Senior Living Apartments in Dallas, TX

Because senior apartments aren’t covered by health insurance or programs like Medicaid or Medicare, seniors typically use a combination of personal resources to fund senior apartment costs.

However, if seniors require occasional care services within the home, in-home care may be covered by some forms of health insurance. Assisted living might even be in the picture if you’re planning further in the future. For both options, seniors may be able to use Medicaid, Medicare, or veterans benefits to cover some costs.

In general, senior apartments in Texas don’t require special licensing or inspections apart from the regulations of any apartment complex, like required maintenance and repair of any risks to tenants’ physical health.

However, senior apartments do have added age requirements that typically start at 55. Some low-income senior apartments also have income requirements to offer affordable options for seniors. Senior apartments are also required to be ADA compliant and provide reasonable accommodations and modifications for their tenants.

Reasonable accommodations and modifications

A number of federal laws prohibit housing providers (or owners of senior apartments) from refusing residency to individuals with disabilities. On top of that, laws require housing providers to offer all tenants with disabilities reasonable accommodations and modifications in all housing, programs, and activities. Housing providers must pay for property modifications unless it would pose an undue financial burden.

Note that accommodations are changes in the way things are done, while modifications are construction changes to an individual’s apartment or rental unit.

Examples of accommodations:

• Assigning a parking spot for easy entry
• Moving a tenant to the ground floor for easier access
• Changing the due date of rent to reflect disability income payment dates

Examples of modifications:

• Installing grab bars in a tenant’s bathroom
• Widening doorways to provide easy wheelchair access
• Lowering countertop height to accommodate a wheelchair user

These types of accommodations and modifications are federally required of senior apartments through the Fair Housing Act, Section 504, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) — which provide equal opportunities to persons with disabilities. See this infographic for more information from the Texas Department of Housing on reasonable accommodations and modifications.

Inspections

For senior apartments subsidized and certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs performs frequent inspections. These inspections oversee whether the housing is decent, safe, sanitary, and in good repair.

Inspection frequency changes based on the apartment’s prior inspection score. All scores are out of 100. Scores above 90 result in inspections every three years while scores below 80 result in yearly inspections.

COVID-19 regulations for Dallas senior apartments

There are no COVID-19 regulations specific to senior apartments in Dallas, Texas. However, the city does provide its residents with some general information regarding COVID-19. This information includes COVID-19 testing sites, resources, facility closures, and FAQs.

The Dallas area offers a spectrum of senior apartment options, from affordable layouts to luxury living tailored to seniors. Most senior apartments have an age requirement of around 62 or 65, while some go as low as 55. The lowered age limit enables senior couples with age gaps to live together. Age limits promote a supportive environment where seniors are surrounded by people in the same stage of life. Below, you’ll find more exciting features of senior apartments in Dallas.

Senior apartments are dedicated to aging seamlessly.

Most Dallas senior apartments are designed with aging in mind — to minimize the challenges of daily life. These complexes accommodate seniors experiencing the natural effects of aging. For example, senior apartment layouts will often have grab bars in the bathrooms, ramps in high-traffic areas, elevators, and railings. This can also mean that maintenance, housekeeping, and other convenient services or features can be built into rental costs.

Apartment amenities and common areas can be surprisingly generous.

Many Dallas senior apartments feature an array of convenient and enticing amenities. Residents can utilize common social areas, like courtyards, BBQ areas, and pools. They can also gather in clubhouses, attend to important tasks in a business center, or relax in a resident library or TV lounge. Affordable options may not have as many on-site amenities. However, they’re often only a short drive away from a local senior center and city attractions like golf courses, shopping centers, restaurants, and museums.

Apartment layouts are convenient and comfortable.

Senior apartments in Dallas typically feature one-bedroom and two-bedroom options, with three-bedroom options being rare. Apartments typically have full kitchens equipped with daily appliances. Most units are equipped with a washer and dryer and are cable-ready. Walk-in closets and personal patios or balconies are also common to senior apartments. Some senior apartments even have an in-unit emergency response system in place to provide a safety net for seniors living alone.

Senior apartments in the surrounding Dallas suburbs

The Dallas suburbs are also attractive to seniors seeking a peaceful senior environment without straying too far from the city’s entertainment and activities. Cities like Garland, Irving, and Plano expand the range and price of senior apartments available, as well as enable seniors to enjoy life within peaceful residential neighborhoods.

Health care for seniors in Dallas, Texas

For added convenience, some senior apartments are located fairly close to health care providers in Dallas. The city has many hospitals, including two that are highly ranked across the state. Seniors can choose to receive care from the following top Dallas hospitals:

Transportation for seniors in Dallas, Texas

The widespread nature of Dallas makes it difficult to walk everywhere, so most residents do own a car. But, the city does have walkable neighborhoods like downtown and Oak Lawn.

Dallas residents also turn to other options for getting around without a car, including public transportation. Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) provides trains, buses, streetcars, and trolleys throughout the city. DART typically runs between 5 a.m. and midnight. They also offer a rider assistance program for elderly and disabled residents that meet certain eligibility requirements.

Based on data about Dallas’ public density, walking routes, public transportation options, biking trails, and more, this Texan city has received the following scores from WalkScore, each out of 100: