Austin is known as a cultural hub filled with tasty eats, lively music, and a variety of activities. Though the city has become wildly popular among millennials over the last decade, it’s still an increasingly aging-friendly place. The warm summers, mild winters, and classic Southern hospitality entice seniors while the robust senior living options help them find an ideal home in the vast city. To help seniors stay active and enjoy all the city has to offer, Austin offers 14 independent living communities scattered throughout a 10-mile radius of its downtown.
Independent living enables seniors to age alongside individuals in the same age group. It eliminates the daily stressors of homeownership and renting, as residents no longer spend their time cooking, cleaning, or driving — unless it’s something they wish to do. Convenient amenities and services help seniors age gracefully as they continue doing the things they love.
In this guide, you’ll be able to narrow down your search by browsing through our in-network Austin independent living facilities based on factors that matter most to you — affordability, services, activities, and amenities. You’ll also learn about local independent living costs, how seniors pay, and independent living features, as well as local senior demographics, resources, and activities.
They run a clean facility. The staff were all extremely friendly. The care services were on point. They had a lot of activities. For what my loved one was paying, it was plenty of activities and people to...
I would tell others to just be involved. The staff truly want and welcome family at anytime!! They have lots of activities offered. The residents are out and about- and encouraged to not sit in their...
Mother loves the care and attention she gets on a daily basis. It is a small facility with a fantastic staff to resident ratio. Everyone in the facility is very kind and compassionate. She went from being...
I would say to come and visit because you will enjoy it. They have activities like work outs all day, indoor swimming pool, there is a card room, a theater and evening activities. There is so much to do that...
Communication between members of the staff and between directors is not great. So care plans are challenging to put into practice. As your parent becomes more mentally impaired this can be a challenge....
My parents sold their home in Westlake and moved into The Village at the Triangle in [date removed]. They Love it. I describe it as a combination of a luxury hotel meets cruise ship. The cleanliness,...
It is a great community, and I would recommend it to anyone. They have a variety of activities such as Zumba, social activities, swimming and more for the residents to choose from. They have a continental...
This is a really nice place to live and it feels very homey. you still have all of your independence and options for activities. I really enjoy being here at this community. They have a lot of different...
No one can beat this place. Words can't express what they do. truly angels that work here. Food amazing, staff loving and friendly. Lots of happy smiles and healthy residents in the hall ways all the time
We have had a great experience here and my mom is very comfortable. Their activity program is amazing. The activities have actually increased since the lock-down, so they are keeping the residents very busy...
Looked for three months to find an assisted living for our Mom, went and looked everywhere. Walked into the Heritage and it felt like home. Music playing, fresh flowers. We tried the food and it was...
I would highly recommend this community they are like a family here. They have activities like arts and crafts and more for the residents to do.
We chose Ledgestone because they had cottages available, they had a wheel chair accessible shower, and it was open and attractive with friendly staff. The cottages are very large and spacious.. The food is...
If a friend asked me, I would say several residents did not like the food. My mom hated 95% of the food. And food / cooking had been one of her passions. The community is kind and welcoming and I think the...
We found the caregiving staff out on the floor to be very good. They took great care of people and seemed to really care. The meals were good, no complaints there. The housekeeping staff was wonderful and...
The community is extremely clean, an most of the staff members are extremely nice but there are a few who work there that can be very condescending. The breakfast are pretty minimal, its like granola bars,...
I came here looking for a new purpose. An insurance issue closed the wood shop.i talked mgmt in letting me clean it up. I converted it to an art studio.everyone is invited to create their own masterpiece....
We recently had to find a place for our dad after he was diagnosed with cancer. We had a great visit with Silver Leaf and chose them. We were there a lot. A lot of people in and out to visit and hospice was...
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Austin 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 median rent for independent living in Austin is $3,775 per month, according to A Place for Mom’s 2022-2023 proprietary data on partnering facilities.[01] This cost is significantly higher than the average rent cost for an apartment in Austin. However, it’s for good reason as rent includes built-in costs for the following services and amenities:
For additional monthly fees, Austin independent living residents can also benefit from convenient on-site services, such as:
The following costs represent average baseline costs across the area and give a good cost comparison of nearby cities. However, these costs don’t account for any additional fees paid by residents.
