12 Assisted Living Communities in Allen, Texas

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $4,350 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the city, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 12 Assisted Living Communities in Allen and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Allen, TX

• Assisted Living: $4,350
• Nursing Home Care: $5,064
• In-home Care: $4,004
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,408

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, the average monthly cost of assisted living in Allen is $4,350, which is higher than the state ($3,795) and national ($4,000) averages. Prices in nearby cities, such as Sherman ($3,795), Waco ($3,695) and Tyler ($3,800), are also lower, making Allen one of the most expensive cities in the area for seniors seeking assisted living.

Assisted living prices vary statewide. Austin has the highest average costs at $5,190 per month, while prices are lowest in El Paso at $2,250 per month. 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Allen, so data for the closest city, Dallas, was used. 

Senior care costs on average in Allen start at $1,408 per month for adult day health services and go up to $5,064 for semiprivate nursing home care. 44 hours of in-home care services from a homemaker costs $4,004 per month, while a home health aide costs $4,040. Assisted living, which includes room-and-board, costs an average of $4,350 per month.  When weighing the costs of each senior care option it’s important to recognize that residential care services, such as a nursing home or assisted living, include ongoing expenses, such as food, utilities and home maintenance. 

 

Medicaid is the jointly funded state and federal program that provides low-income individuals with access to essential health services, such as hospitalization, X-rays and long-term care. Medicaid is a nationwide entitlement program, therefore, enrollment is guaranteed for everyone who meets the eligibility criteria. 

In Texas, Medicaid is administered through Health and Human Services and most programs are delivered through managed care organizations. To qualify for long-term coverage that includes access to home and community based services, seniors must:

• Be aged 65 or older
• Be permanent residents of Texas
• Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or legal alien
• Need continuous long-term care for 30 days or more
• Earn under $2,313 per month in income from all sources
• Have less than $2,000 in cash, investments and nonresidential real estate ($3,000 when applying with a spouse)

Applicants are allowed to keep a home in which they and/or their spouse live, as long as that home is worth no more than $585,000. 

Community Spouse Income and Asset Limits

Special income and asset rules apply when only one spouse in a married couple needs long-term Medicaid. 

The non-applicant, called the community spouse, can receive up to $3,160.50 per month in income that’s transferred from the applicant spouse to ensure the community spouse has enough money to live on. 

The community spouse is also entitled to up to 50% of the couple’s joint assets, worth up to $126,420 under the community spouse resource allowance. 

Note: Texas is a Medicaid income cap state. This means that seniors with income that exceeds Medicaid eligibility limits cannot spend-down their excess income on medical expenses in order to qualify for Medicaid coverage. 

STAR+PLUS Managed Care Program

Seniors aged 65 or older who have Medicaid coverage and need the type of care normally provided in a nursing facility may qualify for home and community based services through STAR+PLUS, a Texas Medicaid managed care program. 

STAR+PLUS lets medically fragile seniors remain in a community setting, such as assisted living, by funding additional services and supports that would normally be provided in a nursing home. 

Services available through STAR+PLUS include:

• Assisted living
• Cognitive therapy 
• Dental care
• Emergency response service
• Home delivered meals 
• Skilled and intermittent nursing services
• Medical supplies and adaptive aids 
• Minor home modifications to improve safety and accessibility
• Personal care services to assist with bathing, dressing and eating
• In-home respite care
• Rehabilitation services, such as physiotherapy
• Transition assistance for seniors currently living in a nursing facility
• Financial management services 

Allen is located within the STAR+PLUS Dallas Managed Care Service Area where the managed care organizations are Molina and Superior. 

For more information on Texas Medicaid and the STAR+PLUS program, contact the local Texas Health and Human Services benefits office at (214) 750-4619. 

Elderlife Financial Reverse Mortgage

Elderlife Financial is a licensed financial services provider that helps seniors access funds to pay for assisted living. Elderlife offers a reverse mortgage — a  financial product that allows elderly homeowners to leverage the equity within their home.

To qualify for a reverse mortgage, the applicants must be aged 62 or older, and at least one homeowner must plan on remaining in the house. This can make a reverse mortgage a financial option for couples when only one spouse needs to move into assisted living.  

In accordance with federal rules, all reverse mortgage applicants must complete HUD-endorsed financial counselling. 

To learn more, call Elderlife Financial at (888) 228-4500. 

VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound

VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and VA Housebound Allowance are two VA cash benefit programs for veterans and survivors who qualify for a regular VA pension and are either permanently disabled (doesn’t have to be service related) or have a chronic condition that restricts their ability to care for themselves. 

For the Housebound Allowance, veterans and survivors must have a permanent disability that prevents them from leaving their home most of the time. 

For the Aid and Attendance Benefit, veterans and survivors must have either a severe visual impairment, be bedridden most of the time, live in a nursing facility or need help from a caregiver to perform activities of daily living. 

Note: Successful applicants can receive benefits from only one of these two programs. 

For more information, contact the Veterans Service Officer at Collin County Veterans Services at (972) 881-3060. 

Veterans and survivors can contact Collin County Veterans Services for free help with VA benefit applications and appeals, information on state veterans benefits and assistance obtaining service records. 

Primary care, mental health and medical imaging services are available at the Plano VA Clinic, an outpatient clinic affiliated with the VA North Texas Health Care System. 

Collin County Veterans Services
900 E. Park Blvd., Plano, TX 75074
(972) 881-3060

Plano VA Clinic
3804 15th St., Plano, TX 75075-4752
(972)-801-4200

Allen Community Outreach is a charitable organization that operates a food pantry, low-cost resale boutique and free case management program for area residents.  Low-income seniors who need legal advice can attend the Collin County Legal Aid Clinic held on the second Thursday of each month from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the FUMC Allen Fellowship Hall.  Allen Community Outreach
801 E. Main St., Allen, TX 75002
(972) 727-9131

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.