There are 92 Independent Living communities in the Houston, TX area, with 75 in Houston.
Caring.com offers a free service to help families find senior care, and authentic reviews to help you in your decision. On average in Houston, TX, residents and their loved ones rate Independent Living communities 4.1 out of 5 stars.
1015 S Shepherd, Houston, TX 77019
4.9
(16 reviews)
"The Village of River Oaks was beautiful. My uncle commented on the dining room because that was one of the areas that we walked near as we were getting to the offices. They had chandeliers in there, and for him, it was fancier than what he might do o..."
$4,645
CARING STARS WINNER
16700 Ella Blvd, Houston, TX 77090
4.7
(29 reviews)
"We got my mother in Ella Springs Senior Living Community and she loves it, and we like it a lot. It's very nice, clean, professionally run, and organized. There are a lot of activities and a lot of staff that's trained well. We have no complaints wha..."
$2,995
11900 Barryknoll Lane, Houston, TX 77024
4.4
(60 reviews)
"I just moved to Brookdale Memorial City in Houston, an independent living community. It's been good and fun. I don't have any problem. I have an apartment which is nice and big enough for me. The place is very warm, and the upkeep is great. The staff..."
$2,000
CARING STARS WINNER
11424 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77082
4.5
(29 reviews)
"My mother is in assisted living in Atria Westchase. We're very, very happy with the choice. She is in a studio apartment, which is quite spacious for her needs. She's here by herself, but I'm very happy with the care that she receives. She has a nurs..."
$3,795
8580 Woodway, Houston, TX 77063
4.4
(18 reviews)
"Exceptional food and the people who live here are very nice and friendly. There are a lot of activities, clubs and the amenities are outstanding...."
$1
1600 Augusta Dr, Houston, TX 77057
4.6
(11 reviews)
"My uncle enjoyed The Village of Tanglewood, but it was a little farther away from family and friends than he cared for. As far as the facility and the people, it was great. They've got great staff. They were very patient with him because he doesn't w..."
$3,259
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16820 West Rd, Houston, TX 77095
4.8
(7 reviews)
"I toured Copperfield Estates. It was very good. They welcomed me and they showed me around. I got to see three different rooms, and they were very nice. They offered pretty good meals. They showed me the room where they exercise and do crafts. And th..."
$1,699
5151 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77005
4.1
(36 reviews)
"I toured Brookdale West University. It's very, very clean. What I like about it is that everybody controls their own air because the air conditioner is not central. It's roomy, and the room is nice. I really like it. They have a stove and a fridge in..."
$2,570
2401 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77021
4.2
(24 reviews)
"My mom has been in independent living here for 2 years. She loves the environment and the staff are caring. I like the fact that the facility has 3 tiers of care, so Mom can move up to assisted living and even full nursing care in the future if she n..."
$1,790
11500 Fallbrook Drive, Houston, TX 77065
4.1
(16 reviews)
"I have visited Morada Cy-Fair, and I thought they were very good for the amount of care that they have. They have independent living, assisted living, and memory care. It's very well-run. I saw a lot of staff during my visit. It's very busy, and I th..."
$2,530
10100 Kempwood Drive, Houston, TX 77080
4.1
(13 reviews)
"It was amazing and the lady who gave us the tour was very helpful. They had a wonderful dining room, a chef who prepared their meals, and a guest room for family members when they come in from out of town where they can actually have lunch or dinner ..."
$1,050
12102 Steepleway Blvd, Houston, TX 77065
4.1
(12 reviews)
"Village on The Park Steeplechase was very nice. It was a large facility. It had a lot of nice sitting areas. We looked at a studio-type apartment. It had a refrigerator and a microwave. It had a mini kitchen, so you could get snacks and stuff. The pl..."
$2,995
12410 N Lake Houston Pkwy, Houston, TX 77044
4.3
(8 reviews)
"Very nice facility.. Clean and quiet..staff very professional......"
$1,011
2855 Westminster Plaza Dr, Houston, TX 77082
4.3
(8 reviews)
"I moved to The Abbey of Westminster, and so far I'm very, very happy. Everybody is very friendly. The food is very good. It's very convenient. All the people are smiling. Everybody seems to be happy, and nobody's complaining. They have real nice size..."
$3,895
2929 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX 77056
3.7
(34 reviews)
"Brookdale Galleria is the one that my husband and I decided we'd like to move into. The food was great. We were looking for a place for Mom and we thought we'd like to live here. We met quite a few people. They had lunch for us, which was delicious. ..."
$3,170
14221 Vintage Preserve Parkway, Houston, TX 77070
4.7
(4 reviews)
"I toured The Solana Preserve Vintage Park, and it was awesome. It was amazing. It just wasn't what we needed. I physically went in and I spoke with Sierra but we didn't go very far other than the lobby, the eating area, and the little bar area becaus..."
$5,030
504 Bering Dr, Houston, TX 77057
5.0
(3 reviews)
"It was located in the part of the town where it's easy to get to. I liked that their staff was welcoming and thorough. I loved just the bright and modern look of it, lots of open air, green spaces, and places to gather. But they didn't have the bars ..."
$3,870
9339 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77025
4.0
(7 reviews)
"The place that I like the best down here is the Tradition-Buffalo Speedway. I like all of their amenities. The staff who toured us were very welcoming, very informative, and very helpful. I tried their food, and it's excellent. There's an indoor swim..."
$4,395
17705 Red Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77090
4.3
(3 reviews)
"It was nice. I had a nice tour with them. The place was very nice, clean, and cheerful. I met the assistant manager, the dietitian, and the physical therapist. Everybody was so nice to me. They showed me all the rooms; some were single and some were ..."
