10 Best Independent Living Communities in Fort Worth, TX

Seniors typically use a combination of their private income sources and senior benefit programs to pay for independent living in DFW. Social Security is one benefit program commonly utilized to pay, while senior veterans can also use benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). To free up some additional cash, seniors can save on their health care costs and pay for potential senior care services in the future by using Medicaid or Medicare. We cover all these methods and more in this section.

Fort Worth independent senior living communities are not regulated by a state agency unless they share a building or campus with an assisted living care facility. Stand-alone independent living communities without shared assisted living spaces are treated the same as general apartment complexes. This means they must comply with general Texas housing and rental standards, such as the Texas Property Code and Fair Housing Act.

Housing laws help ensure that residents of any rental community are not discriminated against and are provided with safe, well-maintained housing. Additionally, most Texas independent living communities have a minimum age requirement of 55, with some raising it to 62.

Regulations for independent living communities with assisted living units

If an independent living community shares its building or campus with an assisted living community, the area designated for assisted living and any shared areas must follow assisted living facility regulations. Assisted living regulations are set by Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) to help ensure a proper environment for aging seniors. If you’d like to learn more about Texas’ assisted living regulations, visit the laws and regulations section of our Fort Worth assisted living page.

Regulations for stand-alone independent living facilities

In Texas, stand-alone independent living communities are required to comply with the state’s housing and apartment regulations for landlords and tenants. This means landlords must grant tenants some specific rights, provide disability accommodations, and maintain all facilities. Below, you’ll learn about your rights as a resident in an independent living rental community.

What are my rights as an independent living tenant in Fort Worth, Texas?

It’s useful to learn about your tenants’ rights, as it’ll help you find a safe and satisfactory living situation while you rent. Here’s a brief overview of some important tenants’ rights in Texas:

• Residents have the right to ask their landlord to repair structural problems that risk their health and safety. And landlords must make a diligent effort to repair the problems at hand.
• Residents may terminate their lease if a problem that affects their health hasn’t been resolved after two notices to the landlord within a reasonable timeframe — usually seven days.
• Residents may hire an external contractor to fix the problems at hand if their landlord fails to resolve issues after multiple notices within a reasonable timeframe. Residents can then submit their expenses to the landlord to deduct from their rent.

Before attempting to terminate a lease or hiring an external contractor, it’s strongly recommended that you reach out to an attorney or a local tenants association for advice. Consulting a housing expert will prevent you from breaching any lease agreements, leading you to the end result you desire. It’s also recommended that tenants provide multiple written notices to their landlord and keep a copy of each notice as proof.

If you’re seeking more information on your rights as a senior apartment tenant, be sure to read the Texas Tenants’ Rights Handbook.

Can I ask for disability-related accommodations and modifications in a Fort Worth independent living community?

In Texas, federal nondiscrimination laws — such as the Fair Housing Act, Section 504, and Americans with Disabilities Act (or ADA) — protect tenants from being discriminated against due to their disability. Furthermore, these laws require housing providers to provide reasonable accommodations and modifications in housing, programs, and activities for individuals with disabilities.

If you’re a senior with a disability, you have the right to request reasonable accommodations and modifications within your independent living community. Reasonable accommodations are defined as changes to facility policies. Here are some examples of reasonable accommodations that could be provided by a rental community:

• Allowing a service animal to live with a resident even when there’s a no-pets policy in place
• Assigning a parking spot for easy entry to the resident’s building
• Changing the due date of rent to reflect a resident’s disability income payment dates

Modifications are structural changes to common areas and individual units. Some examples of reasonable modifications in line with the ADA include the following:

• Installing a specialized smoke detector for a resident with a hearing impairment
• Adding a wheelchair ramp to enable a disabled resident to easily access shared spaces and participate in resident activities
• Installing grab bars or widening doorways in a resident’s unit to accommodate wheelchair users

These nondiscrimination laws apply to all rental communities in Fort Worth. Property owners are required to pay for such modifications unless providing them would pose an undue financial or administrative burden. If you’d like more information, see this detailed infographic on reasonable accommodations and modifications for Texas renters.

Who do I contact for additional questions or concerns while renting in Texas?

For general concerns, Fort Worth offers an overview of renter’s rights and guidelines on its city website. For further questions regarding a lease or contract, the city recommends that renters reach out to the following agencies:

• Better Business Bureau
  1612 Summit Ave.
  Fort Worth, TX 76102
  Phone: 817-332-7585

• Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
  600 E. Weatherford St.
  Fort Worth, TX 76102
  Phone: 817-336-3943

You can also view rental inspection scores on the Fort Worth city website. Search for your prospective independent living community by name or address to find its most recent inspection date and score.

COVID-19 regulations for Fort Worth independent living communities

Due to the overall decline in COVID-19 infections, Fort Worth doesn’t have any COVID-19 regulations in place for stand-alone independent living communities. Nevertheless, Fort Worth residents can visit the COVID-19 informational page on the city’s official website to get the latest news regarding local outbreaks, vaccinations, COVID-19 testing, and more.

On the other hand, an independent living community that shares spaces with an assisted living community must comply with any standards set forth by the assisted living community. The Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) requires assisted living facilities to set their own infection prevention and control measures for common infections, including COVID-19. These measures may include a community’s hygiene practices, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), disinfection and sterilization techniques, safe injection methods, and physical distancing requirements.

Because communities are allowed to set their own standards, it’s best to check with your prospective community directly to see how they’re handling COVID-19.

