Houston, TX Assisted Living: Search Near You, How to Pay, Licensing, Local Resources, and Questions to Ask
Houston is a beautiful location for those looking at assisted living services. Ranked as the second-best place to live in Texas, Houston attracts innovation, outdoor enthusiasts, and retirees. Assisted living facilities in Houston could accept State Medicaid, private payers, and long-term care insurance which helps to relieve the financial burden of senior care, and could be more cost effective than home care.
Assisted Living Communities near Houston, Texas
Brookdale At Home Houston
Houston, Texas 77077
Avalon Memory Care Cypress Creek
Houston, Texas 77070
Windermere Estates Senior Living
Houston, Texas 77065
Willow Care Cottages
Spring, Texas 77401
Unlimited Care Assisted Living Cottages
Kingwood, Texas 77339
Transitional Learning Center At Galveston
Houston, Texas 77058
The Villas Of Scr At The Heights
Houston, Texas 77008
The Villas Of Scr At Cinco Ranch
Katy, Texas 77450
The Heritage At Eldridge Parkway
Houston, Texas 77077
The Harbor Assisted Living
Pearland, Texas 77581
About Assisted Living in Houston, TX
For an individual who requires physical or cognitive care, providing home care can be difficult and costly. Assisted living communities do an incredible job filling that need. In Texas, the department of Health and Human Services licenses assisted living facilities based on the required needs of the residents. There are three types of licensed assisted living facilities which provide a range of physical and mental healthcare. Levels of senior care range from minimal, such as providing meals and housing, to advanced care, such as mobility assistance and medication administration. Assisted living facilities provide individualized health management in a comfortable setting and focus on maintaining independence, privacy, and dignity. Adult care homes relieve the burden of home caregivers and offer seniors a more enriching quality of life.
Considerations When Looking for Senior Care in Houston, TX
Located in Harris County, Houston is the most populated city in Texas with more than 2.2 million residents, which makes it one of the largest cities in the United States. The warm climate and natural beauty attract year-round visitors and residents from a variety of cultures. The attractions of Houston include world-class arts, industry, sporting events, galleries, and award-winning cuisine. Houston locals have been known to enjoy the many events in the theater and historic districts as well as the museum district which contains nineteen museums, galleries, and community spaces. Houston is also known for the Space Center and NASA’s coastal visitor center and astronaut training facility. These features and more have led to Houston becoming a preferred location for senior citizens to retire, so the need for senior care in Houston is significant.
Cities Near Houston, TX
- Winnie, TX
- Hardin, TX
- Lake Jackson, TX
- East Bernard, TX
- Shepherd, TX
- Galveston, TX
- Hempstead, TX
- Danbury, TX.
The Cost of Assisted Living in Houston, TX
The average cost associated with assisted living in Houston, TX is $4,245/month. Benefits of assisted living are being able to provide health services to those who may need assistance with the activities of daily living. Demand is on the rise, and so too is the cost of assisted living facilities. Accordingly, costs have risen an average of 4.65% since 2020, and the national average for a private, one-bedroom with round the clock care was reported to be $54,000 annually in 2021.
You want to consider your payment options for assisted living, memory care, and care homes. For these services, Medicare is NOT an option for payment.
The most common payment for these services would be out of pocket Private Pay and assessing a combination of retirement funds, personal savings, and pension payments.
Medicaid can also be an option, be sure to see if you or a loved one qualifies.
Long-Term Care insurance is also a possible option in cases of chronic conditions, be sure to see if you or a loved one qualifies.
For our Veterans and spouses of veterans, be sure to assess Veteran Aid and your eligibility for these benefits.
Medicare – NO:
- Medicare does NOT pay for Assisted Living.
- People 65 years and older and individuals with end stage renal disease are eligible for Medicare benefits, no matter their income.
- Coverage is meant for people in need of short-term care.
Private pay – YES:
- Many families pay for assisted living with private funds.
- Private pay can be a combination of retirement funds, personal savings, and pension payments.
- Family members may contribute funds to pay for assisted living or other senior housing and care.
