As the largest city in Texas, Houston is home to many seniors and a range of assisted living facilities. The city draws in retired seniors with its diverse senior living scene, while its stunning parks, cultural activities, and top-rated medical centers serve as an added bonus. Houston’s senior-friendly urban sprawl offers choices for retirees. A Place for Mom partners with 31 assisted living facilities throughout the most popular neighborhoods within downtown Houston’s 10-mile radius.
To help you wade through the abundance of assisted living options, we’ve scored Houston assisted living facilities using our 20+ years of experience in the senior living industry, data on senior living facilities across the country, and feedback from families like yours. We’ve also collected information on our partnered communities in Houston to compile this guide on local assisted living costs, payment methods, facility regulations, local senior-friendly activities, and more.
We are very happy with Atria Westchase. I would rate them a five in all categories. The Atria is always spotless. The nursing staff is responsive and very kind. The administration is professional and keeps...
They have been real good to me here and I get taken care of very good too. They do a lot of activities every week here too. The activity guy [name removed] keeps everyone busy. We eat very well and they do a...
The staff at Solana Vintage Park have been amazing partners in our journey to provide care for my Father-in-law after he had multiple mini strokes. They have gone above and beyond in helping us with...
I know that it is difficult to balance activities that are basic that everyone can do with one's that would interest more capable residents. Staff have been very friendly. Overall I would recommend...
What we like the most about The Heritage of Clearlake is that the staff encourage the residents to participate in activities. They also have themed monthly family dinners
I give a 5 for all now but in the beginning it was quite confusing regarding medication administration. They kept messing up and could have potentially caused a medical emergency. We visit each week and the...
I would highly recommend Brookdale. The care my mother in law receives is outstanding. The staff really know her and treat her extremely well. We filled out a long questionnaire about her past, the staff...
Everybody was so caring there. My dad had struggled so long with his disabilities as he refused any help at all in his old assisted living facility as it unfortunately was not run very well. The care staff...
Lower score for cleanliness, but they changed staff and the cleaning situation with her room is improved. The food is bland but they are feeding a lot of old people so there is not much seasoning.
My mother broke her hip and was kicked out the hospital very quickly. A neighbor moved to independent living at The Buckingham, but we didn't know they have rehab after injury. She went in weak never...
It (nor any similar business) is not perfect, but they do appear to genuinely care about the residents. Based off of our experience, I would recommend them to others looking.
We have been pleased with the care Mom has received and we can text or call the owners anytime. We consider them friends, as well as many of the staff. We liked the smaller environment - only 18 residents...
I am very impressed with Light Heart Memory Care- Webster. The place is always clean. It feels clean and fresh. It's not a fancy place like some of the others, but the ratio of patients to caregivers is so...
My loved one is currently a resident at Brookdale Champions and her experience has been great so far. The staff and care services are great. The cleanliness and friendliness are also great. Anytime that we...
The facility in the memory care wing is a little dated but the level of care from the staff makes up for it. I feel like they truly love my Mom. It’s a great value and Mom enjoys the food. The nurses and...
It is apparent they genuinely care about their residents. They strive to meet all of their needs: physical, emotional, and social. Offering options for most meals would be helpful.
We had to move Mom from another facility! It was a difficult decision because she loved her caregivers & had made good friends with some of the residents.The new owners gave us no choice because of some of...
The Abbey at Westminster is such a welcoming community. Every one from the front desk restaurant personel and sales/office staff have a very caring attitude. They have cultivated a caring environment.
The staff has been amazing Only thing is that memory care could use more staff. The Oaks needs to have more engaging activities for those that are mobile. Again this appears to be a staffing issue. It is...
Very clean. No odors, ever. The food is great and tailored to the residents physical limitations. The rooms and shower facilities are a generous size. The staff is great. I wish they had emergency...
Heritage of Meyerland is a good facility for a fair price. It is exactly what my loved one needs at this time. The room she has in memory care is a perfect size for what she needs. It has a private...
Overall, we have been very pleased with the care of my brother. He has been taken care of better than the hospital and skilled nursing facility where he had temporary stays. Braeswood Estates has proven to...
Rooms are nicely sized. It's not a very big place, but this means that the staff to resident ratio is excellent. I visit my mom every week and she is always clean, fed, and seems to generally be very well...
