The 10 Best Independent Living Communities in San Antonio, TX for 2023
The Waterford on Huebner
I put $500.00 on a Refundable Deposit April 27,2022. They are refusing to refund my $500.00! Have contacted them and the Corporate Sonida at least 12 times!! So glad I was never able to live there. I
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I put $500.00 on a Refundable Deposit April 27,2022. They are refusing to refund my $500.00! Have contacted them and the Corporate Sonida at least 12 times!! So glad I was never able to live there. I Need my money! Stay away!!
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I put $500.00 on a Refundable Deposit April 27,2022. They are refusing to refund my $500.00! Have contacted them and the Corporate Sonida at least 12 times!! So glad I was never able to live there. I
… (read more)
I put $500.00 on a Refundable Deposit April 27,2022. They are refusing to refund my $500.00! Have contacted them and the Corporate Sonida at least 12 times!! So glad I was never able to live there. I Need my money! Stay away!!
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The Waterford at Thousand Oaks
The tour I had at the Waterford at Thousand Oaks was nice. The lady that did the tour was amazing. She was very good and very knowledgeable. She knew what she was talking about and answered all our qu
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The tour I had at the Waterford at Thousand Oaks was nice. The lady that did the tour was amazing. She was very good and very knowledgeable. She knew what she was talking about and answered all our questions. The rooms were adequate. The two-bedroom that we saw looked nice. We’re looking at a two-bedroom, two bath, and they showed us a two-bedroom, one bath, but based on that we could make it work.
They seemed to do a very good job with the maintenance. We could see the personnel working around a hall there. Everything they gave you for the price was very, very good. Their dining area was really nice. It had chandeliers, and the cafeteria personnel seemed to be very good at exchanging with the residents.
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The tour I had at the Waterford at Thousand Oaks was nice. The lady that did the tour was amazing. She was very good and very knowledgeable. She knew what she was talking about and answered all our qu
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The tour I had at the Waterford at Thousand Oaks was nice. The lady that did the tour was amazing. She was very good and very knowledgeable. She knew what she was talking about and answered all our questions. The rooms were adequate. The two-bedroom that we saw looked nice. We’re looking at a two-bedroom, two bath, and they showed us a two-bedroom, one bath, but based on that we could make it work.
They seemed to do a very good job with the maintenance. We could see the personnel working around a hall there. Everything they gave you for the price was very, very good. Their dining area was really nice. It had chandeliers, and the cafeteria personnel seemed to be very good at exchanging with the residents.
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Villa De San Antonio
Villa De San Antonio had a lovely porte-cochere entry. When you came in, straight ahead in front of you was a lovely dining room all with tablecloths, columns, and nice windows. Everybody was very fri
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Villa De San Antonio had a lovely porte-cochere entry. When you came in, straight ahead in front of you was a lovely dining room all with tablecloths, columns, and nice windows. Everybody was very friendly and it was more like a hotel setting. They had a wonderful area that you could reserve for private dining.
They had different seating areas, a wonderful chapel, a movie theater, transportation, and housekeeping. They had activities galore. The 2-bedroom apartment was a nice size with good closet space and kitchen. There were stackable washers/dryers in the units. The food which I saw looked wonderful. They had a main menu, and then they had a daily special menu. They would do a Sunday brunch and then the chefs would come out with their hats on. They also had a little bistro area where they were going to put out muffins and you could get coffee, tea, and snacks all day long.
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Villa De San Antonio had a lovely porte-cochere entry. When you came in, straight ahead in front of you was a lovely dining room all with tablecloths, columns, and nice windows. Everybody was very fri
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Villa De San Antonio had a lovely porte-cochere entry. When you came in, straight ahead in front of you was a lovely dining room all with tablecloths, columns, and nice windows. Everybody was very friendly and it was more like a hotel setting. They had a wonderful area that you could reserve for private dining.
