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

Most seniors and their families use a combination of private and public funds to cover the cost of assisted living. These include personal income or savings, veterans benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Texas assisted living facilities are licensed and regulated by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. The department defines assisted living facilities (ALFs) as establishments that offer residents room and board, supervision, personal care, and medication administration.

You can find all assisted living regulations in the Texas Administrative Code and Health and Safety Code.

Licensing

The Texas Department of Health and Human Services licenses and inspects all ALFs in the state. ALFs can obtain two types of licenses. A Type A license is for facilities where residents typically don’t require assistance during the night and can follow instructions in case of an emergency. On the other hand, a Type B license is intended for facilities where residents do, in fact, require some overnight assistance and would need help evacuating during an emergency. In Texas, no ALFS can admit residents who need around-the-clock medical care.

Inspections

Assisted living facilities in Texas get inspected about every two years. These inspections help ensure compliance in two critical areas: health and safety.

The health inspection verifies that the facility maintains staffing levels, has required training programs, and ensures staff members have passed criminal background checks. It also looks for anything that could potentially hurt the health of the residents. For instance, the life safety code inspection assesses whether the building has precautions that lower the risks of emergencies, such as fires or flooding.

Resident rights

To ensure transparency and protection, ALFs in Plano must give each resident a copy of the Residents’ Bill of Rights and display it prominently in the facility. Within two weeks of a resident’s arrival, the ALF should create an individualized service plan (ISP) that outlines the needed care and how the ALF will meet those needs.

Texas offers a long-term care provider search portal. You can access inspection reports, complaint information, and additional details about assisted living facilities in the state.

Texas Department of Health contact information

Texas Department of Health and Human Services

North Austin Complex
4601 W. Guadalupe St.
Austin, TX 78751

Phone: 512-424-6500

COVID-19 regulations for Plano assisted living facilities

There are no COVID-19 laws in place for Plano area assisted living facilities. Collin County Public Health provides some guidance to prevent disease, as does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you want the comfort of an assisted living facility in a peaceful area with easy access to big-city amenities, Plano has you covered. Plano is an affluent suburb of the Dallas-Forth Worth area.

Local assisted living facilities reflect a quiet luxury with top-notch caregivers, excellent meals, and an understated elegance. In this section, we cover what assisted living in Plano is really like according to communities, residents, and family members.

Assisted living is a hassle-free senior living option for people over 65 who need a little extra help during the day, but don’t need around-the-clock assistance. It’s perfect for seniors who may need help moving from room to room or remembering to take their medication.

Seniors with dementia are better suited for Plano’s memory care communities. People who need medical attention or who are unable to get out of bed themselves may be a good fit for a local skilled nursing facility. Active adults who want a larger living space and more flexibility might prefer an independent living community in Plano.

Options to suit your needs

A Place for Mom partners with 67 assisted living facilities in the Plano area. Not all assisted living facilities in Plano offer the same experience, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs. Most communities are traditional, which means they have more than 25 residents and offer only personal care. About half of assisted living communities in Plano also offer memory care services, although memory care does come at a higher price.

A small group of our partner assisted living facilities in Plano are residential care homes, which offer the same services as traditional assisted living communities but do it from a residential home. Residential care homes typically have no more than eight residents at a time, and caregivers may live in the home with the residents. While these offer the same care services and are licensed in the same way, they tend to be somewhat less expensive than larger facilities.

Seniors who want access to different types of care and more social opportunities may prefer traditional assisted living communities. Those who are looking to save some money and enjoy the familiar setting of a residential home may be better suited to a residential care home.

Independence with assistance for the perfect blend

Individual choice and personal preferences are top of mind at our partner Plano assisted living facilities, no matter which one you choose. For example, you can enjoy restaurant-style dining, take room service, or stop by an on-site bistro. Options like low-sodium diets and vegetarian meals are also commonly offered.

In addition to housekeeping and laundry service, some of our partner facilities also offer dry cleaning, grocery shopping, and errand services. Keep in mind that these extra services tend to be offered only at the larger traditional assisted living facilities.

