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.
Directory of Nursing Homes in Athens, TX
711 Lucas St , Athens, TX, 75751
Major negligence by inexperienced, uncaring staff. Atmophere does not promote healing or well-being. The place is dirty and disorganized. The staff is loud and uncaring. Be careful if you send your lo
… (read more)
Major negligence by inexperienced, uncaring staff. Atmophere does not promote healing or well-being. The place is dirty and disorganized. The staff is loud and uncaring. Be careful if you send your loved-one there.
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Major negligence by inexperienced, uncaring staff. Atmophere does not promote healing or well-being. The place is dirty and disorganized. The staff is loud and uncaring. Be careful if you send your lo
… (read more)
Major negligence by inexperienced, uncaring staff. Atmophere does not promote healing or well-being. The place is dirty and disorganized. The staff is loud and uncaring. Be careful if you send your loved-one there.
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500 Valle Vista Dr, Athens, TX, 75751
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
… (read more)
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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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
… (read more)
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
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 wit
… (read more)
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 with a 3 inch mattress on the bed, the commode was absolutely filthy. The lunchroom was nasty and his room was never cleaned the 6 days he was there and he never had a bath. I went every day and took him his lunch. His breakfast was always cold. The room was so cold he was freezing all the time. I went in on a Saturday and found him alone, not knowing where he was and he passed away that day at the hospital from double pneumonia in both lungs, a probable heart attack and sepsis. The doctor at the hospital said he was certainly never seen about as his diaper was soaked and he was red from laying in the urine.
I contacted South Place for his medical records and never got them. The day before he passed away, he was jolly, doing fine. They finally bathed him that night and completely shaved his face. He had always had a mustache, and it was shaved off. I would still like to know what happened to him the night before.
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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 wit
… (read more)
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 with a 3 inch mattress on the bed, the commode was absolutely filthy. The lunchroom was nasty and his room was never cleaned the 6 days he was there and he never had a bath. I went every day and took him his lunch. His breakfast was always cold. The room was so cold he was freezing all the time. I went in on a Saturday and found him alone, not knowing where he was and he passed away that day at the hospital from double pneumonia in both lungs, a probable heart attack and sepsis. The doctor at the hospital said he was certainly never seen about as his diaper was soaked and he was red from laying in the urine.
I contacted South Place for his medical records and never got them. The day before he passed away, he was jolly, doing fine. They finally bathed him that night and completely shaved his face. He had always had a mustache, and it was shaved off. I would still like to know what happened to him the night before.
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8579 State Hwy 31, Athens, TX, 75751
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
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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 money. He was also found with black and blues at times. He was left outside until he was sunburnt one time as well. The staff is very rude. The bandages on patients are not changed regularly. It is a very unhygienic place. The sheets are not changed on a regular basis either. The residents seem to be in fear of the staff. They seem to take the residents for granted. Complaints have been filed, but nothing has come from them. In my opinion this nursing home needs better funding and a staff that actually cares. The elderly do not deserve to be treated this poorly.
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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
… (read more)
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 money. He was also found with black and blues at times. He was left outside until he was sunburnt one time as well. The staff is very rude. The bandages on patients are not changed regularly. It is a very unhygienic place. The sheets are not changed on a regular basis either. The residents seem to be in fear of the staff. They seem to take the residents for granted. Complaints have been filed, but nothing has come from them. In my opinion this nursing home needs better funding and a staff that actually cares. The elderly do not deserve to be treated this poorly.
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305 S Palestine Street, Athens, TX, 75751
1611 W ROYALL BLVD, Malakoff, TX, 75148
My sister was in Cedar Lake Nursing Home when she broke her ankle. The nursing home atmosphere is a lot different than the assisted living, you know, it’s nowhere near as nice, and when she was in the
… (read more)
My sister was in Cedar Lake Nursing Home when she broke her ankle. The nursing home atmosphere is a lot different than the assisted living, you know, it’s nowhere near as nice, and when she was in there, it was during the COVID, so we had the visit through the window and sit outside and visit with her, and she hated every minute. It was her not wanting to be there more than it was their care, because their care was good. They took them shopping, and they had bingo and different games, and movies and stuff, too. It’s right on the main road and that’s right down the street from me, so it was perfect
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My sister was in Cedar Lake Nursing Home when she broke her ankle. The nursing home atmosphere is a lot different than the assisted living, you know, it’s nowhere near as nice, and when she was in the
… (read more)
My sister was in Cedar Lake Nursing Home when she broke her ankle. The nursing home atmosphere is a lot different than the assisted living, you know, it’s nowhere near as nice, and when she was in there, it was during the COVID, so we had the visit through the window and sit outside and visit with her, and she hated every minute. It was her not wanting to be there more than it was their care, because their care was good. They took them shopping, and they had bingo and different games, and movies and stuff, too. It’s right on the main road and that’s right down the street from me, so it was perfect
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110 W. Troup Street, Mabank, TX, 75156
Nursing Home Costs in Athens, Texas
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.
The Cost of Nursing Home Care in Nearby Cities
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.
The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care
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.
Nursing home (semiprivate room)
Nursing home (private room)
Note: Data for Athens was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Tyler, was used instead.
Financial Assistance for Nursing Home Care in Athens, Texas
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.
- Medicare: Medicare will typically cover all skilled nursing costs for the first 20 days of one’s stay in a nursing home and a portion of the costs until day 100. After 100 days in a skilled nursing facility, Medicare will not cover any part of the cost of the stay. While this is adequate when short-term care is needed, those in need of long-term care will need to either pay out-of-pocket or use another source of financial assistance.
- Medicaid: Medicaid covers most of the costs of living in a skilled nursing facility for those who qualify. Care, room, and board are covered with no time limit, but residents may be charged for extras like specially prepared food or cosmetic services. Medicaid eligibility standards are strict and complex, so not all seniors are eligible for Medicaid benefits.
- Veterans Benefits: Veterans receiving a VA pension may also be eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit administered by the VA. Aid and Attendance is a monthly allowance that beneficiaries may use to pay for their long-term care, including 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.
Free Resources for Seniors in Athens, Texas
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. |
