Located in the Piney Woods region of East Texas, Athens is surrounded by rolling hills and is the seat of Henderson County. Seniors 65 years of age and older make up over 18% of the population, which is comprised of an estimated 12,753 residents in total. The city’s older adults have access to the UT Health Athens campus, which counts emergency care, orthopedics and rehabilitation among its areas of focus. Notably, the city’s nursing home costs are lower than the national average: In Athens, the average monthly rate for a semiprivate room is $4,775, compared to the countrywide figure of $7,756 per the Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey.
Nursing home staff members provide high levels of care to residents who can expect around-the-clock help and assistance from licensed nurses and other professionals. That amount of support carries a high price tag compared to other senior living arrangements. In some cases, home health care or assisted living may be better, less expensive options for seniors don’t yet require a nursing home’s services.
Next, this guide dives into the cost of nursing home care in Tyler before listing some useful senior-minded resources.
7 Results
711 Lucas St , Athens, TX, 75751
3.5
(6 reviews)
"I went to visit a friend a few months ago. It was clean and she was very happy with everything there. It smelled good, she was happy there and said the staff was very good to help when she needed it. She also liked the rehabilitation services tha..."
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500 Valle Vista Dr, Athens, TX, 75751
3.0
(2 reviews)
"My wife was at Green Oaks for over three months. It was really great. They didn't have a lot of activities, but they did have bingo and sing-alongs where they gather around a piano. People there were really nice and really did a lot for my wife. ..."
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150 Gibson Road, Athens, TX, 75751
3.0
(2 reviews)
"My friends mother was in this facility for rehab services and they did an excellent job getting her strong and back home. The facility was always clean and the staff was very friendly every time we came in to visit her. I would recommend this facilit..."
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8579 State Hwy 31, Athens, TX, 75751
1.0
(1 reviews)
"I would not recommend this nursing home to anyone. I did not like this nursing home at all. They mistreated the residents of the nursing home and did not take care of all of their needs. The resident constantly lost his belongings as well as his mone..."
READ MORE1611 W ROYALL BLVD, Malakoff, TX, 75148
4.6
(5 reviews)
"My mother-in-law was in Cedar Lake Nursing Home. They were awesome. I loved them. It was family owned. I have nothing bad to say. They were excellent, superiorm in every way, because I was up there almost every single day that she was there. It was a..."
READ MORECaring's Family Advisors are here to help you with questions about senior living and care options.
In Athens, the average monthly cost of a semiprivate nursing home room is $4,775. Private rooms have an average monthly cost of $5,916.
In Athens, a typical semiprivate room in a nursing home is nearly $3,000 less expensive on a monthly basis compared to the national average. Athens’ average is also less expensive than the statewide average of $5,019.
Additionally, Athens’ costs come in below Dallas where the monthly average is $5,171, and Athens’ semiprivate nursing home rooms are only slightly more costly than Texarkana’s. However, nursing home residents in Longview and Sherman pay less on average each month: $4,091 in Longview and $4,494 in Sherman.
Athens
$4,775
Texas
$5,019
The United States
$7,756
Longview
$4,091
Sherman
$4,494
Texarkana
$4,730
Dallas
$5,171
Private and semiprivate rooms in Athens nursing homes have respective average monthly costs of $5,916 and $4,775, which makes them the most expensive senior care setting. Home care’s average rate is $3,718, while the services of a home health aide cost $95 more each month. Residents of assisted living facilities, meanwhile, have median expenses of $3,450 per month. Adult day care costs for Athens were not included in the Genworth survey, although it often is the cheapest type of senior care.
Home care
$3,718
Home health care
$3,813
Assisted living
$3,450
Nursing home (semiprivate room)
$4,775
Nursing home (private room)
$5,916
Note: Data for Athens was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Tyler, was used instead.
Many seniors and their families use some form of financial assistance to help them pay for nursing care. The main options available are Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits. These programs can be complicated, especially when it comes to benefit terms. Below, we give a brief overview of how these programs may be used towards paying for skilled nursing care.
If these options aren’t available to you, check if your loved one has long-term care insurance or contact your Area Agency on Aging to ask about any local financial assistance programs for seniors.
Below is a guide to several of Athens’ senior resources. Certain services help older adults remain in their own homes, while others ease the transition to higher levels of care.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Meals on Wheels East Texas | (903) 593-7385 | Home-delivered meals served by Meals on Wheels are available to homebound seniors 60 years of age and older who complete an eligibility assessment. During meal deliveries, the organization’s volunteers perform safety checks. Donations are requested but not required. The organization also offers pet food and nutritional shakes. |
| Area Agency on Aging of East Texas | (800) 442-8845 | On behalf of older adults, the AAA of East Texas provides counseling that helps Medicare recipients understand their benefits. It also handles care coordination and delivers meals to individuals who are otherwise unable to access food. Additionally, the agency refers clients to other sources of help, and it offers transportation to medical appointments and senior nutrition centers. Its Ombudsman Program speaks on behalf of long-term care residents. |
| Henderson County Veterans Services | (903) 675-6109 | The Veterans Service Office assists older military veterans and their dependents with applications for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the state. Specific examples of what it can help with include compensation, pensions, disability, retirement and appeals. The office can also provide guidance regarding hospital and outpatient benefits as well as debt waivers among other matters. |
| East Texas Aging and Disability Resource Center | (855) 937-2372 | The East Texas ADRC provides counseling to older adults who want to learn more about prescription assistance, in-home services and long-term care options, including nursing homes. The center refers clients to public and privately funded services. Additionally, it can help seniors learn more about Medicare and ways to obtain medical equipment. |
| 2-1-1 Texas | (877) 541-7905 | 2-1-1 Texas is an anonymous hotline through which Texas’ seniors can gain information regarding different community resources. Dialing 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905 connects callers with the Texas Information & Referral Network, which helps individuals identify helpful local programs and find assistance with food, housing and counseling. The hotline operates around-the-clock 365 days a year. |
Nursing Homes
JSMW!
5
Review of South Place Nursing Center
My friends mother was in this facility for rehab services and they did an excellent job getting her strong and back home. The facility was always clean and the staff was very friendly every time we...
Nursing Homes
Rere2
5
Review of Park Highlands Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
I went to visit a friend a few months ago. It was clean and she was very happy with everything there. It smelled good, she was happy there and said the staff was very good to help when she needed...
Nursing Homes
upset lady
1
Review of South Place Nursing Center
My husband was sent to this place from East Texas Medical Hospital for rehab. Had I visited this place ahead of time, I would never have put him there. He went over on a Sunday afternoon to a room...
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