They had different seating areas, a wonderful chapel, a movie theater, transportation, and housekeeping. They had activities galore. The 2-bedroom apartment was a nice size with good closet space and kitchen. There were stackable washers/dryers in the units. The food which I saw looked wonderful. They had a main menu, and then they had a daily special menu. They would do a Sunday brunch and then the chefs would come out with their hats on. They also had a little bistro area where they were going to put out muffins and you could get coffee, tea, and snacks all day long.
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Madison Estates
I enjoyed visiting here. Our tour was very nice. I loved the place and the amenities that they had, like the greenhouse, the swimming pool, and the exercise room. The lady that I talked to was very pr
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I enjoyed visiting here. Our tour was very nice. I loved the place and the amenities that they had, like the greenhouse, the swimming pool, and the exercise room. The lady that I talked to was very professional. She was very detailed in her explanation of things. She was nice. I loved the one-bedroom apartment and its view. It was very nice. They also had a recreation room and transportation for shopping.
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I enjoyed visiting here. Our tour was very nice. I loved the place and the amenities that they had, like the greenhouse, the swimming pool, and the exercise room. The lady that I talked to was very pr
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I enjoyed visiting here. Our tour was very nice. I loved the place and the amenities that they had, like the greenhouse, the swimming pool, and the exercise room. The lady that I talked to was very professional. She was very detailed in her explanation of things. She was nice. I loved the one-bedroom apartment and its view. It was very nice. They also had a recreation room and transportation for shopping.
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Landon Ridge at Alamo Ranch
We visited Landon Ridge at Alamo Ranch. I think the community is well-kept. The staff seems to be involved with the residents. The community itself is on the more current status. In other words, it’s
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We visited Landon Ridge at Alamo Ranch. I think the community is well-kept. The staff seems to be involved with the residents. The community itself is on the more current status. In other words, it’s not really old-looking, and it’s updated as far as the furniture, and the surroundings. So I think they’ve done a good job of keeping it up to date. The staff who gave the tour was very pleasant, very open to answering questions, and spent whatever time we needed to have. So, we didn’t feel rushed. They have different clubs. They have activities that people might like, like water aerobics, and bible study. They have different kinds of stretching, and things you would think you would get as far as physical activity. They have a shuttle service that will take you around. But we’ve talked with somebody and she said she doesn’t like the shuttle service because it does a loop. They have happy hours, they have dancing, and games. They’ve got a full activity list of what they’re doing every month, and they publish it every month. So people don’t have to worry or wonder what’s going on. They can see very clearly what’s going on in the next month, or the next time for publication.
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We visited Landon Ridge at Alamo Ranch. I think the community is well-kept. The staff seems to be involved with the residents. The community itself is on the more current status. In other words, it’s
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We visited Landon Ridge at Alamo Ranch. I think the community is well-kept. The staff seems to be involved with the residents. The community itself is on the more current status. In other words, it’s not really old-looking, and it’s updated as far as the furniture, and the surroundings. So I think they’ve done a good job of keeping it up to date. The staff who gave the tour was very pleasant, very open to answering questions, and spent whatever time we needed to have. So, we didn’t feel rushed. They have different clubs. They have activities that people might like, like water aerobics, and bible study. They have different kinds of stretching, and things you would think you would get as far as physical activity. They have a shuttle service that will take you around. But we’ve talked with somebody and she said she doesn’t like the shuttle service because it does a loop. They have happy hours, they have dancing, and games. They’ve got a full activity list of what they’re doing every month, and they publish it every month. So people don’t have to worry or wonder what’s going on. They can see very clearly what’s going on in the next month, or the next time for publication.
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Franklin Park TPC Parkway
Over promises and under delivered. Kept deposit even though never moved in due to medical reasons
Over promises and under delivered. Kept deposit even though never moved in due to medical reasons
Franklin Park Sonterra
I toured Franklin Park Sonterra. The community is beautiful, and it has multiple amenities that would make people feel very comfortable. The residents that were there were very friendly and welcoming.
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I toured Franklin Park Sonterra. The community is beautiful, and it has multiple amenities that would make people feel very comfortable. The residents that were there were very friendly and welcoming. And they had a lot of security features that were also very nice. It looks like a wonderful property. The staff were very nice and very helpful.
