Memory Care Communities in Dallas, Texas

Memory care is moderately priced in Dallas at $5,244 per month, which is a little higher than the state median of $4,998 but several hundred dollars less than the national rate of $5,625. In Houston, rates are a little higher at $5,306, and in the Austin area, residential dementia services are among the most expensive in the state at $6,681. Those seeking more affordable accommodations may consider facilities in Tyler or Texarkana, where respective care costs come in at $4,829 and $3,463.   

When trying to decide how to pay for assisted living, one of the first questions that comes up is "How much does it cost?" With the impact of inflation, it's more important than ever to have up-to-date information when making a financial plan for senior living. To help shed light on real senior living prices, Caring.com has compiled proprietary cost data from its network of more than 75,000 senior living providers to provide insight into the average cost of assisted living in Dallas and 134 other cities in Texas.

There are several avenues for paying for memory care services in Dallas, including publicly funded options and private solutions. By relying on a mix of financial strategies, seniors can avoid depleting one resource, promoting their financial stability throughout retirement.

• Medicaid: Texas Medicaid’s STAR-PLUS waiver program provides long-term care benefits for qualified seniors. Some benefits of this program include assistance with personal care, financial management services, meals and service coordination.
• Medicare: The federal health insurance program can help seniors pay for medically necessary services they receive in memory care, such as skilled nursing, speech or physical therapies and medication administration. However, nonmedical memory care services fall outside the scope of Medicare’s coverage.
• VA Benefits: Veterans living in memory care communities can pay for services through two VA programs, Aid and Attendance and the Geriatrics and Extended Care program. A&A increases the veteran’s pension, giving them more money to put toward memory care expenses, while the Geriatrics and Extended Care program covers services such as personal care and meals.
• Private Payments: Memory care facilities accept private funds for all expenses, including housing, meals and personal care. Some payment sources include long-term care insurance, certain types of life insurance plans, Social Security income and retirement savings.

Depending on the level of care a senior needs, they may pay more or less for senior living. While assisted living costs $3,495 per month, memory care is about $2,005 more expensive, as it includes more specialized care. Independent living is the least expensive care option as it doesn't include personal support. 

In Dallas, as well as in the rest of Texas, memory care facilities are officially licensed as Type B assisted living facilities, and they’re governed by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. This department provides information on residents’ rights, performs regular and unannounced inspections and conducts background checks on prospective employees to ensure a high standard of care.   

Benefits

• Texas doesn’t have a state income tax, making it among the more retiree-friendly states in the nation. For many Dallas seniors, keeping a higher portion of their retirement income lets them afford memory care expenses.
• Dallas joined the AARP Age-Friendly Network over a decade ago and has since promoted favorability for seniors through accessible outdoor spaces, increased availability of public transportation and affordable housing initiatives. This fosters a welcoming environment for memory care residents.
• Memory care residents in Dallas have access to high-performing hospitals such as UT Southwestern Medical Center, which is nationally ranked in nine specialties, including geriatrics. Additionally, the city has several free and low-cost clinics that provide health care, vision and dental services.

Drawbacks

• Living costs in Dallas exceed the national norm by about 7%. While this may impact memory care costs, programs such as the STAR-PLUS waiver help income-qualified seniors afford long-term care.
• Dallas’s crime rate exceeds that of 97% of cities across the state and nation, with the city reporting around eight violent offenses and 38 nonviolent infractions per 1,000 people every year. Most of the crime takes place on the southwest side of the city, so seniors and families seeking safe communities for long-term care should consider neighborhoods such as Preston Hollow Northwest, Lake Highlands South and Forest Crest Estates, where crime is uncommon.