Texas Assisted Living

What Is It Exactly?

Texas, also known as the “Lone Star” state, is home to many assisted living facilities throughout the state. There are about 1700 Assisted living facilities in Texas that provide personal care services catered to seniors in the community. Read More

These care facilities in Texas provide services to adults who require access to care on a 24-hour basis, but do not require nursing intervention. Assisted living facilities, also known as ALFs, in Texas, provide individualized health and personal care assistance in a homelike setting with an emphasis of personal dignity, autonomy, independence, and privacy.

Assisted Living Costs in Texas

The average cost of care in Texas is $3,336 per month. Throughout Texas, care can start as low as $1,200 and go as high as $6,500 per month (source: Genworth Financial). This range in cost will be determined by a variety of factors including the senior\’s care needs.

Paying for Care

Assisted Living is usually paid out of pocket by the resident or their family. Long Term Care Insurance does help pay for a good portion of the assisted living costs. In addition, if the resident was a war veteran or has a spouse, Veteran’s Aid and Attendance may also cover a portion of the monthly costs based on certain criteria.

Should you or your loved one still have difficulty paying for care, the Department of Aging and Disability Services can provide you with information on affordable senior housing.

Cost Factors

Prior to selecting an assisted living facility, the admissions staff will complete and assessment to determine the condition and care needs of your loved one. This assessment will be a big determining factor in the monthly cost of care.

Other factors that play into the monthly cost will be the size of the care home or community, where it is located, privacy preferences (private/shared room and/or bathroom), years in business, experience of the staff, transportation and other amenities and services.

Provided Services

Assisted living facilities in Texas provide food, shelter and care to four or more seniors. Depending on preference, seniors can choose from either large-apartment like communities to residential care homes (Board and Cares). These 2 types of care facilities have very different characteristics. The large communities can offer frequent and daily socialization and activities where the small, residential care homes provide a more home-like, intimate setting just like home.

Senior care services can include meals, bathing, dressing, toileting, and administering or supervising medication, which is also referred to as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Assisted living facilities in Texas not only provide seniors with great care but also enriching activities and programs suited for seniors with different lifestyles.

State Licensing and Regulation

Assisted living facilities in Texas are regulated by the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS). This government agency in charge of regulating, licensing and inspecting each care facility. From the setup of the facility to any possible complains, the Department of Aging and Disability Services is responsible in ensuring all facilities are up to standard and creating a safe and enriching environment for its residents.

There are three different types of assisted living facilities in the state of Texas:

Type A facilities may care for senior residents who are physically and mentally capable of evacuating the facility unassisted, and do not require routine attendance during sleeping hours, and are capable of following directions in an emergency.

Type B care facilities may care for residents who may require staff assistance to evacuate, are incapable of following directions under emergency conditions, require staff attendance during nighttime sleeping hours, and require assistance transferring to and from a wheelchair.

Type C Assisted Living facilities in Texas are four-bed facilities that meet the minimum standards for enrollment with the Department of Aging and Disability Services as an adult foster care facility.