I liked their apartments. They were very spacious as well as suited for senior living. They had modern appliances. They had everything that would make all the conveniences and make living very easy for your loved ones.
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I toured Franklin Park Sonterra. The community is beautiful, and it has multiple amenities that would make people feel very comfortable. The residents that were there were very friendly and welcoming.
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I toured Franklin Park Sonterra. The community is beautiful, and it has multiple amenities that would make people feel very comfortable. The residents that were there were very friendly and welcoming. And they had a lot of security features that were also very nice. It looks like a wonderful property. The staff were very nice and very helpful.
I liked their apartments. They were very spacious as well as suited for senior living. They had modern appliances. They had everything that would make all the conveniences and make living very easy for your loved ones.
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New Forest Haven
New Forest Haven had 4 different buildings and to go from one building to the next, you had to go outside because there were no covered walkways. They had swimming pools and little courtyards. The mea
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New Forest Haven had 4 different buildings and to go from one building to the next, you had to go outside because there were no covered walkways. They had swimming pools and little courtyards. The meals were included, but the apartments seemed a little bit dated. They were minimally furnished with a refrigerator, a dishwasher, and a stove. The staff who gave me the tour was likable.
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New Forest Haven had 4 different buildings and to go from one building to the next, you had to go outside because there were no covered walkways. They had swimming pools and little courtyards. The mea
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New Forest Haven had 4 different buildings and to go from one building to the next, you had to go outside because there were no covered walkways. They had swimming pools and little courtyards. The meals were included, but the apartments seemed a little bit dated. They were minimally furnished with a refrigerator, a dishwasher, and a stove. The staff who gave me the tour was likable.
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Emerald Oaks
I like my tour of the Emerald Oaks, and the staff I liked the best. They didn’t have a pool, but we probably would have gone there except for the fact that they did not have any room. The employees we
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I like my tour of the Emerald Oaks, and the staff I liked the best. They didn’t have a pool, but we probably would have gone there except for the fact that they did not have any room. The employees were very friendly, they were just like family. We’ve tried the food once, their iced tea was one of the best but the food could be a bit better. In terms of the facilities, they were the best of everybody that we looked at because they had everything. They had a lot of organized activities and they were very excited about them. We talked to the people there while having lunch, and they were excited about the place. They enjoyed living there because there is a lot to do and the people were very friendly. They had an amazing theater, it was like going to an actual theater. They also had a nice dining area, but I didn’t see much courtyard space or outside area. It’s located close enough to many things, it’s just a hop, skip, and jump to wherever.
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I like my tour of the Emerald Oaks, and the staff I liked the best. They didn’t have a pool, but we probably would have gone there except for the fact that they did not have any room. The employees we
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I like my tour of the Emerald Oaks, and the staff I liked the best. They didn’t have a pool, but we probably would have gone there except for the fact that they did not have any room. The employees were very friendly, they were just like family. We’ve tried the food once, their iced tea was one of the best but the food could be a bit better. In terms of the facilities, they were the best of everybody that we looked at because they had everything. They had a lot of organized activities and they were very excited about them. We talked to the people there while having lunch, and they were excited about the place. They enjoyed living there because there is a lot to do and the people were very friendly. They had an amazing theater, it was like going to an actual theater. They also had a nice dining area, but I didn’t see much courtyard space or outside area. It’s located close enough to many things, it’s just a hop, skip, and jump to wherever.
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Franklin Park Alamo Heights
I heard good things about Franklin Park Alamo Heights so we insisted on visiting there. As soon as we walked in, it was open and clean, and it smelled good. It was just very inviting. Their rooms were
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I heard good things about Franklin Park Alamo Heights so we insisted on visiting there. As soon as we walked in, it was open and clean, and it smelled good. It was just very inviting. Their rooms were large. Mom is there now and she has a one-bedroom apartment with a laundry room, a full kitchen, a den, a bedroom, a large bathroom, and a large walk-in closet.
