If you are the spouse, child, or family member of an aging Texas veteran, you are a hero.
You are the one who manages the medications, coordinates the appointments, and provides the daily support your veteran needs to live with dignity. You are also, most likely, exhausted.
This exhaustion has a name: caregiver burnout. It’s a state of physical and emotional depletion that is incredibly common, yet rarely discussed. You may feel you can’t take a break because no one else can fill your role.
But what if you could get a break? What if there were a support system designed to give you a few hours off, paid for by a benefit your veteran has already earned?
This is called respite care, and it’s not a luxury—it’s a necessity for your own health and well-being. This guide will show you what caregiver support is available to Texas veterans and how you may be eligible for the help you deserve.
What is Respite Care?
Simply put, respite care is a short-term break for caregivers.
For many family caregivers, the idea of “respite” sounds like a complicated, formal service. In reality, it just means getting professional help with the exact tasks that are causing you the most stress.
Services that are often part of a respite plan include:
- Assistance with bathing and dressing
- Meal preparation
- Light housekeeping
- Companionship
- Running errands and transportation
- Medication reminders
Even a few hours of help a week can be enough to prevent burnout, allowing you to rest, run errands, or simply reclaim a part of your day for yourself.
The Caregiver’s Dilemma: Where to Find Help
As a caregiver in Texas, you are not alone, even though it often feels that way. The state and the VA both have programs designed to help.
- Texas State Resources: Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) offers support through local Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). These centers can help you find information on services like in-home personal care, transportation, and benefits counseling.
- VA Resources: The Department of Veterans Affairs has its own Caregiver Support Line (855-260-3274) and offers a range of services, including support programs and in-home help.
The problem is that navigating these systems can feel like a full-time job when you already have a full-time job as a caregiver.
The Solution: A “Little-Known” Benefit That Pays for Your Respite
For many Texas wartime veterans, the key to unlocking respite care is a “little-known” VA pension called the Aid and Attendance (A&A) Benefit.
This is a pension supplement that is specifically designed to pay for in-home care for veterans who need assistance with daily activities… the exact same activities that define respite care.
The best part? Surviving spouses of wartime veterans may also be eligible for this benefit, yet many are completely unaware it exists.
This benefit is the solution, but it comes with its own barrier: a complex VA application process. For a caregiver already at their limit, the thought of more paperwork is overwhelming.
This is where Helping Restore Ability (HRA) comes in.
How HRA Delivers Respite with No Out-of-Pocket Costs
At HRA, we’ve built our Veterans Program to solve this exact problem. We don’t just provide care; we are your expert navigators.
Here’s how our program works:
- We Help You Qualify: We connect you with the exclusive VetAssist Program, which helps you navigate the VA’s complex paperwork for the Aid and Attendance benefit.
- You Get Care Immediately: The VA application process can take a long time. HRA’s VetAssist Program provides an interest-free loan that allows us to place a trained, screened attendant in your home right away.
- There Are No Out-of-Pocket Costs: You get the help you need immediately, with no out-of-pocket costs. When the VA approves the benefit—which is paid retroactively—that money is used to repay the loan.
This means you get the respite you need—up to 19 hours a week of care —without the financial stress or the bureaucratic headache. Our attendant can take over the tasks of daily living, “alleviating the burden on family caregivers” and giving you the break you’ve earned.
Stop Waiting. Start Resting.
You cannot pour from an empty cup. As a caregiver, taking care of yourself is part of taking care of your veteran.
Let us help. You don’t have to be a full-time caregiver and a full-time VA benefits expert. That’s our job.
Click here to check your eligibility for the VetAssist Program today and take the first step toward getting the respite you deserve.