
Free resource — Texas Respite Network maps available respite options across Texas and advocates for expanded respite funding statewide
At least 30 days annual respite for caregivers of eligible veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. Texas has one of the largest veteran populations in the nation with VA facilities in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Waco, El Paso, and other cities.
Must be caring for veteran enrolled in VA healthcare — Houston VA: 713-791-1414 | Dallas VA: 214-742-8387 | San Antonio VA: 210-617-5300
Alzheimer's Association Texas — Education Programs
Free
Statewide — six chapters and virtual
Free education programs for dementia caregivers across all 254 Texas counties. Six chapters deliver ALZ Talks webinars, Savvy Caregiver workshops, and care consultations. Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) advances statewide dementia care.
Virtual options available statewide — call helpline or visit chapter website. Texas has unique TARCC university medical center network advancing dementia research and education
Central Texas — Austin metro and statewide virtual
Unique Austin nonprofit (separate from ALZ Association) providing caregiver education, support groups, and resources since 1982. Free webinar library covering mood/behavioral symptoms, pandemic stress tools, skilled nursing navigation, and more. Virtual programs available statewide.
Free webinar library accessible from anywhere in Texas — email info@txalz.org or call 512-241-0420. Founded 1982 by Texas families — 100% of funds stay local in Central Texas
Statewide — Texas A&M AgriLife Extension offices in all 254 counties
Evidence-based caregiver education through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Powerful Tools for Caregivers, aging-in-place resources, and family caregiver programs in all 254 Texas counties including rural and border communities.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in every county — critical for rural West Texas, Panhandle, and South Texas caregivers
Texas HHS dementia care resources including the Texas Alzheimer's Disease State Plan, dementia-capable care standards, and caregiver education through the AAA network. Texas Council on Alzheimer's Disease coordinates statewide initiatives.
Contact AAA at 855-937-2372 — Texas Alzheimer's State Plan 2019-2023 being updated. Texas Council on Alzheimer's Disease and TARCC guide statewide education
Comprehensive caregiver education library including fact sheets, online programs, and Texas-specific resource directory. Especially valuable for rural Texas caregivers in the 220+ counties without major urban services.
No registration required — accessible from any Texas community
Statewide — offices in Austin, Houston, Dallas, and other cities
Free caregiver tools, guides, and education in English and Spanish. AARP Texas reports 1.4 million family caregivers providing $20 billion in unpaid care annually. AARP Care Guide available in English and Spanish reflecting Texas's diverse communities.
AARP membership not required — bilingual resources available. AARP Texas active on CFC expansion and caregiver tax relief legislation in Texas Legislature
Texas Community First Choice (CFC) — Paid Family Caregiver
Free
Statewide
Texas Medicaid state plan option allowing eligible individuals to hire family members including spouses as paid personal care attendants. No waiting list — CFC is an entitlement. Must be Medicaid-eligible with functional need. Pays through FMSA (financial management services agency). Spouses eligible.
Spouses explicitly eligible — entitlement with no waiting list. Contact HHS at 855-937-2372 or local ADRC. Income limit $2,742/month individual in 2026. CFC is separate from STAR+PLUS waiver
Texas STAR+PLUS HCBS — Consumer-Directed Paid Family Caregiver
Free
Statewide — interest list ~15,850 as of December 2025
Texas Medicaid HCBS waiver allowing eligible individuals to consumer-direct their care and hire family members (excluding spouses) as paid caregivers. Adult children eligible. ~24,000 enrollment slots; ~15,850 on interest list as of December 2025.
Waiting list — apply early. Spouses not eligible for STAR+PLUS (use CFC instead). Contact HHS at 855-937-2372 or ADRC. STAR+PLUS managed by three TennCare-like MCOs
Monthly stipend for caregivers of eligible veterans with 70%+ service-connected disability. Also includes CHAMPVA health insurance. VA legacy cohort protected through September 2028. Texas has the second-largest veteran population in the US.
Must be caring for veteran with 70%+ service-connected disability rating
Federal program providing information, counseling, training, respite, and supplemental services to family caregivers of adults 60+ or any age with Alzheimer's. Grandparent kinship caregiver services also available. Texas Form 2270 required to apply.
Contact local AAA through HHS at 855-937-2372 — no income limits for Older Americans Act programs in Texas
Free caregiver support groups throughout Texas from Houston to Dallas to San Antonio to El Paso. Six chapters provide comprehensive statewide coverage. Spanish-language groups available in multiple regions. ALZConnected online 24/7.
Call helpline or visit chapter website to find group by zip code — Spanish-language groups in Houston, SA, and other metro areas. Virtual options statewide
Caregiver support groups through Texas's 28 AAAs covering all 254 counties. Groups for general caregiving, Alzheimer's and dementia, and grandparent kinship caregivers. Contact your local AAA to find groups near you.
Contact AAA at 855-937-2372 — groups vary by region across Texas's 28 AAAD service areas. Virtual options expanding statewide
Free caregiver support groups in the Austin area through Alzheimer's Texas. Also virtual groups accessible statewide. Monthly caregiver meetings covering practical topics with Q&A from dementia specialists. Community of Central Texas families supporting each other since 1982.
Free — Austin area focus with virtual statewide access. email info@txalz.org for schedule. 100% of donations stay in Central Texas
Free online peer community of 25,000+ caregivers active 24/7. Especially valuable for Texas caregivers in rural West Texas, the Panhandle, or South Texas where local groups may be far away.
