Fort Worth is a superb retirement option for seniors who seek a small-town feel within a big city. Because of its close proximity to Dallas, the area has become known as the Dallas-Fort Worth — or DFW — metroplex. This larger metroplex enables seniors to reap the benefits of a small, suburban town like Fort Worth without surrendering the conveniences of a large city like Dallas. Plus, Fort Worth offers ideal year-round weather, captivating nature areas, and an abundance of senior-friendly activities.
To further the area’s senior-friendliness, Fort Worth offers robust senior living options to accommodate aging adults. As a matter of fact, A Place for Mom partners with 23 assisted living facilities within a 10-mile radius of Northside Fort Worth. Assisted living is ideal for seniors who require assistance with their activities of daily living (ADLs) and personal care services. Seniors in these communities also benefit from convenient on-site amenities and services that help them stay socially, mentally, and physically engaged.
With this guide to assisted living in Fort Worth, you can browse the various types of assisted living communities in the area. Local listings are categorized based on what matters most to senior residents — with resident ratings on cleanliness, activities, amenities, care services, and more. You’ll also learn about local assisted living costs, how families typically pay, senior-specific care resources, and senior-favored activities in the Fort Worth area.
Our experience with Avalon Memory Care has been wonderful. Every care giver has been so kind and gentle with my husband. They have cared for him and for me as well. They keep up with the laundry which is no...
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...
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...
Very welcoming and friendly. They are great at accommodating each clients individual needs. They made my dad's transition so easy. I highly recommend Brookdale Tanglewood Oaks!
Outstanding staff and administration. CC [name removed] above other experience. cc provides comfort to family. Regarding level of care for loved one. Very happy with care for [name removed].
The transition was not easy for my mother. She was angry and at times depressed about being there. The entire time the staff was amazing. They were so supportive of her going above and beyond in my opinion...
It is a very welcoming environment and feels like home. Many activities and great food. Excellent care and rehab team as well. This is a clean facility with no odors anywhere within the building. Everyone...
Assisted living at Broadway Cityview has a team of the most caring and compassionate people. Residents have private rooms with baths, three meals a day in the dining room with tablecloths, and all sorts of...
I have been a resident at The Vantage for the past two years, and I am pleased to share my experiences and insights. Overall Experience: Excellent I am very satisfied with my time at The Vantage, and I find...
The people at the community are all friendly and we would recommend this community to other families based on the experience we have had.
Positive first impression. The facility very clean through out. Her room smelled of urine from down the hall. Always greeted and helped when I had a question. They accepted her in assisted living. She...
All these places are expensive....not sure about the value for cost. The original manager left due to health problems, the replacement was a rookie manager who seemed overwhelmed....a new manager starts...
Bristol Park was the perfect place for my parents. The staff loved them and cared for them as if they were their own family. I would highly recommend Bristol Park to anyone looking for a quiet, peaceful,...
Don't spend too much money on clothing or bath towels because they will disappear. Wipes adult underwear and pads will too. They were the best choice at the time.
I would say a "5" on all categories! Editions of Saginaw is a beautiful facility with an awesome staff. We have been extremely happy with all levels of service- too top to bottom!!
I would say a "5" on all categories! Editions of Saginaw is a beautiful facility with an awesome staff. We have been extremely happy with all levels of service- too top to bottom!!
In general most of mom's care was fine. At times it seemed like having to change mom or clean her up was a nuisance. Sometimes they would get a little rough with her. ( Not necessarily too rough but not...
My loved one is currently a resident at Autumn Leaves of Cityview and the experience has been very good so far. The staff are very much involved with the residents and quite effective at getting my loved one...
Very friendly lovely place staff is very nice they have their own private rooms where they don't have to share but you can't have roommate if you'd like. Very helpful great location again wonderful staff
Anything less than a 5 star review for Ignite just makes no sense & is frankly uneducated. I challenge anyone to find a better Skilled Nursing Facility anywhere. Friends and family in the healthcare...
Review for Parkwood Community Parkwood has been a blessing for my mom! She’s thriving, making new friends, and rediscovering hobbies like reading and cross-stitching. [name removed] and [name removed], the...
This is by far the best fit for my Mother! The staff, care and programs are outstanding. I have referred 4 Families here so far in 2 years of her being a resident here. There are always activities happening...
Honestly we have had nothing but great experiences my mother used to sit at home talking to no one but since moving here to the Legacy Oaks Memory care she has gained energy and making so many new friends.
Ashwood Court is the only facility that we visited when looking for ‘a place for Mom’. The flexibility, friendliness, and responsiveness of the staff were key points of the easy decision that this was ‘The...
The room is not always cleaned regularly and when it comes to the meals the food is not too good sometimes. The extra care added charges are pretty expensive. However, I would recommend this community to...
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Fort Worth community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
The average rent for assisted living in Fort Worth is $4,296 per month, according to A Place for Mom’s 2022-2023 proprietary data.[01] Fort Worth assisted living communities have several costs built into the monthly rent, saving seniors from paying additional amounts for food, travel, and daily conveniences. However, some communities’ pay structures include add-on fees for additional services and conveniences. The figure above is a starting cost, and doesn’t account for add-on fees for additional services chosen by residents.
The following services and amenities are typically included in the monthly baseline costs of our partner Fort Worth’s assisted living communities:
The following services and amenities are also typical of our partner Fort Worth assisted living communities, but they may require additional add-on fees:
The following chart can help you compare assisted living baseline costs across the greater DFW area. These figures also don’t account for any add-on service or care fees.
Seniors and their families typically turn to several payment methods to pay for their assisted living in Fort Worth, from private savings to public benefits. Most seniors pull together their savings, retirement income, insurance policies, and funds from federal and state programs for their ideal retirement. In this section, you’ll find helpful information on how to use private pay options as well as veterans benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare to cover long-term care and assisted living costs.
Seniors and families usually start with private funds when they begin crafting a payment plan for assisted living in Fort Worth. Private pay options include all of a senior’s personal income and asset resources. Income might include savings accounts, retirement pensions, investment returns, and/or Social Security benefits. And, to seniors’ advantage, Texas doesn’t levy a personal income tax, meaning these income sources aren’t taxed at the state level.
Long-term care insurance is another possible option when looking to pay for assisted living care. However, long-term care insurance policies greatly vary in what they cover. So it’s recommended that you consult with your loved one’s policy provider to see if the policy will cover any assisted living costs.
Depending on your senior loved one’s resources and current situation, they may also turn to any of the following methods to cover assisted living costs. Learn more about some potential options for funding your loved one’s ideal assisted living community below:
Approximate number of veterans who live in Fort Worth
Nearly 38% of Fort Worth veterans are 65+.
Senior veterans or their surviving spouses may be eligible to receive pensions or disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help with any costs of living. The Aid and Attendance benefit is especially important for disabled senior veterans and spouses. This generous benefit can be added to an existing VA pension to pay for anything that improves a veteran’s quality of life — which could include rent at an assisted living community.
To verify your loved one’s VA benefits eligibility status and ensure they apply properly, you should reach out to a local veterans service organization (VSO) before applying. Navigating VA benefits is tricky business. Thankfully, VSOs are nonprofit and vetted by the VA to help you or a loved one obtain benefits they qualify for. They’ll help you successfully file a claim or even appeal a denied claim. Take a look at this service-related disabilities fact sheet to see whether a condition qualifies you or a loved one for VA benefits.
Fortunately, Fort Worth makes it easy to access an array of VA-vetted veterans service organizations (VSOs) at the Tarrant County Veteran Services Office. This office connects veterans to local, regional, and national services offered by organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Texas Veterans Commission, and others. Reach out to these organizations for benefits assistance using the contact information below.
Resources for Fort Worth veterans
Tarrant County Veteran Services Office
1200 Circle Dr., Suite 300
Fort Worth, TX 76119
Phone: 817-531-5645
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Medicaid is a public health insurance program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments. Even though it cannot be used to pay rent at a private assisted living community, it can help cover some long-term health care services and medically necessary care services within an assisted living community.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (or HHSC) operates a Medicaid program called STAR. STAR offers a managed care program specifically for seniors 65+ and individuals with disabilities called STAR+PLUS. In addition to routine health care costs, the STAR+PLUS program covers long-term care services, which can include the following:
Keep in mind that STAR+PLUS can only cover health care and long-term care services through agencies licensed and certified by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
As of 2023, seniors 65+ must not exceed the following monthly income limits to qualify for STAR+PLUS:[03]
For care services to be covered within a private residence, seniors must be eligible for the home and community based services (HCBS) Medicaid waiver program. HCBS waivers enable seniors to receive care services in a residential setting of their choice, like an assisted living community, rather than an institutional setting like a nursing home.[04] If a senior chooses to receive these services in a private assisted living facility, the facility must qualify as a residential or community-based setting. The care services should be provided through a health care agency contracted with the patient’s managed care provider.
The STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver program can help cover the following care costs as long as the agency providing the care services is contracted with Medicaid:[04]
When a senior applies for Medicaid, the HHSC will assess their need for the HCBS waiver program. As of 2023, seniors must meet the following eligibility requirements:[05]
Note for home and community based services (HCBS) settings: Not all Fort Worth assisted living communities qualify as an HCBS setting; however, some will. In order to qualify, a facility must do the following:[04]
If you need help understanding your loved one’s eligible Medicaid benefits, find a Texas Health and Human Services office near you or search for local programs through their services search tool. You can also contact your local area agencies on aging (or AAAs) for assistance in accessing local long-term care services and disability programs. You should also check with your prospective assisted living facility to see if they offer access to Medicaid care services on-site.
Below, you’ll find more resources to help you better understand Medicaid benefits for seniors. You’ll also find valuable search tools that’ll help you locate Medicaid benefit offices in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth resident Medicaid resources
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that provides coverage to adults aged 65 and older and individuals with disabilities. It can’t be used to cover room and board costs in a Fort Worth assisted living community, but it can help cover some medically necessary care costs within an assisted living facility.
As of 2023, seniors must not exceed the following income limits to qualify for Texas Medicare:[03]
The following Texas programs can help seniors save on Medicare costs and apply for Medicare benefits:
As of 2023, seniors must not exceed a monthly income of $1,133 as an individual or $1,526 as a couple to qualify for this program.[03]
For additional assistance with your loved one’s eligible Medicare benefits and enrollment, you can visit the Medicare website or call 2-1-1. Below, you’ll also find applications and resources to help your senior loved one access their Medicare benefits in Fort Worth. If you’d like assistance with Texas Medicare, you can reach out to a local Social Security Administration office, the Texas Legal Services Center, or your local long-term care ombudsman. A long-term care ombudsman can be found at your nearest Area Agency on Aging. They advocate for the health care rights of assisted living residents and help families learn about potential senior care options and payment methods.
Fort Worth resident Medicare resources
Find an SSA office in Fort Worth
Fritz G. Lanham Federal Building
819 Taylor St., Room 1-A-07
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: 800-772-1213
Texas Health Information, Counseling, and Advocacy Program (HICAP)
Phone: 800-252-9240
The Legal Hotline for Texans
Phone: 800-622-2520, ext. 3
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Area Agency on Aging of Tarrant County website
201 N. Rupert St., Suite 107
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Tiffany McLennan, managing local ombudsman
Phone: 817-258-8102
Email: tiffany.mclennan@unitedwaytarrant.org
If your senior loved one qualifies for both Medicare and Medicaid, they’re eligible to receive dual coverage through one Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP) in Fort Worth, Texas. This program is called the Dual Eligible Integrated Care Demonstration Project and is commonly referred to as “the Demonstration.” The Demonstration strives to improve service coordination, enhance quality of care, eliminate cost shifting between Medicare and Medicaid, and reduce costs for both the Texas and federal governments.
To qualify for the Demonstration, a senior must meet the following eligibility criteria:
Dual-eligible individuals should be automatically enrolled. They may choose to opt out of the Demonstration after they receive an enrollment letter in the mail notifying them of their enrollment. To request additional information on this program, email managed_care_initiatives@hhsc.state.tx.us.
In Texas, all assisted living facilities must be licensed and certified by Texas Health and Human Services (also known as HHS) in order to operate and house residents. Texas Health and Human Services refers to assisted living facilities as ALFs and categorizes them into Type A and Type B. Here’s how the two differ:[06]
Most stand-alone assisted living facilities qualify as Type A, while facilities with memory care and/or other specialized care units typically qualify as Type B. In Fort Worth, assisted living facilities must meet several standards to remain licensed. Below, you’ll find a brief overview of these Texas assisted living standards.
All Texas ALFs must pass a life safety code, physical inspection, and health inspection before they are officially licensed. The life safety code ensures a facility’s ability to safely house residents, while the health inspection ensures that it’s equipped to protect resident health. After an initial inspection, facilities are inspected at least once every two years.[08]
During an inspection, Texas Health and Human Services checks for the following in an ALF:[08,09]
The general public can use the Long-term Care Provider Search to access each licensed assisted living facility’s most recent inspection report and general facility information. To request any additional information not found on the site, email rsltcr.recordsmgmt@hhsc.state.tx.us.
4601 W. Guadalupe St.
Austin, TX 78751
Phone: 512-424-6500
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5. p.m.
Fort Worth doesn’t have any specific COVID-19 regulations in place for assisted living communities. However, the state does require all assisted living facilities to develop their own infection prevention and control measures for common infections, including COVID-19. The measures should include guidance on a community’s hygiene practices, touching the following:
Because communities are allowed to set their own regulations, it’s best to check with your prospective community to see what current COVID-19 rules they may have in place. You can also visit the COVID-19 informational page on the Fort Worth website to see regular updates regarding local risk levels, testing, vaccinations, and more.
Fort Worth has become a hub for retiring seniors in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex. It naturally attracts seniors due to its ideal temperatures, robust health care options, and unique senior-friendly initiatives. For instance, the city enacted an action plan called Age-Friendly Fort Worth in 2017 to increase the quality of life for current and future senior residents. Over the last few years, the plan has focused on implementing aging-friendly initiatives in the following domains:
The DFW metroplex is also home to Sixty and Better — a nonprofit that empowers older adults to live with purpose, independence, and dignity. The nonprofit offers social support services, local senior programs, and more. Fort Worth also offers a robust senior living scene with a range of assisted living communities to help seniors find the most ideal, supportive environment for their next chapter of life. Below, you’ll find an overview of the most common and enticing features of our partner Fort Worth assisted living communities.
More than half of our assisted living partners in Fort Worth offer options for aging in place. This means that these communities offer more than one level of care on-site. Fort Worth senior living communities may provide independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. The most popular combination in Fort Worth is assisted living with memory care. This multitiered approach helps seniors age in place, meaning they won’t have to move if their care needs ever change. This approach also enables aging couples with different needs to live together. For example, if one partner requires dementia care while the other partner only requires light day-to-day assistance, the couple can select a community that offers both assisted living and memory care.
Seniors taking the independent living option can eliminate stressors like home ownership and daily chores and, instead, focus on building friendships and maintaining hobbies. Independent living communities offer residents access to an array of convenient services and luxurious amenities that foster social, physical, and mental health. Assisted living offers residents all of that along with assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and personalized care services, depending on health care needs. Memory care offers the same care services; however, it goes the extra mile to offer personalized, attentive care for residents with memory loss. Memory care staff are trained to provide specialized treatments and therapies for behaviors that residents with dementia commonly experience.
Fort Worth assisted living communities aim to eliminate excessive travel for routine care needs. To do so, many of our partner communities offer on-site nurses and medical services within a resident’s unit. Some of the most common on-site medical services available at Fort Worth assisted living communities include the following:
Some assisted living communities even offer on-site clinics, with optometrists, dieticians, doctors, and other specialists to help residents access optimal care. A few Fort Worth communities also offer a skilled nursing facility on-site to handle more complex medical issues.
Fort Worth assisted living communities offer an array of on-site amenities and a robust calendar of activities to help residents stay healthily active and engaged. Some communities offer researched programs to help seniors thrive, while other communities encourage resident-led activities.
Some of the most common activities you’ll find in our partner Fort Worth assisted living communities include the following:
Seniors are also free to explore on-site amenities at their own leisure. Some of the most common amenities in our partner Fort Worth assisted living communities include the following:
A few of our assisted living partners in Fort Worth also offer some luxe amenities like on-site swimming pools, Jacuzzis, spas, putting greens, and more.
