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Independent Living in Texas

Overview of Independent Living in Texas

For families considering senior living options, Texas has plenty to offer. The Lone Star State’s warm temperatures, rich history, and blend of cultures attract tourists from all over the world and make Texas an ideal retirement destination. Visit the art museums in Houston, catch a Cowboys game in Dallas, experience the Alamo in San Antonio, or see a show in Austin, the “Live Music Capital of the World.” The phrase “everything is bigger in Texas” turns out to be true: With several of the largest cities in the country, as well as plenty of wide-open space, there’s truly something for everyone here.Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 430 independent living communities, also known simply as retirement communities, in Texas.

Top-rated Independent Living facilities in Texas

36
36 Photos available
10
10 Floor plans available

Arborview Circle C Ranch

12100 Archeleta Blvd, Austin, TX 78739
10
Review Score
9 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Yes I recommend the place. Very pet friendly place. We picked them because of the location and it is 2 miles from my daughters house.

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17
17 Photos available

Serenity Oaks Assisted Living and Memory Care

6684 Randolph Blvd, Live Oak, TX 78233
10
Review Score
33 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
John P - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I recently moved my wife from a nearby facity to Serenity Oaks. What a difference! My wife is doing so much better. I could see the difference within a couple of days. My stress is gone as I know that...

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11
11 Photos available
9
9 Floor plans available

Watercrest at Shadow Creek Ranch

11745 Broadway St, Pearland, TX 77584
10
Review Score
78 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I live or lived in this community

I like the activities and trips very much. The staff are wonderful. My only immediate concern is that I saw a lot of people leave after only a year here when it came time to renew their lease. I heard the...

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Top-rated Independent Living facilities in Dallas

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22
22 Photos available

Five Star Premier Residences of Dallas

5455 La Sierra Dr, Dallas, TX 75231
10
Review Score
21 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
SHARON S MARTIN - I'm a current/former resident or client

I have been a resident of Five Star Premiere Residences for 1 year. It is hard to know where to start when describing a very positive experience. So, I’ll begin with the building which is, anything but...

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9
9 Photos available
3
3 Floor plans available
1
1 Video available

Brookdale Lake Highlands

9715 Plano Road, Dallas, TX 75238
9.9
Review Score
76 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Tim T - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

From making the decision to move my mother from independent living to assisted living, the Lake Highland staff has made this stressful decision easier by walking us through the process, answering our...

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17
17 Photos available

Meadowstone Place

10410 Stone Canyon Rd, Dallas, TX 75230
9.9
Review Score
201 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Mary Ann T - I'm a current/former resident or client

This is the closest thing I can to my dream tree house! I enjoy being on the 2nd floor and get to see nature through my window. The community itself is filled with amazing people that genuinely care from...

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Top-rated Independent Living facilities in Plano

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13
13 Photos available
6
6 Floor plans available

The Waterford at Plano

3401 Premier Drive, Plano, TX 75023
9.7
Review Score
169 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

On the assisted living side: Deep clean the rooms once in a while. More attentive to prompting residents with showers and hygiene. Observe residents taking their medication to make sure it is taken.

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17
17 Photos available

The Conservatory at Plano

6401 Ohio Drive, Plano, TX 75024
9.7
Review Score
36 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Melissa R - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Staff is extremely helpful and understanding. My mom was struggling to make the step to move after my father's death and they answered every single question asked. Even if already asked. They didn't pressure...

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20
20 Photos available
4
4 Floor plans available

Village on the Park Plano

3670 Mapleshade Lane, Plano, TX 75075
9.6
Review Score
100 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Linda - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

We are very happy with the care and level of activity my mom gets at the Village on the Park. Thank you to the wonderful team who shows up every day with smiles on their faces. My kids also love visiting mom...

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Top-rated Independent Living facilities in Houston

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10
10 Photos available
3
3 Floor plans available

Village on the Park at Friendswood

400 E Parkwood Dr, Friendswood, TX 77546
9.9
Review Score
44 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

The facility decor, activities, and entertainment are amazing. Always something to do with caring staff. The Studio apartment is 500 sq. ft., which is perfectly arranged.

