Senior Care in Texas: A Complete Guide for Families
Texas families have many senior-care options, from assisted living and memory care to nursing homes, skilled nursing rehabilitation, retirement communities, and services delivered at home. The right setting depends on the person’s daily support needs, medical needs, cognition, safety, recovery goals, finances, and preferences.
Nursing Home Placement has more directory inventory in Texas than any other state in its current master dataset, so this guide serves as the statewide starting point for more detailed Texas and city-specific resources.
Assisted living in Texas
Texas assisted living facilities provide personal and health-related assistance in a homelike setting. HHSC licenses facilities as Type A or Type B based partly on residents’ evacuation ability and nighttime needs.
Start with How to Choose Assisted Living in Texas and Assisted Living Costs in Texas.
Memory care in Texas
Memory care can provide structured residential support for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Texas has specific certification requirements for facilities or units that advertise specialized Alzheimer’s care and requires memory-care disclosures in applicable assisted living settings.
See Memory Care in Texas.
Nursing homes in Texas
Nursing homes provide a higher level of nursing and personal care than assisted living. Texas HHSC notes that nursing homes may be appropriate when a person needs full-time nursing care. Medicare Care Compare can provide federal quality information for Medicare-certified nursing homes.
Skilled nursing and rehabilitation
After hospitalization, some patients need short-term skilled nursing or therapy before returning home. Medicare Part A can cover qualifying skilled nursing facility care when applicable requirements are met. Short-term rehabilitation is different from long-term nursing-home residence.
See Short-Term Rehab vs Long-Term Nursing Home Care.
How much does senior care cost in Texas?
CareScout’s latest 2025 Texas medians include $5,666 per month for assisted living, about $5,627 per month for a semi-private nursing-home room based on the annual median, and about $7,604 per month for a private nursing-home room based on the annual median. Actual quotes vary by provider and resident.
Medicare, Medicaid, and private payment
Medicare generally does not pay for long-term custodial care, but it can cover qualifying skilled nursing facility care and other eligible medical services.
Texas Medicaid’s STAR+PLUS HCBS program can provide home- and community-based services, including assisted living, for eligible members. Members receiving assisted living remain responsible for room and board and applicable copayments.
See Texas Medicaid and Assisted Living.
How to verify a Texas care provider
Texas HHSC maintains long-term-care provider information and regulatory resources. For assisted living, confirm Type A or Type B licensure. For advertised specialized Alzheimer’s care, verify applicable certification and disclosure information. For nursing homes, also review Medicare Care Compare when relevant.
Where families can get independent help
Texas Long-Term Care Ombudsmen help assisted living and nursing-home residents understand their rights and address concerns. The statewide program can be reached at 800-252-2412. HHSC also accepts regulatory complaints through TULIP and by phone.
How to choose the right setting
| Situation | Care type to investigate |
|---|---|
| Needs help with daily activities but not full-time nursing | Assisted living |
| Dementia creates supervision or structured-care needs | Memory care / dementia-capable assisted living |
| Needs substantial ongoing nursing and personal care | Nursing home |
| Needs skilled nursing or therapy after illness or hospitalization | Skilled nursing / rehabilitation |
| Largely independent and wants senior-focused housing | Retirement / independent living |
This is a starting point, not a clinical assessment. The prospective provider and appropriate health professionals should evaluate the person’s actual needs.
Start your Texas senior care search
Use NHP’s Texas directory to build an initial shortlist. Directory inclusion is not an endorsement and does not guarantee licensing status, services, payer participation, pricing, or availability.
Frequently asked questions
Who regulates assisted living in Texas?
Texas Health and Human Services Commission licenses and regulates assisted living facilities.
What is Type A vs. Type B assisted living?
The classification reflects residents’ evacuation ability and nighttime needs. Type B can serve residents who need more assistance in those areas.
Where can I compare Texas long-term-care providers?
Texas HHSC provides a Long-Term Care Provider Search, and Medicare Care Compare provides information for Medicare-certified nursing homes.
Sources and further reading
- Texas HHSC — Long-Term Care
- Texas HHSC — Assisted Living Facilities
- CareScout — 2025 Cost of Care Survey
- Medicare — Choosing a Nursing Home
Last reviewed September 2026. Verify current licensing, services, costs, payer participation, and availability for each individual situation.
