As the 11th largest city in the big state of Texas, Lubbock has plenty to offer for seniors who are looking for the right senior living option for the next phase of their lives.
Nursing home is often used as an overarching term to reference various senior living arrangements. But it actually means a skilled nursing facility where residents receive medical care on a round-the-clock basis. While some people do need that, it’s not the right option for everyone. Many people might need an assisted living community or memory care facility instead.
Assisted living in Lubbock helps residents with activities of daily living, such as showering or eating, and covers chores like housekeeping and laundry. Memory care facilities provide all of that, too, along with specialized care for residents with memory loss. A Place for Mom partners with 11 assisted living communities and memory care facilities within a 10-miles radius of Lubbock’s city center — and 73% of these facilities have on-site nursing care.
This guide provides an in-depth look at our partner assisted living and memory care facilities in Lubbock, along with information about cost and payment methods, applicable laws and regulations, transportation and health care options, and senior activities in Lubbock.
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Lubbock 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 monthly median cost of a nursing home in the Lubbock area is $7,239 for a private room and $5,475 for a semi-private room.[02] According to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data, the average actual monthly cost of assisted living or memory care in Lubbock at A Place Mom’s partner facilities is between $4,389 and $4,736.[01]
The monthly cost of a nursing home includes room and board, along with 24/7 medical care. The monthly cost of assisted living and memory care includes housing, help with daily activities and personal care, 24-hour supervision, planned activities, and meals. Memory care residents also receive care from staff specially trained in caring for those with memory loss.
When considering how to pay for a nursing home, assisted living facility or memory care facility, there are multiple options to look into. In the following sections, we’ll review private payment options, VA benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare — and discuss how each can help.
To cover the cost of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or memory care facilities, private payment options are where people tend to look first. Private pay means using money from things like a personal savings account, personal Social Security benefits, pensions, investment returns, or any of the following:
Number of veterans who live in Lubbock
About 22% of Lubbock veterans are 75+
If your loved one is searching for a nursing home, assisted living community, or memory care facility, you may find some benefits available if your loved one has veteran status. There are multiple Veterans Administration benefits, but here are a few of the most common:
You don’t have to go it alone. Veterans services officers are vetted by the VA and trained to help answer your questions and guide you through the claims process. Their help is free, and you can connect with them through veterans services organizations (VSOs) or the regional VA office.
Resources for Lubbock veterans
VA Regional Benefits Office
701 Clay Ave.
Waco, TX 76799
Phone: 800-698-2411
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Texas Veterans Commission
Phone: 512-463-6564
Email: info@tvc.texas.gov
American Legion Post 575
6628 66th St.
Lubbock, TX 79424
Phone: 806-794-7225
Disabled American Veterans RL Ferguson Chapter 44
7414 83rd St.
Lubbock, TX 79424
Phone: 806-771-7779
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2466
501 114th St. (CR7300)
Lubbock, TX 79452
Phone: 806-747-2668
Low-income Texas seniors can look to Medicaid for health insurance. If you meet the eligibility requirements, Medicaid will pay for nursing homes, but you can’t apply for coverage unless you’ve already been in a nursing home for 30 days or more. Additionally, a doctor has to determine that a Nursing Facility Level of Care (NFLC) is medically necessary.
The room and board costs of assisted living or memory care facilities are not covered by Medicaid. However, a home and community based services waiver can help your loved one get health delivered in those facilities if a medical professional says it is medically needed.
For seniors who already have Medicare, Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities (MEPD) is still an available option if your loved one’s income and assets are low.
The Your Texas Benefits portal is the place to start the application process for Medicaid. Before you start, you might want to look through the Texas “Pink Book,” the Texas Medicaid Reference Guide. If you have questions or need help, reach out to the Lubbock Aging and Disability Resource Center or the long-term care ombudsman.
Lubbock resident Medicaid resources
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
6302 Iola Ave.
Lubbock, TX 79424
Phone: 806-797-8870
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
South Plains Aging and Disability Resource Center
1323 58th St.
Lubbock, TX 79412
Phone: 855-937-2372
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
8240 Boston Ave.
Lubbock, TX 79423
Phone: 806-642-0450
Lubbock County Ombudsman: Lisa Hendricks
Email: lisa.hendricks@liferun.org
Skilled nursing care is covered by Medicare, the federal health insurance for those 65+, but not as a long-term care solution. Medicare only covers it in the short term for up to 100 days following a hospital stay. The custodial costs (room and board) at assisted living and memory care facilities are also not covered by Medicare. If a doctor says that health care needs to be delivered to seniors in assisted living or memory care facilities because it is medically necessary, then Medicare will cover that.