Medicaid – MAYBE:
- Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans. Eligible participants include: low-income adults, elderly adults and people with disabilities.
- Medicaid is administered by state, according to federal requirements. The program is funded jointly by each state and the federal government.
- Every state has their own individual Medicaid assistance program.
- National guidelines are in place do decipher how states must spend Medicaid money, but with allowances toward the guidelines.
- The state determines what levels of care will be covered by Medicaid, who is eligible, and how much the state will reimburse the care community.
- If you are unsure whether you qualify for Medicaid, you should apply. You may be eligible depending on your household income, family size, age, disability and other factors.
Long-term Care Insurance – MAYBE:
Long term care insurance is a great way to pay for assisted living, and planning ahead is important when considering how to pay for senior housing and care. Nearly 75% of people over the age of 65 will require long-term care and services at some point. Buying into long-term care insurance when a person is in their 50s and 60s is the most common time to do so.
- Long-term care insurance helps cover the costs of chronic medical conditions.
- Individuals and couples with the ability to pay into long-term care insurance have the advantage of a head start in allocating funds for senior care.
Veteran Aid and Assistance – MAYBE:
This benefit is available to some military veterans and surviving spouses who live in an assisted living community and those who have in-home care.
- There are specific guidelines, but a veteran may qualify for as much as $2,050 each month.
- A veteran with a sick spouse may be eligible for $1,600 per month.
- If a veteran has passed, their surviving spouse can qualify for $1,300 per month.
Local Hospital and Healthcare Providers in Houston, TX
Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center
101 Bates Ave, Houston, TX 77030
Ben Taub General Hospital
1504 Ben Taub Loop, Houston, TX 77030
Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center
10655 Steepletop Dr, Houston, TX 77065
HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center
1313 Hermann Dr, Houston, TX 77004
Houston Methodist Hospital
18500 Katy Frwy. Houston, TX 77094
Resources and Links- Texas
Elder Abuse Prevention focuses on the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults who are elderly or have disabilities and who live in the community. Any adult who has a disability or who is age 65 or older that is in a state of abuse, neglect, or exploitation may be eligible to receive adult protective services.
Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program This program offers counseling and assistance on a variety of topics including: Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare Supplemental Insurance- long term care financing options and other health insurance options.
Care Connection Aging and Disability Center connects people with services that help them maintain or improve their quality of life. Whether you are looking for information for yourself, a family member, a patient, or a friend, we will help you identify the right services for your needs.
Eldercare Locator is a nationwide resource that connects older Americans and their caregivers with trustworthy local support resources. Connect with services such as meals, home care or transportation, or a caregiver education or respite from caregiving responsibilities. The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the Administration on Aging (AoA), an agency of the U.S. Administration for Community Living.
Medicare provides a search feature to find & compare providers near you, most senior housing and care providers are included on CareAvailability.com. Find & compare plans in your area. Determine if you qualify for premium savings
Medicaid offers information on how to apply for Medicaid, eligibility criteria, links to local state offices, and additional resources.
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Whether you are living with Alzheimer’s or caring for someone with the disease, information and resources are available.
Questions to Ask
Finding an assisted living community can be overwhelming. Here are some tips on things to be observant of:
- Make sure the facility is clean and well maintained. You can tell a lot about the operation by noting what is clean and maintained. Are doorknobs loose or damaged? Do you see any frayed carpet or trip hazards?
- Visit during lunch hour to observe what the residents are eating. Ask questions about the nutrition program. Is there diversity in meals, healthy fruits and vegetables served at all meals, drink options?
- Speak to residents and/or family members to learn their perspective.
- Ask about staff and resident engagement. Get a feel for how staff interact with residents.
- Ask about the life enrichment programs. Activities are crucial when it comes to quality of life and play a key role in care for older adults.
- And finally (along with a plethora of more things to consider), get to know the leadership in the building. If you feel good around the Executive Director, Head Nurse, Lead Activities Director and even the Chef or Janitor, it is a good sign you can trust them with the care of your loved one.