AARP membership not required — virtual peer support 24/7. Spanish-language AARP community also available
Statewide — largest legal aid organization in Texas
Free civil legal services to low-income Texans including elder law, advance directives, medical powers of attorney, Medicaid/CFC planning, housing, and consumer protection. Texas Legal Aid Hotline serves all 254 counties. Bilingual English/Spanish services.
Texas Legal Aid Hotline: 800-222-3550. Also: Lone Star Legal Aid (713-228-0732) covers East/SE TX | Legal Aid of NW Texas (817-336-3943) covers North TX. All income-eligible or 60+
Texas SHIP — State Health Insurance Assistance Program
Free
Statewide — through HHS and 28 AAAs
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling for Texas beneficiaries and caregivers. Certified counselors help navigate Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D drug plans statewide. Available in English and Spanish reflecting Texas's diverse population.
Unbiased — not affiliated with insurance industry. Also accessible through your local AAA at 855-937-2372. Bilingual English/Spanish counselors available
Free advocacy for caregivers with concerns about nursing home or assisted living quality. Investigates complaints and protects residents' rights across all 254 Texas counties. Texas Ombudsman also covers assisted living facilities.
Toll-free statewide 800-252-2412. Also contact your local AAA — regional ombudsmen serve all 254 TX counties. Texas Ombudsman reports to HHS independently
Statewide — Austin HQ with Houston and Lubbock offices
Free legal advocacy for Texans with disabilities and their caregivers. Texas's federally designated Protection and Advocacy agency. Covers disability rights, Medicaid, CFC access, housing, and abuse/neglect. Active on CFC expansion and STAR+PLUS issues.
Toll-free: 800-252-9108. Free services for people with disabilities and their family caregivers — all 254 TX counties. Bilingual English/Spanish services available
Free online legal information and connection to legal aid organizations across all 254 Texas counties. Covers elder law, advance directives, medical powers of attorney, Medicaid, and housing. Available in English and Spanish. Maintained by Texas legal aid organizations.
Free 24/7 online access — also available in Spanish. Find legal aid by county at texaslawhelp.org. Includes self-help forms for advance directives and powers of attorney
Honest answers to what Texas family caregivers ask most.
Most free caregiver help in Texas flows through Texas HHS — Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs), which works hand-in-hand with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Area Agency on Aging network and the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) network. Call 855-937-2372 to be connected to your county's AAA or Aging and Disability Resource Center — they provide free caregiver counseling, support groups, respite vouchers, and caregiver education statewide. Texas also runs Lifespan Respite Texas voucher program, which is worth asking about by name.
In many cases, yes. The primary pathway is STAR+PLUS Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). Texas' STAR+PLUS Consumer Directed Services (CDS) option lets Medicaid members hire family (other than a spouse) as paid attendants statewide. The care recipient must meet Texas Medicaid's financial and functional eligibility rules. To apply or confirm what's currently available, call 855-937-2372 and ask specifically about Medicaid self-direction or consumer-directed personal-care services.
Free or low-cost respite in Texas comes from three main places: (1) Texas HHS — Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) and your local Area Agency on Aging, which can issue respite vouchers under the National Family Caregiver Support Program — call 855-937-2372; (2) the VA Caregiver Support Program (1-855-260-3274) for caregivers of enrolled veterans; and (3) the ARCH National Respite Locator at archrespite.org, which lists licensed Texas respite providers by ZIP code.
Texas veteran caregivers can access two main VA programs. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) pays a monthly stipend of roughly $1,750–$3,200 for caregivers of post-9/11 and (now expanded) earlier-era veterans with a 70%+ service-connected disability who need help with daily activities. The Program of General Caregiver Support Services offers free training, peer mentoring, and REACH VA stress coaching for caregivers of any era veteran enrolled in VA healthcare. Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 or visit caregiver.va.gov to apply.
Yes. The Alzheimer's Association Texas Chapter runs in-person and virtual support groups across the state and operates a free 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900 in English and Spanish. Local Area Agencies on Aging also coordinate dementia-specific groups through Texas's family caregiver support program — Texas HHS — Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) can refer you. For broader caregiver support groups (not dementia-specific), the Family Caregiver Alliance and Well Spouse Association also serve Texas families online.
Texas Legal Services Center / Lone Star Legal Aid / Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas is the main free civil legal aid resource for income-eligible Texas residents. They can help with advance directives, financial and healthcare powers of attorney, guardianship questions, Medicare and Medicaid appeals, and consumer or housing problems facing aging adults. Texas State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program provides separate free advocacy specifically for residents (and their families) in Texas nursing homes, assisted living, and other long-term care settings. Many Texas bar associations also run lawyer-referral services with reduced rates for caregivers and seniors.
988 is the free, confidential 24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline available to anyone in the U.S., including Texas family caregivers who feel overwhelmed, isolated, hopeless, or in emotional distress. Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. For non-crisis support — finding food, transportation, rent help, or caregiver respite — dial 211 to reach a Texas-trained United Way navigator who can route you to local programs.
Texas's Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and Area Agency on Aging (AAA) network is the single point of entry for county-level caregiver services. Call 855-937-2372 and you'll be routed to the ADRC or AAA serving your county. They handle benefits screening, options counseling, and direct connections to counseling, respite, training, transportation, and financial-help programs. Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Area Agency on Aging network oversees the network statewide and can also help if a local office is hard to reach.
Your care plan keeps every Texas caregiver resource — phone numbers, eligibility, and next steps — in one calm, organized place.
Always free — no credit card required.
Source: LTCareNav.com research, updated on July 2026. Programs, phone numbers, and eligibility rules change frequently — please verify contact information directly with each organization before referral. This page is informational and not legal, medical, or financial advice.