DEV | TEST h1 template (view-level fallback) Assisted Living

There are several ways for seniors to pay for assisted living in Austin. Most seniors use a combination of private retirement funds, insurance policies, and federal and state programs. In this section, you’ll find useful information on how you can use private pay methods, veterans benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid to cover some of your loved one’s medical and assisted living costs.

In Texas, all assisted living facilities must be licensed and certified by Texas Health and Human Services (also known as HHS) in order to operate and house residents. Texas Health and Human Services refers to assisted living facilities as ALFs and categorizes them into Type A and Type B. Here’s how the two differ:

• Type A ALFs house residents who don’t require routine attendance and are capable of following directions in an emergency situation.
• Type B ALFs provide care to residents who require nighttime attendance and assistance for evacuation during emergencies.

Most stand-alone assisted living facilities qualify as Type A, while facilities with memory care and/or other specialized care units typically qualify as Type B. In Austin, assisted living facilities must meet several standards to remain licensed.

Assisted living staffing and training regulations

• Assisted living facility managers must complete a course in management of assisted living facilities. The course must cover general assisted living standards, resident characteristics, resident assessments, skills to care for residents, and information on food and nutrition services. Training must also include community resources, ethics, financial management, and federal laws — especially accessibility laws under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Assisted living facilities must have caregivers on-site 24 hours a day. They’re required to complete 4 hours of orientation before assuming any caregiver responsibilities, and they must complete 16 hours of supervised, on-the-job training. Training should include assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), safety measures, fall prevention, emergency evacuation training, first aid procedures, behavior management, and more. Thereafter, caregivers must complete 6 hours of educational training on a yearly basis.
• Each facility must have sufficient staff to maintain the facility’s order, safety, and cleanliness. Caregivers must also assist residents with medication routines, meal preparation and accommodations, and laundry.

Assisted living admissions, assessments, and care plans

• Assisted living facilities are in charge of ensuring that they can meet the needs of potential residents. They must not admit or retain residents whose needs cannot be met at the facility.
• Prior to admission, facilities must provide a written admission agreement between the facility and the resident. The agreement should entail the services to be provided and charges for the services. If a provided service or supply can be covered by Medicare, the assisted living facility must let the residents know in a statement.
• Newly admitted residents must have a health examination performed by a physician. It should be performed no later than 30 days before admission or 14 days after. This examination must then be used to conduct a comprehensive resident assessment and create a service plan.
• Comprehensive assessments must include the resident’s previous place of residence, preferred language, sleep-cycle issues, behavioral symptoms, psychosocial issues, dementia history, activities of daily living patterns, preferred activities, cognitive skills, communication ability, physical function, continence status, nutritional status, medications, health conditions, and more.

Assisted living facility inspections

All Texas ALFs must pass a life safety code, physical inspection, and health inspection before they are officially licensed. The life safety code ensures a facility’s ability to safely house residents, while the health inspection ensures that it’s equipped to protect resident health. After an initial inspection, facilities are inspected at least once every two years.

During an inspection, Texas Health and Human Services checks for the following in an ALF:

• General facility construction
• Management of the facility
• Sufficient staff-to-resident ratios
• Compliance with employee background checks
• Implementation of safety and emergency features
• Proper protection from hazardous areas
• Documentation of fire drills, system checks, etc.

The general public can use the Long-term Care Provider Search to access each licensed assisted living facility’s most recent inspection report and general facility information. To request any additional information not found on the site, email rsltcr.recordsmgmt@hhsc.state.tx.us.

Additional information and resources

• Summary of Texas assisted living regulations and records
• Texas assisted living laws
• Texas assisted living regulations

Texas Health and Human Services (HHS or HHSC) contact information
4601 W. Guadalupe St.
Austin, TX 78751
Phone: 512-424-6500
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5. p.m.

COVID-19 regulations for Austin assisted living facilities

Austin doesn’t have any specific COVID-19 regulations in place for assisted living communities. However, the state does require all assisted living facilities to develop their own infection prevention and control measures for common infections, including COVID-19. The measures may include guidance on the community’s hygiene practices, disinfection and sterilization techniques, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe injection methods, and physical distancing requirements.

Because communities are allowed to set their own regulations, it’s best to check with your prospective community to see what measures are being taken to protect seniors against common infections and COVID-19. You can also visit the COVID-19 in Austin page on the city website to see regular updates regarding risk levels, testing, vaccinations, and more.

