3 Assisted Living Communities in Marble Falls, Texas

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $5,190 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 3 Assisted Living Communities in Marble Falls and several in surrounding areas.

• Assisted living: $5,190
• Nursing home semiprivate room: $5,323
• In-home care: $4,099
• Adult day health services: $1,408

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, the average cost of assisted living in Marble Falls ($5,190) exceeds the state average ($3,795) by more than $1,000, and it’s also more costly than the national average ($4,000). In fact, Marble Falls is one of the most expensive areas in Texas for assisted living, alongside the Dallas area ($4,350), Odessa ($4,684) and San Angelo ($4,450). Average costs are more affordable in Abilene ($3,868), the Brownsville area ($3,472) and Corpus Christi ($2,975)

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Marble Falls, so data for the closest city, Austin, was used.

While the cost of senior care is impacted by a host of factors, the type of care needed is one of the most crucial. In Marble Falls, the average monthly cost of adult day health care ($1,408) is the most affordable. The cost of homemaker services ($4,099) tends to be less expensive than the cost of a private room in an assisted living facility ($5,190) or a semiprivate room in a nursing home ($5,323). The total costs of in-home care can exceed those of residential living, however, when seniors factor in the additional expenses required to remain at home. Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $5,190

• Homemaker services: $4,099

• Home health aide: $4,195

• Adult day health: $1,408

• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $5,323

 

Medicaid helps seniors in Texas cover the costs of medical expenses. If adults qualify for this insurance program, they receive a variety of health benefits, including doctor’s visits, hospital care, vision and hearing care, dental care, lab and X-ray services and prescription drugs.

Many seniors eligible for Medicaid receive coverage from the Medicaid for Long-Term Care program. To qualify for this program, seniors must meet certain requirements:

• 65 years of age or older
• Demonstrates a need for 30 or more days of long-term care
• Receive a monthly income of $2,313 or less (for individuals) or $4,626 or less (couples)
• Possess $2,000 (individual) or $3,000 (couple) or less in countable assets (primary homes, vehicles and certain types of life insurance are exempt from financial consideration)

Texas seniors who don’t meet the criteria for long-term care may qualify with the Medicaid Buy-In for Adults program, which is available for seniors who meet the following requirements:

• Have a disability (physical, mental, intellectual or developmental)
• Are currently employed
• Don’t live full time in a nursing home, state hospital or intermediate care facility for people with intellectual disabilities

When enrolled in this program, seniors make monthly payments to “buy-in” to the health insurance program.

Seniors can apply for Medicaid via the Your Texas Benefits website or call (512) 424-6500 for more information.

STAR+PLUS Home and Community Based Services Waiver

Once seniors are accepted into the state’s Medicaid program, they receive care through STAR+PLUS, a managed care system designed for aging adults. STAR+PLUS provides seniors with a variety of long-term services and supports, such as short-term care, assistance with activities of daily life and service coordination. Seniors in Marble Falls live in the Travis service area, which means they’ll receive medical plans from Amerigroup or United Healthcare Community Plan.

While the standard STAR+PLUS program doesn’t cover the costs of assisted living, there are Medicaid waivers that do. The most common is the STAR+PLUS Home and Community Based Services Waiver. This waiver covers the costs of assisted living, adult foster care home services and respite care. It can also be used for personal assistance services, emergency response services, therapies and transitional assistance.

The Home and Community Based Services waiver is the highest level of coverage within the STAR+PLUS program. To receive this coverage, recipients must demonstrate complex health care needs. Eligibility is usually determined by primary health providers and service coordinators and authorized by a Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) STAR+PLUS support unit.

To learn more about this waiver program, Marble Falls seniors should contact their designated service coordinator at (830) 693-5703.

Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD) Waiver

Seniors can also receive assisted living coverage via the state’s Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD) Waiver. This waiver provides home and community based services, including Assisted living (licensed up to six beds), dietary services, residential habilitation and adaptive aids and medical devices, to individuals who meet the following criteria:

• Have a diagnosis of deafblindness and one additional diagnosis
• Present the disability prior to the age of 22
• Demonstrate care needs proportionate with placement in an intermediate care facility
• Are not currently enrolled in a Medicaid waiver program

For more information about the DBMD waiver, call (877) 438-5658.

Aid and Attendance and Housebound

Veterans living in Texas may be eligible for the Aid and Attendance or Housebound pension programs. Both programs provide aging veterans with additional monthly pension funds, which can be used to fund assisted living costs.

The Aid and Attendance pension program is available to veterans who meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Demonstrate vision of 5/200 visual acuity or less

• Is currently living in a retirement home due to physical or mental incapacity

• Is bedridden

• Requires the aid of another individual to perform basic activities of daily living

The Housebound pension program is available to veterans who are confined to their home or residence due to an irreversible disability.

Seniors can apply for the program by contacting the Waco Regional Veterans Benefits Office at (254) 299-9950.

Bridge Loans

If Marble Falls seniors need short-term funding for assisted living, they can cover these costs with assisted living bridge loans. Offered by Elderlife Financial Services, these loans are designed for seniors transitioning to assisted living facilities. They’re available in 12-month terms and can be accessed via lines of credit or lump-sum payments. Loan eligibility is determined by several factors, such as:

• Additional funds: Bridge loans are short-term financing options, and seniors need to know when access to additional funds are available. Common sources include pension paybacks or home sale funds. 

• Credit: When seniors apply for bridge loans, they usually have multiple co-applicants. The credit scores of the co-applicants are evened out, which means seniors aren’t penalized for low scores. 

• Assets: During the application process, loan lenders look into financial assets, such as home equity and income. 

Seniors can apply for Elderlife bridge loans online or by calling (888) 228-4500. Applicants usually receive a response within 24 hours and are often able to access their funds shortly thereafter.

Seniors in Burnet County are served by the Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area. This agency provides services and resources for seniors living in the 10 counties, including benefits counseling, assistance with long-term care services, caregiver support and care coordination. Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area
6800 Burleson Rd., Ste 155, Austin, TX 78744
(512) 916-6062

The Burnet County Veterans Service Office can help aging veterans apply for benefits and receive pensions. Seniors can also visit additional VA centers in the area to receive health care and rehabilitation services.

Burnet County VSO
Public Services Building, 1008 North Water St., Burnet, Texas 78611
(512) 715-5271

Waco VA Medical Center
4800 Memorial Dr., Waco, TX 76711
254-752-6581

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