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Number of seniors over the age of 65 living in Fort Worth as of 2021
Average annual retirement income for Fort Worth seniors 65+ in 2021[10]
The Fort Worth health care scene is merged with the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area, meaning the area’s top-rated medical centers are mainly in Dallas. Here’s an overview of what the highly rated medical centers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have to offer.
UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern Medical Center is ranked as the No. 1 hospital in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and No. 2 in all of Texas, according to U.S. News and World Report. It nationally ranks in nine specialties, including No. 26 in geriatric care.
Baylor University Medical Center
Baylor University Medical Center ranks as the No. 2 hospital in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It ranks No. 4 across Texas, according to U.S. News and World Report. It nationally ranks in gastroenterology as well.
Parkland Health’s Dallas location ranks as the No. 3 hospital in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to U.S. News and World Report. It’s high performing in heart failure treatment, diabetic care, and gastroenterology.
Texas Health ranks No. 4 in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, according to U.S. News and World Report. It’s high performing in diabetic care, stroke care, and heart failure treatment.
Active, licensed seniors may use their own cars to get around Fort Worth; however, they don’t have to — most of our assisted living partners provide on-site transportation options for residents, or they connect residents to local transportation services. As a matter of fact, 91% of our partner communities in Fort Worth offer complimentary transportation services.[01] Keep in mind, some communities limit these rides to medical appointments and necessary errands, while other communities offer rides for leisure events.
Visiting families and friends can utilize Tarrant County’s public transportation system, Trinity Metro, to easily get around Fort Worth when visiting their senior loved one. 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. If your senior loved one must choose a public transportation method, make sure they’re accompanied by a caregiver.
Families might also be interested in learning about the city’s sprawl. These scores from WalkScore can help you get a better idea of Fort Worth’s transportation options. The scores are each out of 100 and are based on the public density, walking and biking routes, public transportation options, and general infrastructure:[12]
Fort Worth offers a range of exciting activities for seniors of all mobility levels. With the city merging into one greater metroplex — Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) — seniors can find a world of unique activities near and far. DFW offers a selection of mouthwatering restaurants, captivating museums, and refreshing outdoor activities.
Here’s a glimpse at some of Fort Worth’s top senior-favored activities and attractions:
Avalon Memory Care - Fort Worth, Sunrise of Fort Worth and Highlands Village Senior Living of Mansfield are the top-rated Assisted Living facilities near Fort Worth, TX. These Assisted Living facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Assisted Living in Fort Worth is $5,707 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101): Fort Worth. [Data set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population 65 years and over in the United States (S0103): Fort Worth. [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2023, March 1). Appendix XXXI, Monthly income/resource limits. In STAR+PLUS Handbook.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2022). STAR+PLUS, STAR+PLUS Client FAQs.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2016, March 1). A-3300, Home and Community-Based Services waiver programs. In Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities Handbook.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2023). Assisted living facilities (ALF).
Licensing Standards for Assisted Living Facilities, Texas Administrative Code § 553 (2021).
Texas Health and Human Services. (2022). Long-term care provider search.
Assisted Living Facility Licensing Act, Health Facilities § 247.001 (2021).
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population 65 years and over in the United States (S0103): Fort Worth. [Data set]. American Community Survey.
U.S. News and World Report. (2023). Best hospitals in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.
WalkScore. (2023). Living in Fort Worth.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101): Fort Worth. [Data set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population 65 years and over in the United States (S0103): Fort Worth. [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2023, March 1). Appendix XXXI, Monthly income/resource limits. In STAR+PLUS Handbook.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2022). STAR+PLUS, STAR+PLUS Client FAQs.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2016, March 1). A-3300, Home and Community-Based Services waiver programs. In Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities Handbook.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2023). Assisted living facilities (ALF).
Licensing Standards for Assisted Living Facilities, Texas Administrative Code § 553 (2021).
Texas Health and Human Services. (2022). Long-term care provider search.
Assisted Living Facility Licensing Act, Health Facilities § 247.001 (2021).
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population 65 years and over in the United States (S0103): Fort Worth. [Data set]. American Community Survey.
U.S. News and World Report. (2023). Best hospitals in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.
WalkScore. (2023). Living in Fort Worth.