Everything’s really good, but there were just a few things that should have been done before moving in. Other than that, the staff is friendly and they have a full range of activities. They do bridge, line dancing, bingo, poker, movies in their movie theater, outings, different kinds of card games, exercise, and a pool.
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I heard good things about Franklin Park Alamo Heights so we insisted on visiting there. As soon as we walked in, it was open and clean, and it smelled good. It was just very inviting. Their rooms were
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I heard good things about Franklin Park Alamo Heights so we insisted on visiting there. As soon as we walked in, it was open and clean, and it smelled good. It was just very inviting. Their rooms were large. Mom is there now and she has a one-bedroom apartment with a laundry room, a full kitchen, a den, a bedroom, a large bathroom, and a large walk-in closet.
Everything’s really good, but there were just a few things that should have been done before moving in. Other than that, the staff is friendly and they have a full range of activities. They do bridge, line dancing, bingo, poker, movies in their movie theater, outings, different kinds of card games, exercise, and a pool.
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Adante Indpendent Living
Adante Independent Living was beautiful and elegant. It was like staying at a 5-star hotel. They’ve got lots of common areas that were very well decorated. They had outdoor patio furniture, a fireplac
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Adante Independent Living was beautiful and elegant. It was like staying at a 5-star hotel. They’ve got lots of common areas that were very well decorated. They had outdoor patio furniture, a fireplace, and a beautiful dining room. The food looked fantastic. All the common areas looked wonderful. The staff was wonderful. They had a beautiful library with a fireplace. They would take you on outings and appointments. The apartments were all done in granite. The bathrooms were granite. They put in these really big kitchens but left zilch for closet space.
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Adante Independent Living was beautiful and elegant. It was like staying at a 5-star hotel. They’ve got lots of common areas that were very well decorated. They had outdoor patio furniture, a fireplac
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Adante Independent Living was beautiful and elegant. It was like staying at a 5-star hotel. They’ve got lots of common areas that were very well decorated. They had outdoor patio furniture, a fireplace, and a beautiful dining room. The food looked fantastic. All the common areas looked wonderful. The staff was wonderful. They had a beautiful library with a fireplace. They would take you on outings and appointments. The apartments were all done in granite. The bathrooms were granite. They put in these really big kitchens but left zilch for closet space.
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Patriot Heights
We liked that Patriot Heights had villas and they were separate. They were like little townhouses with garages. The thing I did not like was you needed to go all the way to the main dining room, so it
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We liked that Patriot Heights had villas and they were separate. They were like little townhouses with garages. The thing I did not like was you needed to go all the way to the main dining room, so it’s a matter of walking. I understand some people had golf carts that they used. The staff that we met during the tour was great. There were several amenities available there. They had occupational therapy, physical therapy, a swimming pool, a salon, and a barbershop.
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We liked that Patriot Heights had villas and they were separate. They were like little townhouses with garages. The thing I did not like was you needed to go all the way to the main dining room, so it
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We liked that Patriot Heights had villas and they were separate. They were like little townhouses with garages. The thing I did not like was you needed to go all the way to the main dining room, so it’s a matter of walking. I understand some people had golf carts that they used. The staff that we met during the tour was great. There were several amenities available there. They had occupational therapy, physical therapy, a swimming pool, a salon, and a barbershop.
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Solea Alamo Ranch
Solea Alamo Ranch was great, but I can’t afford that place. I loved it. I toured the area where they had exercises, therapy, and TV. The staff was nice. I went in there and talked to the receptionist
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Solea Alamo Ranch was great, but I can’t afford that place. I loved it. I toured the area where they had exercises, therapy, and TV. The staff was nice. I went in there and talked to the receptionist and she asked me if anybody had told me about how much income I had to make there. It’s a beautiful place, really nice, quiet, clean, and all up-to-date. It’s luxurious.
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Solea Alamo Ranch was great, but I can’t afford that place. I loved it. I toured the area where they had exercises, therapy, and TV. The staff was nice. I went in there and talked to the receptionist
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Solea Alamo Ranch was great, but I can’t afford that place. I loved it. I toured the area where they had exercises, therapy, and TV. The staff was nice. I went in there and talked to the receptionist and she asked me if anybody had told me about how much income I had to make there. It’s a beautiful place, really nice, quiet, clean, and all up-to-date. It’s luxurious.