There are some additional programs that can provide cost savings for seniors. First, the Medicare Savings Programs can either reduce or entirely cover the cost of copayments, deductibles, and premiums. Second, the Extra Help program can provide prescription drug cost savings. Finally, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in Lubbock is a program designed to help seniors stay out of nursing homes by coordinating and delivering social services and health care to those eligible for the program.
You can help your loved one sign up online for Medicare or visit the Lubbock Social Security Administration (SSA) office in person. Download the enrollment forms to take with you. For guidance, The Texas Health Information, Counseling, and Advocacy Program (HICAP) runs the Texas Medicare Helpline. This program lets you talk to advisors at no cost to get answers to your questions and assistance with the application process. The long-term care ombudsman who is assigned to Lubbock County is another helpful resource.
Lubbock resident Medicare resources
Social Security Administration Office
5825 16th St.
Lubbock, TX 79416
Phone: 800-772-1213
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Texas Medicare Helpline
Phone: 800-252-9240
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
8240 Boston Ave.
Lubbock, TX 79423
Phone: 806-642-0450
Lubbock County Ombudsman: Lisa Hendricks
Email: lisa.hendricks@liferun.org
Silver Star PACE
4010 22nd St.
Lubbock, TX 79410
Phone: 806-740-1500
Email: mailbox@silverstar.org
The oversight of nursing homes, assisted living communities, and memory care facilities fall under the jurisdiction of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHS). HHS licenses and inspects all the state’s long-term care facilities.
In addition to state laws and regulations, nursing homes must also adhere to federal laws. Nursing homes are for people who need the round-the-clock care of licensed nurses. Medical care and personal care are both provided. While Texas laws don’t require a specific ratio of nurses to residents, a sufficient number of licensed nurses and nurse aides are required to be available at all times to provide the care residents need. Doctors are also required to visit once a month for a resident’s first 90 days and every other month beyond that. Nursing home residents have a long list of rights facilities must respect and follow.
Assisted living facilities (ALF) in Texas must follow licensing requirements and regulations outlined in this Texas Administrative Code and this Health and Safety Code. ALFs are required to provide housing, meals, assistance with activities of daily living, supervision, and medication administration to their residents. Assisted living facilities require a Type A license from HHS, which means the facility houses residents who can follow directions in case of emergency and don’t require help during overnight hours. However, staff will still be on hand to assist 24/7 if the need arises.
A memory care facility in Lubbock would need a Type B Assisted Living Facility license and would be considered a Certified Alzheimer’s Assisted Living Facility. This type of license is for facilities where the residents do need help during the night or during an emergency — and wouldn’t comprehend or follow directions.
With this license, there are additional rules that apply. Regulations state that memory care facilities must have security measures, such as controlled egress exits, to keep residents safe in case they try to wander. Memory care facilities must also provide specific activities appropriate for engaging residents with memory issues. Additionally, specialized training must be provided to staff members on how to properly provide care for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
On average, nursing homes are inspected once a year, while assisted living and memory care facilities are inspected once every two years. Complaints must be inspected as received. To take a look at the results of the inspections, click on this long-term care provider search, which provides information on all three types of facilities in Lubbock.
Texas Department of Health and Human Services
North Austin Complex
4601 W. Guadalupe St.
Austin, TX 78751
Phone: 512-424-6500
The city of Lubbock does not have mandatory COVID-19 prevention guidelines for nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or memory care facilities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does, however, provide some guidelines for COVID-19 prevention.
Vaccinations. The Lubbock Health Department has COVID-19 vaccinations on offer, and the CDC highly recommends receiving these vaccinations.
Masking. Wearing a mask is not mandated, but the CDC recommends it in crowded spaces.
Facility cleanliness. Improving ventilation is something suggested by the CDC as a COVID-19 preventative measure.
Quarantining. The CDC recommends five-day isolation for people who have a positive COVID-19 test result.
In Northwest Texas, you can find plenty of options for your loved one to receive the type of care needed. If your loved one speaks English as a second language, you might even want to look for one of our partner facilities where Spanish is also spoken — that’s the case at 64% of our partner facilities.
A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with nursing homes, but we do have 11 senior care facility partners in the Lubbock area. While five of these offer assisted living only, and two specialize in memory care, the rest offer a combination of arrangements. One combines the option for independent living or assisted living in one facility, while three others offer assisted living and memory care within the same facility.