Fort Worth has become a hotspot for seniors looking to lead an active retirement in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area. The city attracts seniors due to its small-town feel within a metropolitan area, robust health care options, and ideal weather. To accommodate the aging population, the city enacted an action plan called Age-Friendly Fort Worth in 2017. The city has since then implemented aging-friendly practices across the following domains to increase the quality of life for local seniors:

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

The DFW area has also increased its senior living options over the last few years. A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with many independent living communities in Fort Worth’s metro, but options more than double when the search is expanded to the greater DFW metroplex, including Dallas and Arlington. Fort Worth still offers several great options for those who want to remain in the city’s metro area. Below, you’ll find all the unique features of these local independent living communities in Fort Worth.

Multiple levels of care offer peace of mind

About a third of our partner independent living communities offer multi-tiered care levels to promote aging in place. Many seniors enter independent living to escape the stresses of home ownership and to reap the benefits of resort-style services and amenities. Luckily, seniors don’t have to worry about relocating if their care needs increase, as many of our partner communities also offer care services on-site.

Most of our partners offer an assisted living unit or memory care unit on-site to accommodate seniors’ unique needs. Assisted living offers seniors the same amenities of independent living in addition to assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and personalized care services. Memory care offers all of that with a more personalized and attentive approach to help handle each resident’s dementia symptoms. Some communities even offer visiting nurses to oversee advanced care needs. This multi-tiered care approach also enables senior couples to age together on the same campus, despite differing care needs.

Robust amenities offer luxury and convenience

Many seniors choose independent living for the added convenience provided by the robust services and resort-style amenities on-site. As a resident of our partner communities, daily tasks are taken care of with services like on-site dining, housekeeping, and transportation. Senior residents don’t have to cook, clean, or drive unless it’s something they wish to do. In that case, some communities offer apartment units with full kitchens and resident parking.

Independent living communities also offer amenities to help residents maintain a daily routine and optimal health. Seniors can stay physically, mentally, and socially active by utilizing the following on-site amenities in Fort Worth:

• Fitness centers
• Business centers
• Libraries
• Beauty salons and barbershops
• Arts and crafts centers
• Clubhouses/game rooms
• Movie theaters
• Swimming pools and Jacuzzis
• Small stores with daily conveniences
• Dining rooms and cafes with refreshments
• Concierge services

Diverse activities foster a healthy and engaging environment

Independent living communities in Fort Worth aim to help residents immerse in new experiences and engage in their favorite tried-and-true activities. Communities host a variety of activities and classes based on the current resident population’s interests. Residents can find new ways to get active, relax, and socialize through these community-hosted activities.

Some of the most common activities seen in Fort Worth independent living communities include the following:

• Fitness classes (chair yoga, tai chi, aerobics, stretching, etc.)
• Art and cooking classes
• Interest clubs (book clubs, current events club, gardening club, etc.)
• Musical events (karaoke, music lessons, live performances, etc.)
• Card and board games (bingo, poker, trivia, etc.)
• Devotional services
• Group outings (trips to local diners, museums, events, etc.)
• Volunteer opportunities

Fort Worth’s health care options are part of the greater Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area, with the top-rated medical centers mainly in Dallas. Below, you’ll find information on what these medical centers in the DFW area have to offer.

Some Fort Worth seniors prefer to drive around the city themselves; however, transportation services are typically available at our independent living in DFW partners. As a matter of fact, approximately 90% of our partner independent living communities in Fort Worth offer complimentary transportation services to residents. Keep in mind, some communities limit rides to appointments and errands, while others will provide rides for leisure and social activities.

Public transportation options for seniors in Fort Worth

Seniors and their visiting loved ones can also utilize Tarrant County’s public transportation system, Trinity Metro, to easily get around Fort Worth. 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.

Local residents and their families may also want to get a better idea of the city’s sprawl. The following scores from Walk Score can help you paint a picture of the city’s infrastructure and accessibility. The scores are each out of 100 and are based on Fort Worth’s public density, walking and biking routes, public transportation options, and other factors:

Seniors have a world of interesting activities to experience in Fort Worth, Texas. With the city growing into one greater metroplex — Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) — residents are able to find something for even their most niche interests. The DFW area boasts famous American restaurants, museums, events, parks, and more.

Here’s a brief summary of some of the top senior activities in Fort Worth:

• Fort Worth golf. The city of Fort Worth maintains four astonishing golf courses. Each course has unique features — some feature rolling hills, canals, and scenic, winding cart paths. One golf course even overlooks the stunning Dallas skyline. Seniors can attend unique golf events or join competitions. You can even join local golf associations — most courses offer their own association, but the Fort Worth Ladies Golf Association is specifically for the women golfers of Fort Worth.
• Fort Worth performing arts. Fort Worth offers several options for theater lovers. In fact, seniors are able to spend their evenings attending famous operas, jazz performances, symphonies, plays, ballets, and much more. Some of the city’s venues are also rich in historical nostalgia, as they preserve original architecture and design from past eras.
• Fort Worth shopping districts. Seniors who enjoy browsing shops for unique and luxury finds are in luck because Fort Worth offers a range of shopping districts. You can shop luxury brands at The Shops at Clearfork, search for vintage gems at the popular Montgomery Street Antique Mall, or stroll local boutiques in Sundance Square.
• Fort Worth restaurants. The city offers a wide variety of highly rated restaurants and cafes for foodies. Seniors can relish the unique flavors of Texas, including the state-famous barbecue, Tex-Mex, and comforting Southern foods. The city is home to award-winning chefs and cuisines from around the country and world, including seafood, Asian, BBQ, Italian, and other European cuisines.
• Senior center activities. Active seniors can make new friends and find community outreach at one of Fort Worth’s senior community centers. Centers across the city offer myriad programs for local seniors, like fitness classes, arts and crafts activities, group games, and much more.

If you need any accommodations due to a disability, be sure to inquire with each destination above before planning your visit. Many of these locations offer accessible options for those with limited mobility to get around. Some locations even offer specialized accommodations for specific disabilities.