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Independence Hill Retirement Resort Community
Great tour, enjoyed the community. Resident and staff are very friendly
Great tour, enjoyed the community. Resident and staff are very friendly
The Inn at Los Patios
I went to The Inn at Los Patios. It was a very good, very nice place. The staff was very caring and helpful. The rooms were a good size and everything that would be needed for someone. There was, like
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I went to The Inn at Los Patios. It was a very good, very nice place. The staff was very caring and helpful. The rooms were a good size and everything that would be needed for someone. There was, like, a game night kind of thing going on. It seemed like it would be a really good place to be. For us, it was just financial that we couldn’t do it. It was just a little bit of an older community, and continuous updates would make it a five.
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I went to The Inn at Los Patios. It was a very good, very nice place. The staff was very caring and helpful. The rooms were a good size and everything that would be needed for someone. There was, like
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I went to The Inn at Los Patios. It was a very good, very nice place. The staff was very caring and helpful. The rooms were a good size and everything that would be needed for someone. There was, like, a game night kind of thing going on. It seemed like it would be a really good place to be. For us, it was just financial that we couldn’t do it. It was just a little bit of an older community, and continuous updates would make it a five.
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Discovery Village at Dominion
I toured the independent living at Discovery Village At Dominion, but they also have a building that is an assisted living. There were three different buildings, and the big building was independent.
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I toured the independent living at Discovery Village At Dominion, but they also have a building that is an assisted living. There were three different buildings, and the big building was independent. They had all kinds of things. Everything is great, which is why I went there. They have 10 times more amenities than other places. They have everything. They go out to dinner every week; whoever wants to, you sign up. They have a happy hour once a week. Every holiday, they have some deal, and sometimes they just do potluck dinner, and everybody brings something. The staff in charge of them was fantastic. You can have food. Breakfast is included, but if you want to include all meals, you can do that. There are a lot of options there. They’re doing a lot of updating.
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I toured the independent living at Discovery Village At Dominion, but they also have a building that is an assisted living. There were three different buildings, and the big building was independent.
… (read more)
I toured the independent living at Discovery Village At Dominion, but they also have a building that is an assisted living. There were three different buildings, and the big building was independent. They had all kinds of things. Everything is great, which is why I went there. They have 10 times more amenities than other places. They have everything. They go out to dinner every week; whoever wants to, you sign up. They have a happy hour once a week. Every holiday, they have some deal, and sometimes they just do potluck dinner, and everybody brings something. The staff in charge of them was fantastic. You can have food. Breakfast is included, but if you want to include all meals, you can do that. There are a lot of options there. They’re doing a lot of updating.
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The Forum at Lincoln Heights
My uncle is at The Forum at Lincoln Heights. They are very helpful. They did pretty much everything they needed to do to get him in there. The facility itself is nice. They have movie nights and game
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My uncle is at The Forum at Lincoln Heights. They are very helpful. They did pretty much everything they needed to do to get him in there. The facility itself is nice. They have movie nights and game nights and stuff like that. As for amenities, they have somebody that comes in and does hair, have a little workout room, and have an outside area where people can go sit. The food is good. They’ve got a pretty good variety of meals, but my uncle doesn’t care much about their breakfast. But I had the shrimp plate, and that was pretty good. They keep the place clean, too.
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My uncle is at The Forum at Lincoln Heights. They are very helpful. They did pretty much everything they needed to do to get him in there. The facility itself is nice. They have movie nights and game
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My uncle is at The Forum at Lincoln Heights. They are very helpful. They did pretty much everything they needed to do to get him in there. The facility itself is nice. They have movie nights and game nights and stuff like that. As for amenities, they have somebody that comes in and does hair, have a little workout room, and have an outside area where people can go sit. The food is good. They’ve got a pretty good variety of meals, but my uncle doesn’t care much about their breakfast. But I had the shrimp plate, and that was pretty good. They keep the place clean, too.