The staff at Autumn Years Assisted Living Facility are very professional, friendly, and accommodating. The facility is extremely clean. It's the closest place to home we found.
I am so glad that I chose Loving Care Cottages. The staff is amazing. They are kind, compassionate, and attentive. They go above and beyond to make sure that my mother is comfortable and happy. The facility...
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Houston community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
The cost of assisted living in Houston varies depending on the selected neighborhood, preferred floor plan, and required level of care. The median rent cost, not including any added care or amenities, was $5,355 per month at partner assisted living facilities within a 10-mile radius of downtown Houston — according to A Place for Mom’s 2022-2023 proprietary data.
Below, you’ll find figures that represent baseline cost averages and don’t necessarily reflect total move-in costs, add-ons, and fees.
There are several ways a person can pay for assisted living, so it’s important to maximize options by planning early. Many families use a mixture of private methods and public sources to finance assisted living costs. In this section, we’ve compiled a variety of methods and resources to help you pay for assisted living in Houston.
Private pay methods are usually considered first when families begin crafting a payment plan for assisted living. Your loved one’s methods will depend on their financial situation and can include the following:
It’s also noteworthy that Texas is one of the few U.S. states without a personal income tax, saving seniors from tax burden on their Social Security benefits and other retirement income.[01,02] And, if a senior’s medical expenses total more than 7.5% of their adjusted gross income, they may be tax-deductible on federal tax returns.
The number of veterans who live in Houston, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
Approximately 45% of Houston veterans are 65+, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
Houston is a part of Harris County, Texas’ largest county, making it home to the largest veteran population in Texas. The Harris County Veterans Services Department benefit advisors can advise and assist veterans with a number of services — applying for pensions and benefits, processing VA claims, filing appeals, and more.
If a veteran senior qualifies for a VA pension, the senior can use those funds for assisted living. Additionally, disabled veterans may also be entitled to added benefits like the Aid and Attendance on top of their pension, which can be used to fund any costs associated with assisted living.
Resources for Houston veterans
2929 McKinney St.
Houston, TX 77003
Phone: 281-876-6600
Email: vsdinfo@harriscountytx.gov
6900 Almeda Road
Houston, TX 77030
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Amazing Soldiers is a nonprofit program dedicated to providing resources and reliable services to veterans in need of support or assistance.
3880 Greenhouse Road, Suite 409
Houston, TX 77084
Phone: 346-900-4551
Email: amazingsoldiers16@gmail.com
TVC advocates for veterans, their families, and their surviving spouses in Texas. They offer eight programs dedicated to helping veterans obtain benefits, file claims, and more.
In Houston, most seniors who receive Medicaid get their coverage through STAR+PLUS — Texas’ managed care program specifically for adults who have disabilities and/or are 65 or older. In order for STAR+PLUS to cover health care and long-term care costs in an assisted living facility, the facility must be licensed and certified by Texas Health and Human Services (commonly referred to as HHS).
Additional medical and nonmedical assisted living services can be covered through Home and Community Based Services (also known as HCBS) — STAR+PLUS’ Medicaid waiver program that can be used in assisted living facilities contracted with a resident’s managed care provider. This HCBS waiver enables individuals to reside and receive care in a residential setting like an assisted living community rather than an institutional setting like a nursing home.
Medicaid’s Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program can help cover costs for the following types of assisted living services:
Â
Texas Health and Human Services assesses an individual’s need for the HCBS program when they apply for Medicaid. To qualify for HCBS, seniors must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Â
Note that not all Houston assisted living facilities qualify as an HCBS setting. In order to qualify, assisted living facilities must be integrated in a greater community and provide the following opportunities for interested residents:
Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance to adults 65+ and individuals with disabilities. It doesn’t cover room and board costs in assisted living facilities, but it can help cover some medically necessary care costs at an assisted living facility.
Below, you’ll find Texas programs that can help you save on Medicare deductibles and fees, as well as help you apply for Medicare:
Â
Part A covers hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care services. Part B covers certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventative services.
To qualify for the savings program, seniors must meet certain income requirements.
Houston resident Medicare resources
Print or get a paper form by mail
An ombudsman advocates for assisted living residents’ rights and helps families learn about assisted living options and payment methods.