Best hospitals for seniors in Plano

As one of the principal suburbs of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Plano has plenty of established and reputable hospitals that are all within a 20-minute drive from our partner assisted living communities.

Transportation for seniors in Plano

Residents at our partner assisted living facilities in Plano have convenient access to on-site transportation services, with 57% of our partners providing complimentary transportation and the others offering at-cost options. This makes traveling to medical appointments, errands, and events simple and safe for seniors.

For visiting family and friends, Plano is one of 12 suburbs of Dallas to opt into the Dallas Area Rapid Transit System (DART). Most of Plano’s transportation options include the DART light rails, buses, and on-demand transportation.

In Plano, you can catch the Orange or Red Lines of the DART Rail System at the Downtown Plano Station or the Parker Road Station. If you need to know how these lines connect to others, check this rail system map.

If this all seems a bit overwhelming, DART offers a travel training program. One-on-one time with an instructor will teach you how to use the DART system, from purchasing a ticket to recognizing bus numbers to understanding the route system. Call 214-828-8676 to sign up or inquire about the program.

For on-demand rides, use GoLink. This DART On-Demand service is available seven days a week from 5 a.m. to midnight. A door-to-door paratransit service is also available for those with disabilities who can’t use the regular DART buses or light rails. Other options include using My Ride North Texas — which covers a 16-county area — Alto, Uber, and Lyft.

If you’re interested in striking out on foot or by bike, Plano has a decent walk score and bike score. Walk Score provides this number by comparing the infrastructure for walking and biking among cities and rating them on a scale of 0 to 100.

Things to do in Plano for seniors and their families

There are plenty of fun things to do in Plano, but you can also head into Dallas for even more activities. All of our partner assisted living facilities in Plano offer daily and weekly activities for the residents. These can range from visiting choirs to movie nights to BINGO games. Many communities also take residents on field trips to local museums or performances. Family and friends are also encouraged to visit and take their loved ones on regular excursions.

Explore Plano

You can start out in Downtown Plano Arts District, where you’ll find events such as the Third Thursday Sip and Shop or a Jazz Concert Under the Starz. Nearby Haggard Park is a great place for a stroll or relaxing in the gazebo taking in the lakeside views. While you’re there, you can wander over to the Interurban Railway Museum, where admission is free!

Explore the historic grounds of the Heritage Farmstead Museum. This facility brings the North Texas Blackland Prairie to life.

Get outside

Local seniors enjoy the 800-acre Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve, which has a lake for fishing and miles of trails for a nice stroll. Eight miles of the trail system are concrete, which is perfect if you are looking for something wheelchair accessible. Another great Plano park is Bob Woodruff Park North, where you can enjoy a fishing pier and trails and do some people-watching in the equestrian area, where you can enjoy seeing horses, too.

There’s no shortage of places to get out and drive a golf ball if that’s something you enjoy. Check out a few of the beautiful fairways you can find in Plano:

• The Courses at Watters Creek
• The Golf Ranch
• Ridgeview Ranch

Branch out

Do a little sightseeing by heading just north of Plano to the Southfork Ranch. It bills itself as the World’s Most Famous Ranch, because it’s been seen by millions of people on T.V. as the Ewing mansion on the show “Dallas.”

Speaking of Dallas, history buffs will want to head into Dallas and check out the George W. Bush Presidential Center. It’s not only a Presidential library and museum, it is also a gorgeous 15-acre prairie and a Texas rose garden. For even more presidential history, head over to Dealy Plaza and visit The Sixth Floor Museum, located inside the former Texas School Book Depository from where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

If sports are more your thing, there are plenty of options to enjoy. Get a behind-the-scenes look at pro football by taking a tour of AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can also take in a game and root for the Cowboys, the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, the NHL’s Dallas Stars, or the MLB’s Texas Rangers.

To be amazed by nature, you won’t want to miss the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, where you’ll see more than a million colorful plants and flowers along with beautiful water features and sculptures. Wheelchairs and trams are available, making the gardens accessible. Seniors get discounted admission.