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Timberhill Villa Retirement Community
My mother likes Timberhill Villa Retirement Community the best. It was great. Everybody was friendly. We were told a lot of information.
I think what we like the most about them is their studio. It
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My mother likes Timberhill Villa Retirement Community the best. It was great. Everybody was friendly. We were told a lot of information.
I think what we like the most about them is their studio. It had half a wall separating it, so it wasn’t altogether with the living room and the bedroom. It was kind of separate, so my mother felt like she had her own bedroom. They do a good job on upkeep. It looked pretty clean. It is an older building, but the staff reassured us that they don’t have any problems with the owners fixing things that need to be fixed. They will put a little bit of money into the community.
The staff who gave us the tour was amazing. She made it where I felt comfortable with leaving my mother because she interacted with people. She made it known that if she didn’t see my mom for a lunch or a breakfast, she would be like, ‘What’s going on? Has anybody seen her?’ It made me feel a little at ease. She was wonderful.
We didn’t try their food, but we checked their dining area. There wasn’t anybody in there at that time, but it was spacious. If you want them to make you some dinner, you just have to pay a small price for it. Then you can take it to your room.
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My mother likes Timberhill Villa Retirement Community the best. It was great. Everybody was friendly. We were told a lot of information.
I think what we like the most about them is their studio. It
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My mother likes Timberhill Villa Retirement Community the best. It was great. Everybody was friendly. We were told a lot of information.
I think what we like the most about them is their studio. It had half a wall separating it, so it wasn’t altogether with the living room and the bedroom. It was kind of separate, so my mother felt like she had her own bedroom. They do a good job on upkeep. It looked pretty clean. It is an older building, but the staff reassured us that they don’t have any problems with the owners fixing things that need to be fixed. They will put a little bit of money into the community.
The staff who gave us the tour was amazing. She made it where I felt comfortable with leaving my mother because she interacted with people. She made it known that if she didn’t see my mom for a lunch or a breakfast, she would be like, ‘What’s going on? Has anybody seen her?’ It made me feel a little at ease. She was wonderful.
We didn’t try their food, but we checked their dining area. There wasn’t anybody in there at that time, but it was spacious. If you want them to make you some dinner, you just have to pay a small price for it. Then you can take it to your room.
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Blue Skies of Texas East
We are new residents at High Rise of Blue Skies East and are very happy to be here. The staff are wonderful. We have met some who have been working here for 20 to 30 years! If you are looking for
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We are new residents at High Rise of Blue Skies East and are very happy to be here. The staff are wonderful. We have met some who have been working here for 20 to 30 years! If you are looking for a good value for your money look at Blue Skies East units. The prices in dollars per square foot are very attractive.
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We are new residents at High Rise of Blue Skies East and are very happy to be here. The staff are wonderful. We have met some who have been working here for 20 to 30 years! If you are looking for
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We are new residents at High Rise of Blue Skies East and are very happy to be here. The staff are wonderful. We have met some who have been working here for 20 to 30 years! If you are looking for a good value for your money look at Blue Skies East units. The prices in dollars per square foot are very attractive.
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See Pricing for
is a Caring Star Community
Earning a Caring Star means this community is among the best Senior Living commuities in America.
What to Expect in an Independent Living Community
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:
- Numerous opportunities for socializing and exploring new activities
- Easy access to public or community-provided transportation
- Meal plans for community dining as well as kitchens for seniors who like preparing their own meals
- The ability to keep small- and medium-size pets such as dogs and cats
- Housekeeping, laundry and groundskeeping services
- 24-hour staff on-site who can be contacted if a problem arises
For a more detailed look at common amenities, check out our guide to independent living communities.
What Couples Should Know About Independent Living in San Antonio, TX
San Antonio is located in the south-central region of Texas. It’s been listed among the best places in the nation to retire for its cost of living, climate and its seemingly endless amenities, including the 35-acre San Antonio Zoo, SeaWorld San Antonio and the San Antonio Symphony, all of which offer discounts to seniors. The city is also known for its inventive Tex-Mex restaurants, shopping centers and outdoor attractions.
