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

Seniors and their families typically turn to several payment methods to pay for their assisted living in Fort Worth, from private savings to public benefits. Most seniors pull together their savings, retirement income, insurance policies, and funds from federal and state programs for their ideal retirement. In this section, you’ll find helpful information on how to use private pay options as well as veterans benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare to cover long-term care 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 Fort Worth, assisted living facilities must meet several standards to remain licensed. Below, you’ll find a brief overview of these Texas assisted living standards.

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 information on 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. These caregivers are required to complete 4 hours of orientation before assuming any caregiver responsibilities. They must also complete 16 hours of supervised, on-the-job training. Training should cover 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 should ensure 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. Additionally, communities should secure each resident’s Medicare and/or Medicaid number at the time of admission.
• 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 other details.

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

Texas Department of 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 Fort Worth assisted living facilities

Fort Worth 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 should include guidance on a community’s hygiene practices, touching the following:

• Disinfection and sterilization techniques
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Safe injection methods
• Physical distancing requirements

Because communities are allowed to set their own regulations, it’s best to check with your prospective community to see what current COVID-19 rules they may have in place. You can also visit the COVID-19 informational page on the Fort Worth website to see regular updates regarding local risk levels, testing, vaccinations, and more.

Fort Worth has become a hub for retiring seniors in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex. It naturally attracts seniors due to its ideal temperatures, robust health care options, and unique senior-friendly initiatives. For instance, the city enacted an action plan called Age-Friendly Fort Worth in 2017 to increase the quality of life for current and future senior residents. Over the last few years, the plan has focused on implementing aging-friendly initiatives in the following domains:

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

The DFW metroplex is also home to Sixty and Better — a nonprofit that empowers older adults to live with purpose, independence, and dignity. The nonprofit offers social support services, local senior programs, and more. Fort Worth also offers a robust senior living scene with a range of assisted living communities to help seniors find the most ideal, supportive environment for their next chapter of life. Below, you’ll find an overview of the most common and enticing features of our partner Fort Worth assisted living communities.

Multiple care levels promote aging in place

More than half of our assisted living partners in Fort Worth offer options for aging in place. This means that these communities offer more than one level of care on-site. Fort Worth senior living communities may provide independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. The most popular combination in Fort Worth is assisted living with memory care. This multitiered approach helps seniors age in place, meaning they won’t have to move if their care needs ever change. This approach also enables aging couples with different needs to live together. For example, if one partner requires dementia care while the other partner only requires light day-to-day assistance, the couple can select a community that offers both assisted living and memory care.

Seniors taking the independent living option can eliminate stressors like home ownership and daily chores and, instead, focus on building friendships and maintaining hobbies. Independent living communities offer residents access to an array of convenient services and luxurious amenities that foster social, physical, and mental health. Assisted living offers residents all of that along with assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and personalized care services, depending on health care needs. Memory care offers the same care services; however, it goes the extra mile to offer personalized, attentive care for residents with memory loss. Memory care staff are trained to provide specialized treatments and therapies for behaviors that residents with dementia commonly experience.

Comprehensive care services enhance quality of life

Fort Worth assisted living communities aim to eliminate excessive travel for routine care needs. To do so, many of our partner communities offer on-site nurses and medical services within a resident’s unit. Some of the most common on-site medical services available at Fort Worth assisted living communities include the following:

• Medication management
• Diabetes management
• Urinary or bowel incontinence management
• Dental care
• Podiatry
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapies

Some assisted living communities even offer on-site clinics, with optometrists, dieticians, doctors, and other specialists to help residents access optimal care. A few Fort Worth communities also offer a skilled nursing facility on-site to handle more complex medical issues.

Diverse activities and amenities stimulate the mind, body, and soul

Fort Worth assisted living communities offer an array of on-site amenities and a robust calendar of activities to help residents stay healthily active and engaged. Some communities offer researched programs to help seniors thrive, while other communities encourage resident-led activities.