Over the last decade, Austin has seen nearly a 75% increase in its 65+ population. This rise can be attributed to Austin’s robust health care options, warm weather, unique activities, and increase in senior living options. Plus, the city has been making strides to become even friendlier for current and future seniors by enacting an action plan called Age-Friendly Austin.

The Age-Friendly Austin plan addresses eight areas that influence the health and quality of life for seniors:

• Outdoor spaces and buildings
• Transportation options
• Housing
• Social participation
• Respect and social inclusion
• Civic participation and employment
• Communication and information
• Community support and health services

As the senior population grows, more seniors are looking for safe and fun options for their retirement. That’s where assisted living communities come in, as they provide a secure, engaging environment for seniors to physically, mentally, and socially thrive. In Austin, the assisted living scene offers robust amenities and services to help seniors lead their best lives. Check out some of Austin’s unique assisted living features below.

Comprehensive care to support aging in place

Moving is a hassle for everyone, especially so when needs increase with aging. To minimize the stress of moving for seniors, Austin assisted living communities offer multiple care options under one roof. In fact, 10 of them offer a memory care unit, while five of those also offer an independent living option. This multi-tiered care approach enables active seniors to move in for the social aspect of senior living and stay for the added care available. If daily care needs arise or memory loss settles in, seniors can easily transition to assisted living or memory care.

Seniors also don’t have to worry about leaving the premises for regular health issues, as many communities provide on-site nursing, which includes checking a senior’s vitals, addressing their health issues, medication administration, injection administration, on-site therapies, and more. 75% of communities even have an on-site doctor or licensed nurse to help ensure proper medical care.

Robust amenities and programming to support unique lifestyles

Austin assisted living communities aim to fill seniors’ lives with purpose and fulfillment by offering a range of activities and services. Some communities have researched programs with goals in place to help seniors thrive while other communities let their residents suggest activities.

Some of the most common activities seen at Austin assisted living communities include the following:

• Fitness classes (chair yoga, tai chi, water aerobics, etc.)
• Art and cooking classes
• Educational lectures or classes
• Game nights (trivia, bingo, board games, card games, etc.)
• Singing (karaoke nights, choir groups, sing-a-longs, etc.)
• Resident talent shows
• Interest clubs (book clubs, current events club, walking club, etc.)
• Devotional services
• Day trips and outings (picnics at local parks, trips to museums, eating at local diners, etc.)

Of course, seniors are also free to use on-site amenities at their leisure. Some of the most common and enticing amenities include the following:

• Enclosed courtyard or walking paths
• Gardens with raised garden beds
• Fitness centers
• On-site bistros or cafes
• On-site bars or pubs
• Game rooms
• Arts and crafts centers
• Movie theaters
• Libraries and/or business centers
• Swimming pools
• Common areas (lounges, patios, decks, etc.)

Assisted living in the surrounding Austin suburbs

Austin’s hustle and bustle isn’t for everyone, so some seniors prefer to retire in the city’s outskirts or suburbs. In recent years, many surrounding cities have been clumped with Austin due to its rapid growth. For example, Round Rock and Cedar Park have become incredibly popular for assisted living, as they offer more peace and space compared to communities in the city. Due to their distance from downtown, they also offer a slightly lower rent price without sacrificing quality of care and amenities.

If affordability is especially important to you or your senior loved one, you might consider Pflugerville. It cuts costs down by approximately 20% and offers family-friendly neighborhoods. The city still offers lovely parks and classic activities without being too far from Austin’s attractions.

Health care for seniors in Austin

Austin’s range of health care options makes it attractive to seniors. The city has robust medical centers throughout the city. Here’s some information on Austin’s top-rated medical centers:

Transportation for seniors in Austin

Austin is a widespread city, which makes it a challenging city to easily navigate on foot; most residents own a vehicle to drive themselves around. However, the city’s downtown area is known for its walking paths and biking trails. And, seniors in assisted living are in luck because 87% of our in-network communities offer complimentary transportation services. Keep in mind that rides may be limited to and from appointments and errands depending on the community.

Visiting loved ones might also benefit from the citywide public transportation system — CapMetro. It offers buses, rail lines, shuttles, and more across Austin. CapMetro even offers 65+ seniors a Reduced Fare ID (RFID) Card for $3, enabling families to enjoy trips with their loved one with accommodations for any mobility impairments they may have. After an initial $3 for the card, seniors will pay half-priced fares for any rides. The card must be renewed every two years.

Family members may also get better understanding of Austin’s downtown by using the following scores from WalkScore. They’re each out of 100 and are based on downtown Austin’s public density, walking routes, public transportation options, biking routes, and infrastructure: