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With a population of 2,320,268, Houston is the largest city in the state of Texas and the most populous city in the region. About one in 10 Houston residents are aged 65 and older, and seniors here have access to a number of nationally ranked health care facilities including Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. Year-round temperatures in Houston tend to be mild, with temps rarely falling below 32 degrees or rising about 100 degrees, making this city a great place for seniors who enjoy being outside. The city is filled with museums, shopping districts and parks, including the popular Space Center Houston, a huge museum that highlights the region’s long history of space exploration.
According to the Genworth 2019 Cost of Care Survey, the average monthly cost of assisted living care in Houston is $3,750. Actual costs are set by each facility and may be significantly higher or lower than the citywide average.
Hundreds of thousands of American seniors utilize assisted living, a figure that is only growing. For these seniors, assisted living combines residential housing,assistance in daily activities, and some healthcare. These communities also strive to provide an atmosphere that is comfortable and engaging for their residents… Read More >
At a monthly average of $3,750, the cost of assisted living care in Houston is the same as the statewide average and $301 below the national average of $4,051. Costs are lower in the neighboring states of Oklahoma ($3,518), Arkansas ($3,175, and Louisiana ($3,650). Assisted living costs are higher in New Mexico at $4,100 per month.
Although the statewide average cost of assisted living care in Texas is $3,750, costs vary widely with each city. In El Paso, assisted living costs an average of $2,000 per month, while the same type of care costs $5,395 in Austin. Costs are lower in smaller cities where real estate prices are lower such as San Angelo ($3,250) and Tyler ($3,293), and care costs are highest in upscale coastal areas such as Victoria ($4,450) and Beaumont ($4,395)
Low-income seniors who meet the criteria for admission to a nursing home may be eligible for STAR+PLUS, a Texas Medicaid managed care program. STAR+PLUS provides coordinated medical and community-based support services for seniors 65 and older and adults living with certain permanent disabilities. These services are designed to help STAR+PLUS beneficiaries remain in a non-institutional setting such as an assisted living facility. Houston seniors may also want to consider joining the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, an innovative, community-based long-term care program that helps frail seniors avoid institutionalizing by providing wrap-around services.
Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Assisted Living in Texas page.
| Contact | Description | |
| Harris County Area Agency on Aging | (832) 393-4220 | As part of a nationwide network of federally mandated Area Agencies on Aging serving seniors aged 60 and older, the Harris County Area Agency on Aging is responsible for organizing, coordinating and delivering programs and services to help seniors remain as independent as possible. The HCAAA provides referrals to local support services, nutrition programs, health care counseling and long-term care case management. |
| Harris County Veterans Services Office | (281) 876-6600 | The Harris County Veterans Services Office helps veterans, their spouses and survivors secure benefits from county, state and federal programs. Certified Veterans Services Officers help clients complete benefit application and appeals forms, obtain military service records and access burial benefits. |
| Care Connection Aging and Disability Resource Center | (855) 937-2372 | Care Connection ADRC provides free and low-cost services to seniors and adults living with disabilities in Houston. The agency offers free benefits counseling, wheelchair-accessible transportation, respite services and help with navigating long-term care and housing options. |
| Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County | (713) 635-4000 | METRO is the public transit agency for Houston and Harris County. All METRO buses are ADA compliant and accessible for those who use mobility devices such as wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Seniors aged 65 to 69, veterans and adults with a doctor-verified disability are eligible for a 50% fare reduction on all METRO routes, while those aged 70 and older ride free with a METRO Q Fare Card 70+ pass. |
| BarkerRipley | (713) 667-9400 | BarkerRipley is a large nonprofit community services agency that operates a number of programs for seniors in Houston, including senior centers and the BakerRipley Dementia Day Center. |
| Advocate Legal Senior Center | (832) 393-4074 | Low-income seniors and their caregivers who need legal representation related to guardianship, estate planning, health insurance or long-term care can contact Advocate Legal Senior Center. This nonprofit law firm provides affordable legal services on a sliding scale basis, as well as assistance with government benefits and consumer issues. |
In order to keep assisted residents safe, there are a number of state laws and regulations that apply to assisted living facilities in Houston. These laws cover staffing, medication administration, fire safety and infection control procedures. Visit our Assisted Living in Texas page for more information about these laws.