10 Best Independent Living Communities in San Antonio, TX

Seniors typically use a combination of private income resources to pay for independent living in San Antonio, Texas. And, seniors anticipating future care needs might also use public pay methods to cover home care or assisted living costs.

Below, you’ll find private pay tips, information on veterans benefits, Medicaid, Medicare, and public assistance resources that can help you cover independent living and senior care costs.

San Antonio independent living facilities are not regulated by a state agency. They’re still required to comply with Texas’ general housing and apartment standards, though, such as the Texas Property Code and Fair Housing Act. But, if an independent living facility shares a campus or building with an assisted living facility (or ALF), they must comply with assisted living licensing and regulation requirements set forth by Texas Health and Human Services, also known as HHS.

Regulations for independent living facilities on an ALF campus

Independent living facilities that share a campus with an assisted living facility are required to regulate the following in order to pass inspections and stay licensed:

• Adequate staffing
• Employee background checks
• Management of the facility
• Construction of the facility
• Implementation of safety and emergency features
• Protection from hazardous areas
• Documented reports of fire drills, system checks, etc.

Tenants’ rights in Texas

Stand-alone independent living facilities don’t have strict inspection requirements, but they are required to comply with the state’s housing and apartment regulations for landlords and tenants. You’ll find it useful to learn about tenant rights, as it’ll help you find a safe and satisfactory living environment for you as you rent. Here’s a brief summary of tenants’ rights in Texas:

• Residents have the right to ask their landlord to repair problems that risks 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 and 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 that affect their health after the multiple notices within a reasonable timeframe. Residents can then submit the expenses to the landlord to deduct from their rent.

Before you move forward with terminating a lease or hiring an external contractor, it’s strongly recommended that you reach out to an attorney or a tenants association. Consulting a housing expert will help ensure that you don’t breach any lease agreements, and it’ll ultimately help you get the end result you desire. It’s also recommended for tenants to provide written notices to their landlord and to keep a copy of each notice as proof.

For more information on your rights as a tenant in an independent living facility, read the Texas Tenants’ Rights Handbook.

Accommodations and modifications for disabled seniors

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. This prohibits independent living facilities from refusing housing due to an individual’s disability. Furthermore, these laws require housing providers to provide disabled individuals with reasonable accommodations and modifications in housing, programs, and activities.

If you’re a senior with a disability, you have the right to request reasonable accommodations and modifications within the independent living facility. Reasonable accommodations are defined as changes to facility policies and could include the following:

• 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 and could 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 independent living facilities in San Antonio. Independent living facility owners are required to pay for such modifications unless providing them would pose an undue financial or administrative burden. For more information, see this detailed infographic on reasonable accommodations and modifications.

COVID-19 regulations for San Antonio independent living communities

Neither San Antonio nor Texas have any specific COVID-19 regulations in place for independent living facilities. However, independent living facilities with an assisted living facility (or ALF) on-site, must comply with ALF standards set forth by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (or the HHSC). Assisted living facilities are required to develop their own infection prevention and control measures regarding masks, physical distancing, and additional protocols for personal protective equipment (PPE) during an active infection or outbreak.

San Antonio aspires to support its increasing aging population through the implementation of a Senior Services Strategic Plan. It was created to evolve senior support services throughout the city, including plans to enhance programming in city senior centers, expand medical services, and generally support local seniors as they age. Likewise, you’ll see that the San Antonio independent senior living scene tries to support aging seniors by expanding services, amenities, and floor plan options to keep up with unique needs.

Here’s an overview of some of the most unique features of San Antonio independent living facilities:

A convenient and safe space for aging in place

Some of the most popular independent living communities in San Antonio promote aging in place by offering tiered levels of care. Most of our partnering communities typically have an assisted living unit on-site, while some also offer memory care, respite care, and/or skilled nursing wings. The multiple care options enable seniors to age gracefully and with peace of mind, as increased care needs won’t warrant a move.

These communities also aim to minimize daily stressors for residents by providing convenient services and security. In most of our partnering communities, residents don’t have to worry about cleaning, cooking, or driving, unless it’s something they want to do. Staff members offer housekeeping and laundry services, daily meals, and complimentary transportation. Furthermore, some communities aim to ensure resident safety by employing 24-hour staff, using robust security systems, and providing emergency call systems throughout the community.

A lively, engaging atmosphere

San Antonio independent living facilities pride themselves in offering a range of activities and amenities that actively engage residents of all interests. Some of the most common amenities include the following:

• Beauty salon and barber shop
• Arts and crafts center
• Fitness center
• Game room
• Swimming pool
• Courtyard
• Library
• Movie theater
• Concierge services

As far as activities go, the possibilities are endless. Many San Antonio communities cater to residents’ interests and adjust resident programming accordingly. Communities often host the following activities and events:

• Game nights
• Live musical events
• Holiday and birthday parties
• Fitness classes
• Art classes
• Interest club meetings
• Group outings
• Devotional services

A variety of floor plans

Resident comfort is one of the top priorities in all of our partner San Antonio independent living facilities. That’s precisely why communities offer multiple floor plans to help ensure their residents find a home suitable to their desires. From cozy studio units to spacious three-bedroom homes, residents will find something that checks all their boxes. Most units feature a kitchenette, a dining and living area, and at least one spacious closet. Additionally, all in-network communities are pet-friendly, enabling pet friends to come live with their beloved owners.

A few communities even offer a little more privacy and room with individual cottage layouts. While higher in price, these cottages typically have a full kitchen, an individual climate control, a garage, and private patios. Some even offer multiple walk-in closets, a den, or an atrium. Plus, residents don’t have to worry about landscaping as community staff will handle it.

Health care for seniors in San Antonio

San Antonio has a wealth of health care options for seniors and veterans. Here’s some information on the city’s top-rated medical care facilities:

Transportation for seniors in San Antonio

Seniors can utilize many means of transportation in San Antonio — drive their own car, use public transportation, and depending on the neighborhood, even walk or bike. Our partner independent living facilities in San Antonio also offer on-site transportation services to residents. This provides convenience and aims to minimize any safety risks for residents looking to get from place to place. In fact, 100% of our San Antonio partner independent living communities offer complimentary transportation. Depending on the community, rides may be limited to errands and appointments.

If a senior is more active and independent, or if you’re a family member looking to visit and take them around downtown, you may want to look into VIA Metropolitan Transit options, including buses, ride share, and paratransit services throughout the city. Seniors 62+ can ride for only a quarter Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and receive free rides on Saturday and Sunday. Seniors must obtain a VIA Reduced Fare ID to receive their senior discounts.

These scores from WalkScore might also help you get a better feel for the San Antonio downtown area. Keep in mind that this data reflects downtown, not the entire city. Each score is out of 100 and is based on downtown’s public density, transportation system, walking and biking routes, and other city information: