Memory Care Communities in Houston, TX

The most expensive city for memory care in Texas is Victoria, which has a monthly average cost of $7,000 — almost $1,700 more than Houston. The typical senior in the least expensive city of Texarkana pays just $3,463 per month, while those in the state capital of Austin pay an estimated $6,681 each month. Waco and San Angelo are both among the most affordable options in the state, at $3,500 and $3,750, respectively. 

Note: Residential memory care is usually offered in assisted living facilities, and in general, memory care rates tend to be 20-30% higher than assisted living rates. No national database currently tracks memory care costs in the United States, so we’ve estimated the monthly memory care costs listed below by adding 25% to the rates listed in Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey.

In Houston, the average senior pays $5,306 per month for memory care. This is approximately $300 more than the Texas state average of $4,998. Costs in Houston are lower than the national median of $5,625.

While Houston ranks among Texas’s more expensive cities for memory care, prospective residents and their families have several options for funding care. Depending on their financial and medical needs, they may obtain memory care coverage through veterans’ benefits, state and federal health insurance programs and private funding.

• Medicaid: Texas Medicaid houses the STAR+PLUS managed care program for seniors who need financial assistance with residential memory care. This program has numerous benefits, including coverage for adaptive aids, medication management, personal care and skilled nursing.
• Medicare: Medicare’s Part B coverage pays for medically necessary services such as rehabilitative therapies, medication administration and medical monitoring. However, it doesn’t pay for nonmedical services such as housing, personal care or daily meals.
• VA Benefits: The Veterans’ Administration helps qualified veterans pay for memory care through the Geriatrics and Extended Care Program, which pays for meals, help with daily living activities and medication assistance. Qualified veterans may also receive an increased monthly pension through the Aid and Attendance or Housebound programs.
• Private payments: In the absence of financial assistance, memory care residents pay for housing, personal care services, transportation, meals and other supportive services with their private income and assets. They have several options for private payments, including monthly retirement income, savings, investments or money from selling their home.

Adult day care is the least costly option for senior care in Houston at an average of $1,099 per month. Assisted living is the next most affordable option with a typical monthly cost of $4,245. Seniors opting to stay at home pay an average of $4,576 for home care or home health care. The most expensive option is nursing home care at around $5,262 for a semiprivate room.

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) regulates long-term care providers, including memory care facilities in Houston and across the state of Texas. The department issues licenses to care facilities and ensures they are following all state and federal regulations by conducting regular inspections. Facilities must follow all regulations listed in the terms of their license. 

Benefits

• Houston has warm conditions throughout the year, with daytime temperatures averaging 95 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and 63 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. This supports a comfortable environment for memory care residents sensitive to cold weather.
• Houston houses several nationally ranked hospitals, promoting high access to quality care for older residents. Houston Methodist Hospital and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center have specialist Alzheimer’s units and a wide range of medical services to suit seniors' needs. 
• Houston’s cost of living runs about 5% below the national norm, supporting financial stability for memory care residents with fixed incomes. Additionally, state-funded programs such as the STAR+PLUS managed care program promote access to affordable care for those who meet financial and medical criteria.

Drawbacks

• Ranking safer than just 2% of U.S. communities, Houston has a high crime rate of 57.34 incidents per 1,000 people annually. Fortunately, memory care communities offer a secure environment with monitored entry points and alarm systems.
• The American Lung Association finds high ozone pollution levels in Harris County, where Houston sits, and it gives the region an F for this type of pollution. Additionally, it gives Harris County a failing score for annual particle pollution levels and a C for 24-hour particle pollution. To minimize risks associated with environmental irritants, many memory care communities have air purification systems.