Greg Shelley, Harris County Long-Term Care Ombudsman
6901 Bertner Ave., Suite 624
Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 715-500-9930
Email: Gregory.K.Shelley@uth.tmc.edu
Phone: 832-393-4301
Email: aging@houstontx.gov
Dial 2-1-1
Visit the federal Medicare website
Texas residents who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid can receive dual coverage through one Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP). This program is called the Dual Eligible Integrated Care Demonstration Project, commonly known as “the Demonstration.”
The Demonstration strives to improve service coordination, enhance quality of care, eliminate cost shifting between Medicare and Medicaid, and reduce costs for both the Texas and federal governments.
Eligibility criteria for the Demonstration includes the following:
Â
Dual-eligible individuals should be automatically enrolled and may choose to opt out of the Demonstration after they receive a letter notifying them of their enrollment. For additional information, email Managed_Care_Initiatives@hhsc.state.tx.us.
In the state of Texas, all assisted living facilities must be licensed by Texas Health and Human Services (also known as HHS) in order to operate and house residents.
Texas Health and Human Services refers to assisted living facilities as ALFs and categorizes them into two types — A and B. Type A ALFs provide care to residents who don’t require routine attendance overnight and are capable of following directions in emergency situations. Type B ALFs care for residents who require nighttime attendance and assistance for evacuation during emergencies.[05]
All licensed assisted living facilities must pass a life safety code, physical plant inspection, and health inspection before they are officially licensed. After the initial inspection, facilities are inspected at least once every two years. The life safety code is used to ascertain whether the facility is built to safely house residents, and the health inspection helps confirm that a facility is equipped to protect residents’ health.[06]
Texas Health and Human Services inspections check for the following in a facility and more:
To access a licensed assisted living facility’s most recent inspection report and general facility information, visit the Texas Health and Human Services Long-term Care Provider Search. To request any information not found on the site, email RSLTCR.RecordsMgmt@hhsc.state.tx.us.
4601 W. Guadalupe St.
Austin, TX 78751
Phone: 512-424-6500
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Houston itself doesn’t have any COVID-19 regulations in place for assisted living facilities; however, the Harris County Public Health Department provides COVID-19 updates and general information regarding testing, vaccines, and more.
For the state, Texas Health and Human Services (also known as HHS) developed a COVID-19 response plan for assisted living facilities. They regularly provide updates through COVID-19 FAQs to help facilities stay up to date with practices.
HHS requires assisted living facilities to develop their own policies and procedures regarding masks, social distancing, and additional protocols for personal protective equipment (PPE) to help ensure resident safety. They must also allow all residents to have visitors, as it is a resident right.
Texas COVID-19 guidelines include the following:
Vaccinations. COVID-19 vaccinations are voluntary for residents and not required for visitors.
Masking. Residents and visitors aren’t required to wear masks unless indicated in the facility’s infection control policies and procedures.
Facility cleanliness. Frequently touched surfaces must be disinfected often, alcohol-based hand sanitizers must be available, and sinks must be well-stocked with soap and paper towels.
Staff safety. Staff must wear personal protective equipment when necessary and follow infection control policies and procedures during an outbreak.
Houston’s population of 2.2 million is quickly rising and contributing to the growth of the aging population because many seniors prefer to remain close to their families. Houston seniors often seek assisted living options in neighborhoods close to their loved ones. Luckily, the city has no shortage of options. From luxury communities downtown to traditional communities in suburban neighborhoods, seniors have a range of options to choose from. Check out some unique Houston, Texas, assisted living features below.
Due to high temperatures in Houston, many residents prefer to have as many on-site activities, amenities, and conveniences as possible. Our in-network communities do a great job of this, as many of them offer everything from beauty salons and fitness centers to theaters and libraries. Texas regulations hold assisted living communities to a high standard, as they require communities to provide weekly social programming. Many communities take this a step further and provide a rotating calendar of events and activities on a monthly basis.
Many Houston families and residents feel safer when care is available on site. Especially when an on-site medical director oversees care plans and an on-call doctor is available to attend to any urgent needs. Approximately 35% of our in-network communities have an on-site medical director, while 80% of them have an on-call doctor. Several communities also have visiting dentists, nurses, and physical, occupational, and speech therapists. These visits are covered by Medicare when medically necessary for residents.
More than half of our in-network communities employ staff members that speak at least one other language, with Spanish being the most popular one. A small number of our Houston partner communities also employ staff fluent in sign language, Mandarin, and French. Additionally, several communities enable residents to practice their faith by offering a place of worship, devotional services, religious study groups, or visiting chaplains. Some communities are even faith-based, enabling seniors to reside and practice their faith with like-minded individuals.