$3,500
5020 Kelvin Dr, Houston, TX 77005
3.5
(4 reviews)
"The Village of Southampton was stunning. The views there are tremendous. You can see the whole city and can see downtown. The location is in the Rice Village at Rice University. There's a whole bunch of shops there. As long as we're able bodied, we c..."
$4,945
Independent Living
Alfego
3.0
Review of Clarewood House Senior Community
I visited Clarewood House Senior Community and toured their independent living. The lady who showed me around was nice and attentive. The building was also okay. It just wasn't what I was looking...
Independent Living
Cynthia
5.0
Review of Brookdale Memorial City
I just moved to Brookdale Memorial City in Houston, an independent living community. It's been good and fun. I don't have any problem. I have an apartment which is nice and big enough for me. The...
Independent Living
Daisy
5.0
Review of Brookdale West University
I toured Brookdale West University. It's very, very clean. What I like about it is that everybody controls their own air because the air conditioner is not central. It's roomy, and the room is...
There are many other resources and activities for seniors in Houston. Use the table below to learn about the options available for older adults in the area.
| Resource | Phone number | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Southeast Texas | (713) 595-8195 | RSVP of Southeast Texas connects seniors with local volunteer opportunities and helps them make a difference in their communities. Houston seniors can help children, needy families, homebound seniors and other community members. The program provides free volunteer training to help seniors succeed, as well as supplemental volunteer insurance to protect them as they work. |
| Houston’s Community Centers | (832) 395-7000 | Senior programming is available at the 60 community centers located throughout Houston. These centers offer ceramics, quilting, painting, photography and other arts and crafts classes. They also provide opportunities for seniors to get active through walking clubs or group fitness classes. Most activities are free. |
| Houston Community College | (713) 718-2000 | At Houston Community College, older adults receive free or discounted tuition. Adults who are 55 years or older enjoy half-price tuition, while those who are 65 or older receive free tuition for up to six credit hours per semester. Some of the areas of study that seniors can pursue include anthropology, philosophy and world languages. |
| India House Houston | (713) 929-1900 | India House Houston is a nonprofit organization that provides many free or low-cost services. Every week, it offers a free one-hour technology class for seniors. During this interactive class, seniors can learn how to send messages and pictures to their loved ones; they can also learn how to use social media. The organization also offers free legal consultations. |
| National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Houston | (713) 970-4419 | NAMI Greater Houston provides free mental health support. Seniors can enroll in its free peer support groups to learn practical tips for managing their mental illnesses. The organization also offers family-to-family education classes for seniors who want to learn how to better support their loved ones with mental illnesses. |
Many seniors love how independent living communities reduce unwanted stress, hazards, and fatigue in their lives. Independent living communities take care of housekeeping, yard work and meals while still allowing residents personal space and the dignity of making their own choices. These communities usually provide seniors with an apartment that has a small kitchen, bathroom, living room, and one or more bedrooms. Those who want a small space may even find that some independent living communities offer studio-style apartments. Seniors can invite guests over and enjoy their rooms however they see fit.
Independent living communities often also include the following:
For a more detailed look at common amenities, check out our guide to independent living communities.
What Couples Should Know About Independent Living in Houston, TX
Seniors who enjoy big city living may consider retiring in Houston, the fourth-largest city in the country. News and World Report recently ranked Houston 29th on its list of the best places to retire, and the city has much to offer its senior residents.
Compared to other major metropolitan areas, Houston is relatively affordable — its cost of living is only 4.8% higher than the national average — so it may appeal to senior couples on a budget. The city has 85 hospitals to accommodate seniors’ future health needs, including the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical center.
With plenty of attractions, seniors can enjoy an active retirement in Houston. The city’s museum district is home to 19 museums, including the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. At the 155-acre Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, seniors can admire the gardens and explore five miles of trails.
Paying for Independent Living in Houston, TX
Compared to the nationwide average of $2,550 per month, Houston’s independent living facilities are slightly more affordable. Seniors who retire in Houston can expect to pay an average of $2,472 per month for independent living.
The annual cost of living in an independent living community can range anywhere from $12,000-$42,000, depending mostly on the amenities, room type and cost of living in the area. In addition to using personal retirement income, annuities, long-term care insurance, or cashing out an existing life insurance policy, some seniors can use Social Security funds, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments granted due to disability or low-income or HUD-provided housing assistance such as vouchers. Another route many seniors choose to fund their independent living stay is renting out or selling their homes that they won’t need once they move or taking advantage of a reverse mortgage.
Our guide provides a more in-depth look at independent living costs and solutions for those who want to learn more.
How to Choose an Independent Living Community
When choosing an independent living community, it’s best to consider many factors, including the community’s proximity to loved ones and medical care, the state of repair that the facility appears to be in, the attitude and efficiency of the staff, the cost of both rent and services, the facility’s pet policy and more.
Comparing multiple communities can help seniors and their families figure out what they value most in an independent living community. During tours of these communities, staff members should be available to answer questions. To help with the touring and comparison process, we’ve included a checklist full of pertinent questions that anyone can download and print for themselves.
Transitioning to Independent Living
Independent living communities, rather than memory care or nursing homes, are often the first place seniors move to when they realize they need a lifestyle change. The necessity of letting some possessions go and the reality of leaving a home and neighborhood after possibly decades of residence there can make transitioning to an independent living community difficult. These communities are often friendly places, but being in a new environment still initially triggers feelings of loneliness in many seniors.
Having a strategy for dealing with the challenges of moving can make the transition to an independent living community a positive experience. We’ve created a downloadable step-by-step guide for tips to making this transition as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
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