San Antonio is an affordable city to reside in, thanks to a cost of living slightly lower than the state and national averages, which may make it a good option for retirees with more restrictive budgets. The city also has a fairly comfortable climate year-round, with highs ranging between 63 and 96 degrees and 220 sunny days annually. Active seniors who enjoy spending time outdoors may find San Antonio’s climate to be well-suited to their lifestyle.
Paying for Independent Living in San Antonio, TX
Independent living is a little cheaper in San Antonio than in the nation as a whole, with monthly costs coming in at an average of $2,500. This is slightly more affordable than the national average of $2,550 per month, which may be good for cost-savvy retirees.
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.
Independent Living Resources in San Antonio, TX
There are many other resources and activities for seniors in San Antonio, use the table below to learn about the options available for older adults in the area.
| Resource | Phone Number | Description |
| College Credit Courses | (210) 485-0000 | Seniors age 65 and over are eligible to take up to six credit hours per semester of college courses at Alamo Colleges. The regular tuition rate for these courses is waived under this program, leaving participants with only the associated fees. Of the five Alamo Colleges that offer this program, three are in San Antonio, including Northwest Vista College, Palo Alto College and St. Philip’s College. |
| San Antonio Oasis | (210) 236-5954 | San Antonio Oasis is a non-profit organization that provides challenging courses in disciplines like humanities, health, technology and the arts, as well as an array of volunteer opportunities to San Antonio residents age 50 and over. Membership is free, based on proof of age, and members have access to four centers located throughout the region. These centers are open on weekdays, and hours vary by day and location. |
| Senior Centers | (210) 207-8198 | San Antonio is home to 10 city-operated senior centers for residents age 60 and over. These centers provide a wide variety of programs and activities, including exercise classes, arts and crafts workshops, trips and basic health screenings. Senior centers also provide daily meals, giving members the opportunity to visit with friends. Free transportation is available to the centers from homes within a five-mile radius. |
| Reduced Fare Transportation Services | (210) 362-2020 | VIA Metropolitan Transit, which provides public transportation services in the San Antonio region, has a senior discount program for area residents age 62 and over. Participants pay a very low fee on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and ride on the weekends for free. To apply for a Reduced Fare ID, older adults can go to their nearest VIA Information Center. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost of independent living in San Antonio?
According to Caring’s 2022 Senior Living Report, the average monthly cost of independent living in San Antonio is $2644.
Is it safe to live in San Antonio?
The crime rate, which is used as an indicator of how safe a particular area is, in San Antonio is 532, which is above the national average of 323.
Is traffic in San Antonio bad?
There is low traffic congestion with an above average crash rate of 10.
How much does housing cost in San Antonio?
At $1,043, the average cost of housing in San Antonio is below the nationwide average of $1,442
Is the job market good in San Antonio?
San Antonio offers a poor job market for older adults. There are typically less than 1 job available per worker and the rate of income inequality in the area is 0.47.
Is it accessible to live in San Antonio without a vehicle?
In San Antonio, 57.6% of public transportation stations and vehicles are ADA-accessible. Which is below the national average of 78.28%. On average, there are 7 local transit vehicles per hour. This is less than the national average of 8.
Are the health care options good in San Antonio?
Patient satisfaction, which is a key indicator of the quality of health care in an area, averages 75.6% in San Antonio – this is higher the national average patient satisfaction. Additionally, there are 72 primary care physicians for every 100,000 people, which is less the national average of 82.
Should you consider retiring in San Antonio?
According to Caring.com’s 2022 Senior Living Report which graded 300 cities using 46 metrics across 5 categories, San Antonio ranked in the bottom of the pack. It’s overall rank was 206th, and it scored the best in Affordability, while it’s lowest score was for Health Care.
Are there fun activities for retirees in San Antonio?
In San Antonio, the number of parks is less than the national average. Additionally, the number of cultural, arts, and entertainment options is below the average.