As seniors age, many of them prefer to move away from Houston traffic. Luckily, there are several suburbs nearby with a range of assisted living options. In recent years, Sugar Land and Katy have become some of Houston’s most popular suburbs and retirement destinations. These suburban cities come with a lot of open space, enabling seniors to live in large, nationally recognized, and award-winning assisted living communities that house unique amenities and multiple care types under one roof.
Know where to start.
Identify the right care for your loved one with our free assessment.
See what you can afford.
Understand cost and payment for long-term care based on your loved one's needs.
Find top facilities for you.
Free, personalized guidance from our Senior Living Advisors can help you narrow your search.
Tour your favorite facilities.
Our free touring checklist can help you choose the right community.
Number of 65+ seniors in Houston, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
Percentage of 65+ Houston seniors that speak a language other than English at home
Percentage of 65+ Houston seniors who have a disability
Percentage of 65+ seniors that are not in the workforce
Houston is a health care hub for veterans and seniors. The city is home to two nationally ranked hospitals and the top-ranked hospital in Texas. Take a look at some information on the top hospitals in Houston:
Houston Methodist Hospital is the No. 1 hospital in Texas and Houston, according to U.S. News and World Report. It nationally ranks in 10 specialties, including No. 22 in the nation for geriatrics, No. 11 for orthopedics, and No. 15 in neurology.
Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center is the No. 2 hospital in Houston, and it nationally ranks in six specialties, including No. 43 in the nation for geriatrics, according to U.S. News and World Report.
Memorial Hermann Hospital is No. 3 in Houston, and it’s high performing in seven specialties, including diabetes, orthopedics, and cardiology, according to U.S. News and World Report.
MD Anderson is the No. 1 cancer center in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report. It’s the largest cancer center in America and is also nationally ranked in geriatrics, diabetes, and urology.
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is a popular veteran hospital in Texas. It is known for offering a wide array of services, including health, legal, and caregiver resources.
Assisted living facilities are home to seniors with a range of mobility needs. Some seniors are wheelchair users or require transfer assistance, while others just need some safety accommodations like grab bars, ramps, etc. To accommodate these various needs, most assisted living facilities provide their own complimentary transportation, at-cost transportation services, or easy access to public options.
Houston public transportation options include METRO, which offers buses, rails, and paratransit services to Harris County residents. Another option is RIDES, offered through Harris County Transit, for residents who aren’t able to access METRO services. RIDES service is provided to qualifying individuals with disabilities and 65+ adults.
For active seniors who’d like to explore Houston with friends and families, the following scores from WalkScore may be useful. They’re each out of 100 and are based on Houston’s public density, walking routes, transportation services, biking trails, and more:
As Texas’ largest city, the saying “everything’s bigger in Texas” stands true in Houston. The city expands over 426,000 acres and is home to a large number of attractions and activities. Because mobility levels and interests vary in assisted living residents, we’ve compiled a range of activities suitable for a variety of seniors below.
Atria Westchase, Novellus Kingwood Assisted Living and Memory Care and Creekside Alzheimer's Special Care Center are the top-rated Assisted Living facilities near Houston, TX. These Assisted Living facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Assisted Living in Houston is $4,675 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
TurboTax. (2022, December 1). States with the lowest taxes and the highest taxes.
Fritts, J. (2020, August 9). Does your state tax social security benefits? Tax Foundation.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2022). STAR+PLUS, STAR+PLUS Client FAQs.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2016, March 1). A-3300, Home and Community-Based Services waiver programs. In Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities Handbook.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2022).Assisted living facilities (ALF).
Assisted Living Facility Licensing Act, Health Facilities § 247.001 (2021).
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population 65 years and over in the United States (S0103) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
TurboTax. (2022, December 1). States with the lowest taxes and the highest taxes.
Fritts, J. (2020, August 9). Does your state tax social security benefits? Tax Foundation.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2022). STAR+PLUS, STAR+PLUS Client FAQs.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2016, March 1). A-3300, Home and Community-Based Services waiver programs. In Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities Handbook.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2022).Assisted living facilities (ALF).
Assisted Living Facility Licensing Act, Health Facilities § 247.001 (2021).
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population 65 years and over in the United States (S0103) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.