In our partner assisted living and memory care facilities, your loved one will have laundry, housekeeping, and meals all taken care of. Some of our facilities even offer extra conveniences like personal delivery services so that everyday needs — like soap and toilet paper — can be delivered right to your loved one’s door.
At our partner assisted living facilities in Lubbock, it doesn’t matter what time of day or night, someone is awake and ready to assist your loved one. Almost all of our partners bring in visiting specialists like podiatrists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. In fact, 91% of our partners also have visiting nurses, while 73% offer on-site nursing.
In all our partner facilities, safety is always top of mind. In memory care, you can be sure your loved one will be kept safe from wandering while still being given as much freedom as possible, with more than half of our partner facilities offering secure communities.
With an activity director on staff at more than half our partner facilities, your loved one will have plenty of opportunities to make friends at events like art classes, holiday parties, summer barbecues, or trivia games. There are plenty of places to hang out with friends both new and old. Watch a movie in the theater room, play a hand of cards in the game room, or relax in the library — all of these common areas are available at more than half our partner facilities.
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Number of seniors over the age of 65 currently living in Lubbock
Median annual income for Lubbock seniors 65 and older
Lubbock is home to the area’s largest health system, which means your loved one will have no trouble finding the right health care for their needs.
Covenant Medical Center is part of the region’s largest health system, and it has been awarded by U.S. News & World Report with the ranking of high performing in eight different specialty areas and procedures.
As the main teaching hospital of Texas Tech University’s Health Sciences Center, University Medical Center is known for its nationally-recognized clinical trials. UMC has also been ranked as a high performer by U.S. News & World Report in seven different specialty areas.
Getting to medical appointments or taking care of errands is made easy with the free transportation offered by 73% of our partner assisted living and memory care facilities and the at-cost transportation available at 46% of our partner facilities.
But if you need other options for your loved one, there are a few. Lubbock has a public transportation system called Citibus that operates on nine fixed routes every day but Sundays. If you can’t get where you need to go on a fixed route, you can use Citibus On-Demand. For paratransit needs, CitiAccess is the Lubbock service that can help. For details on how to use any of Lubbock’s public transportation options, review this Guide to Ride.
If you have a smartphone, you can use Uber or Lyft to hail a ride. But if you don’t, you can use GoGoGrandparent for on-demand rides that will arrive in less than 15 minutes. Caregivers can also call 855-464-6872 (extension 57129) to set up rides for loved ones through GoGoGrandparent. The service is available 24/7 but does require a monthly membership fee.
The Hub City’s claim to fame is live, original music. From Rock to Country to Tejano, the Lubbock Cultural District prides itself on being the center of it all. It’s there, in fact, that you’ll find the West Texas Walk of Fame featuring a statue of Buddy Holly. The rock-and-roller was born in Lubbock, and the city commemorates him at The Buddy Holly Center, where seniors ages 60+ can get a discount and check out the memorabilia and exhibits.
Over at Buddy Holly Hall, enjoy a Broadway play, a comedy show, or a concert. If your loved one can’t get enough live music, head over to Buddy Holly Avenue and visit the 1930s Cactus Theater. In addition to being on the National Register of Historic Places, it’s another hot spot for live music.
If your loved one is looking to learn something interesting or experience something new, Lubbock has several museums and attractions that might fit the bill:
If you’d like your loved one to spend some time under the vast Texas sky, head out to the Sam Wahl Recreation Area, Lubbock’s Lake Alan Henry, or Buffalo Springs Lake for some fishing, a nice stroll, or just take in the beautiful waterfront views.
To take part in some local traditions, enjoy the Lubbock Downtown Farmers Market on any Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the season. You can also hit the First Friday Art Trail, which happens from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Friday. Use a free trolley to get around easier. Finally, take in football, baseball, or any number of sports while cheering on the local Texas Tech University Red Raiders.
The Isle at Raider Ranch, Mackenzie Court and Brookdale Remington Park are the top-rated Nursing Homes facilities near Lubbock, TX. These Nursing Homes facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Nursing Homes in Lubbock is $4,321 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Genworth Financial. (2021). Cost of Care Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran Status (S2101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and Sex (S0101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
U.S. News & World Report. (2023). Best Hospitals in Lubbock.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Genworth Financial. (2021). Cost of Care Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran Status (S2101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and Sex (S0101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
U.S. News & World Report. (2023). Best Hospitals in Lubbock.