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12
12 Photos available
8
8 Floor plans available

Atria Westchase

11424 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77082
9.9
Review Score
106 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Matt S - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Moved my mom from Frisco to the Atria in Houston. We’ve been very pleased with their help. The staff is professional and very good. Mom likes her room, dinning experience and activities. The cost was also...

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8
8 Photos available

Cypress Woods

2755 Chestnut Ridge Road, Kingwood, TX 77339
9.9
Review Score
95 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Bridgett B - I'm a current/former resident or client

I love it here. People here are super friendly. Staff is wonderful. [name removed] listens to your needs, [name removed] is very wonderful. [name removed] makes great food, Bella keeps her busy with...

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Top-rated Independent Living facilities in Fort Worth

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8
8 Photos available
4
4 Floor plans available

Sunrise of Fort Worth

6151 Bryant Irvin, Fort Worth, TX 76132
10
Review Score
89 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

So far Sunrise has been a good fit for my friend. Not perfect but so far it's working for us. My friend has made several reliable and dependable friends with staff. They periodically come to check on her and...

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4
4 Photos available

Christian Care Communities and Services Fort Worth

5100 Randol Mill Road, Fort Worth, TX 76112
9.9
Review Score
16 reviews
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My loved one is currently a resident at Christian Care Communities and Services Fort Worth and the experience has been great for him. He is loving it there, it is just what he needed. Based on our...

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Texas laws and regulations for independent living communities

In Texas, independent living communities are not regulated by a state agency, unless they share a building or campus with an assisted living or memory care facility. This means that stand-alone independent living facilities must comply with general housing and rental standards, such as the Texas Property Code and Fair Housing Act.

Housing laws and regulations like these 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 facilities on a senior care campus

If an independent living community shares its building or campus with an assisted living and/or memory care unit, the area designated for senior care and any shared areas must follow Texas assisted living regulations and memory care regulations set by Texas Health and Human Services (HHS).

 Regulations for stand-alone independent living facilities

In Texas, stand-alone independent living communities are only 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.

Tenant rights in Texas

Knowing your rights as a tenant will help you find a safe and satisfactory living situation while you rent. Here’s a brief overview of some important tenants’ rights:[01]

  • 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 tenants reach out to an attorney or a local tenants association for advice. Consulting a housing expert will prevent you from breaching any lease agreements, and will ultimately lead 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.[01]

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

Accommodation and modification laws for seniors with disabilities

In Texas, federal nondiscrimination laws — such as the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act (or ADA) — protect tenants from being discriminated against due to their disability. These laws also require independent living landlords to provide reasonable accommodations and modifications in housing, programs, and activities for individuals with disabilities.

Reasonable accommodations are defined as changes to facility policies and could include the following:[02]

  • Allowing a service animal regardless of a no-pets policy
  • Assigning a parking spot for easy entry to the building
  • Changing the due date of rent to reflect disability income payment dates

Modifications are structural changes to common areas and individual units, and may include:[02]

  • 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

Property 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 for Texas renters.

Tenant resources in Texas

For Texas residents having general issues while renting, the Texas State Law Library offers a list of resources around the state for common problems. You can also look up local rental associations, tenants’ councils, and housing programs for further assistance.

Texas Department of Health contact information

Texas Health and Human Services
4601 W. Guadalupe St.
Austin, TX 78751

Phone: 512-424-6500

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

How to find Texas independent living facility inspection reports

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) performs physical inspections of rental properties to ensure they are habitable, well maintained, ready for occupancy, follow accessibility standards, and comply with applicable program rules and regulations.

The TDHCA doesn’t publicly publish statewide inspection reports, but you can try calling 512-475-3800 or emailing info@tdhca.texas.gov for more information. Many cities in Texas also have their own inspection agencies where you can look up rental inspection reports to find the most recent inspection date, score, and deficiencies found.

References

  1. Texas Young Lawyers Association & State Bar of Texas. (2019). Tenants’ Rights Handbook.

  2. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2021). Reasonable accommodations and modifications.

Top cities in Texas for independent living

8.8
San Antonio, TX
96 facilities
8.5
Austin, TX
50 facilities
8.3
Plano, TX
80 facilities
8.3
Dallas, TX
55 facilities
8.1
Fort Worth, TX
43 facilities
7.7
Houston, TX
94 facilities

Find independent living in other states

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The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.