Discover everything the Lone Star State has to offer when you explore assisted living options in Texas. They say everything’s bigger in Texas, but what they don’t tell you is that your budget is bigger, too, thanks to a lower-than-average cost of living. Though the average temperature changes with the terrain, you’ll find anywhere you settle to be comfortable year round. Whether you choose a cozy rural community deep in the heart of Texas, a coastal enclave, or big-city luxury living, there’s something for everyone looking for assisted living services in Texas.
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Cost of assisted living in Texas vs. nearby states
Cost of assisted living in a selection of Texas cities
We noticed people seem to be searching for assisted living in these Texas cities more frequently than others: Austin, Houston, Lubbock, and San Antonio. We've provided their pricing here.
The cost of assisted living in Texas
Seniorly 2021 data shows that the average cost of assisted living in Texas is $3,745 per month. The national average monthly cost is $4,057. The average Texas cost is slightly less than the national average. Keep in mind as you start your senior living search that some areas (particularly those where the cost of living is high) will be more expensive than others. Explore our assisted living listings to start comparing properties, or get in touch with one of our local advisors to get expert advice on what you can afford in the areas in which you’re interested.
Assisted living communities can provide the peace of mind that comes from not worrying about home maintenance, chores, or errands, as well as help with personal care like grooming, eating, and other activities of daily living seniors might have trouble with. However, if your loved one requires nursing care, or has diagnosed Alzheimer's or dementia that has progressed to a certain point, they might need a skilled nursing facility/home health care, or memory care community instead. These types of care providers (and for that matter, in-home care) might cost more in Texas than assisted living facilities, but the important thing is that your loved one’s needs are cared for in order to provide them with the best quality of life.
If your loved one currently lives in a retirement community, ask whether it is a Continuing Care Retirement Community: these senior living properties are generally designed for residents to age in place. Seniors can get the different levels of care they need, from independent living to memory care, without having to move to a different community altogether.
Overall cost of living in Texas
Texas is in the lower half of the scale when it comes to average cost of living countrywide. Behind neighboring Louisiana, Texas’s cost of living index is 91.5, where the US national average is 104.63. This is largely due to lower-than-average costs for groceries, transportation, and utilities, and much lower-than-average housing when compared to the rest of the country.
Financial assistance for assisted living in Texas
Medicaid options for Texas seniors
According to benefits.gov, to be eligible for Texas Medicaid, you must be a resident of the state of Texas, a U.S. national, citizen, permanent resident, or legal alien, in need of health care/insurance assistance, whose financial situation would be characterized as low income or very low income. You must also be one of the following:
Pregnant, or
Be responsible for a child 18 years of age or younger, or
Blind, or
Have a disability or a family member in your household with a disability, or
Be 65 years of age or older.
Texas's Medicaid health care program is a State and Federal cooperative that pays for medical care for children and adults with limited income and resources. The program is supported by Federal and State taxes and designed to help a wide variety of families and individuals who need assistance.
Several Medicare programs can help Texas seniors get the care options they need, such as the Texas Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program, which provides seniors and their caregivers research and enroll in Medicaid and other health-related programs.
Non-Medicaid State assistance programs
There are a few non-Medicaid assistance programs in Texas, many of which are administered by one of the state’s 28 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). For more ways to find assisted living help, check the “Free assisted living resources in Texas” section below.
More ways to finance assisted living in Texas
There are several options available to finance assisted living for yourself or a loved one. Long-term care can be financed several ways:
Life insurance - Some life insurance policies have a provision for long-term care benefits.
Long-term care insurance - This type of insurance is intended to cover long-term health care needs by covering costs for assisted living or long-term care communities.
Pensions, 401K, and IRA - If you have a pension, 401k or an IRA to fall back upon this would be a great benefit in paying for assisted living costs.
Real Estate - Having a home is a great source of income. When it is time to move into assisted living the sale proceeds from your home can cover the costs.
Veteran’s benefits - While the VA will not directly cover the costs of assisted living, you can obtain help from the VA under the Veterans Aid & Attendance benefits. The Aid & Attendance benefits helps eligible veterans and their surviving spouses to pay for assistance for assistance of daily living (ADLs) activities. Aid & Attendance benefits are often referred to by other names such as “improved pension,” “VA assisted living benefit,” or “veterans elder care benefits.”
Free assisted living resources in Texas
Texas residents can explore state resources that can help answer your questions about eligibility for certain types of benefits and how they might apply to assisted living.