Some of the most common activities you’ll find in our partner Fort Worth assisted living communities include the following:

• Art and cooking classes
• Fitness classes (chair yoga, strength training, aerobics, etc.)
• Devotional services
• Lifelong learning lectures or classes
• Interest clubs (book clubs, chess club, gardening club, etc.)
• Happy hours and/or wine tastings
• Holiday parties and birthday celebrations
• Group games (trivia, bingo, poker, board games, etc.)
• Singing events (karaoke nights, choir groups, etc.)
• Day trips and outings (local diners, museums, local festivals, etc.)

Seniors are also free to explore on-site amenities at their own leisure. Some of the most common amenities in our partner Fort Worth assisted living communities include the following:

• Arts and crafts centers
• Fitness centers
• Beauty salons and barbershops
• Libraries and business centers
• Devotional spaces
• Gardens with raised gardening beds
• Game rooms
• On-site cafes and pubs
• Common living spaces (sunrooms, lounges, etc.)
• Courtyards and walking paths

A few of our assisted living partners in Fort Worth also offer some luxe amenities like on-site swimming pools, Jacuzzis, spas, putting greens, and more.

The Fort Worth health care scene is merged with the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area, meaning the area’s top-rated medical centers are mainly in Dallas. Here’s an overview of what the highly rated medical centers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have to offer.

Active, licensed seniors may use their own cars to get around Fort Worth; however, they don’t have to — most of our assisted living partners provide on-site transportation options for residents, or they connect residents to local transportation services. As a matter of fact, 91% of our partner communities in Fort Worth offer complimentary transportation services. Keep in mind, some communities limit these rides to medical appointments and necessary errands, while other communities offer rides for leisure events.

Public transportation options for seniors in Fort Worth

Visiting families and friends can utilize Tarrant County’s public transportation system, Trinity Metro, to easily get around Fort Worth when visiting their senior loved one. Trinity Metro offers buses, trains, and rideshare options. Tarrant County also partners with nonprofit transportation services to offer seniors rides to routine medical appointments, shopping trips, and other essential errands. If your senior loved one must choose a public transportation method, make sure they’re accompanied by a caregiver.

Families might also be interested in learning about the city’s sprawl. These scores from WalkScore can help you get a better idea of Fort Worth’s transportation options. The scores are each out of 100 and are based on the public density, walking and biking routes, public transportation options, and general infrastructure:

Fort Worth offers a range of exciting activities for seniors of all mobility levels. With the city merging into one greater metroplex — Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) — seniors can find a world of unique activities near and far. DFW offers a selection of mouthwatering restaurants, captivating museums, and refreshing outdoor activities.

Here’s a glimpse at some of Fort Worth’s top senior-favored activities and attractions:

• Fort Worth restaurants. Fort Worth offers Texas’ finest — world-famous Texas barbecue, nostalgic desserts, Tex-Mex, and seafood. Seniors and their families can spend evenings dining in five-star restaurants or just grab takeout from delicious local joints. Some assisted living communities will even take residents on outings to popular restaurants and diners nearby.
• Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge. This nature center expands over 3,600 acres and offers over 20 miles of hiking trails. It’s known for its stunning forests, prairies, and wetlands. The center aims to preserve Fort Worth’s origins by preserving the land, flora, and fauna. Seniors can stroll some of the easy-to-navigate trails or find a scenic outlook and enjoy a picnic. Plus, seniors get a discount.
• Fort Worth Zoo. The city’s zoo houses over 500 fascinating species, including small and large critters that walk, climb, fly, and slither. The zoo also offers accommodations — like wheelchair rentals, sensory bags, accessibility maps, and more — for individuals with disabilities.
• Sundance Square. This town square is filled with decadent flavors, lively entertainment, diverse shops, and convenient services. Seniors can enjoy live music outdoors, attend concerts and plays, browse local and well-known shops, or examine unique works of art at the Sid Richardson Museum. Get some errands out of the way and stop by their bank, post office, or barbershop. Many of the attractions within Sundance Square also provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities — just be sure to ask.
• Kimbell Art Museum. This museum boasts over 350 works of art — all chosen for their condition, rarity, importance, and communicative powers. Each piece is carefully selected for its aesthetic appeal and historical importance. Seniors can explore the stunning exhibitions, marvel at the unique architectural elements, or check out books on unique art topics from all around the world in the museum’s library. Plus, this museum is known for its accessibility as it aims to accommodate various disabilities or complex needs.