Seniors typically rely on private retirement funds to pay for independent senior living in Austin, as Medicaid and Medicare do not cover independent living room and board costs. However, seniors can still save on health care costs and pay for potential senior care services in the future using Medicaid and Medicare.
Depending on their history and current situation, seniors may also use their veterans benefits and/or Social Security benefits to defray some costs of senior independent living in Austin, Texas. Learn about all of these methods and more in this section.
Most seniors pay for Austin independent living using private payment methods, which include all personal income and asset resources. Your income might include savings accounts, retirement pensions, investment returns, and/or Social Security benefits. All of these methods can be used to pay for independent living in Austin. Plus, Texas seniors are in luck as Texas doesn’t levy a personal income tax, so these income sources aren’t taxed at the state level.
Depending on your resources and current situation, you may also combine a few of these private pay methods to cover independent living costs:
If you’re a veteran, you can use additional funds provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay for rent at an independent living community. Senior veterans and their surviving spouses may be eligible for VA pension benefits. The Aid and Attendance benefit is especially important for seniors as it can be added to their existing VA pension benefits to cover anything that improves a senior’s quality of life — which could include independent living.
If you’re unsure about your eligibility for VA benefits, don’t fret. You can reach out to a local veteran service organization (VSO) to help you find options you may not know about. They’ll even help you successfully file for a claim or appeal a denied claim.
VSOs are vetted by the VA to provide assistance and resources to veterans, so it’s in your best interest to reach out a local VSO before applying for benefits. Some Austin independent living communities also partner with local veteran programs to help potential senior residents obtain the benefits they’ve earned.
Number of veterans who live in Austin
Approximately 39% of Austin veterans are 65+
Resources for Austin veterans
Travis County Veterans Services Department
5325 Airport Blvd.
Austin, TX 78751
Phone: 512-854-9340
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (By appointment only)
Virtual contact: Veterans services contact form
Texas Veterans Commission (TVC)
1700 N. Congress Ave., Suite 800
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: 512-475-2395
Regional Disabled American Veterans (DAV) office
VA Regional Office — One Veterans Plaza
701 Clay Ave.
Waco, TX 76799
Phone: 254-299-9932
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Medicaid is a public health insurance program jointly funded by the Texas and federal governments. It cannot be used to pay rent at an independent living facility in Austin, Texas, but it can be used to cover long-term health care services and medically necessary in-home care services received within an independent living community.
Most Texas seniors who receive Medicaid receive their coverage through STAR+PLUS, the state’s managed care program run by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (or the HHSC). This program is specifically for seniors 65+ and individuals with disabilities. To qualify for the Medicaid program, you mustn’t exceed a monthly income of $2,742 as an individual or $5,484 as a couple.[03]
If you’re planning for care needs that may arise in the future, be sure to learn about STAR+PLUS’ Home and Community Based Services waiver program. It can be used to cover the cost of some personal care services, health care services, and medical supplies within a care facility.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program and anyone who is 65+ and/or disabled qualifies for it within the state of Texas. It cannot be used to cover rent or living costs at an independent living community, but it can help cover many medical services. Some services include hospital stays, hospice care, certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventative services.
If you’re a senior who qualifies for Texas Medicare, you can receive assistance with your Medicare application, legal advice, and referrals by utilizing the resources listed below. Legal aid attorneys may direct financially eligible, low-income seniors to the Texas Medicare Savings Program — which aids seniors with their Medicare premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and/or copayments. If you have additional questions about Medicare, you can visit the federal Medicare website or dial 2-1-1.
If you’re an Austin resident who qualifies for both Medicare and Medicaid, you might qualify for dual coverage. The state of Texas offers a joint Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP) called the Dual Eligible Integrated Care Demonstration Project, commonly referred to as “the Demonstration.”
With the Demonstration, Texas strives towards the following:
To qualify for the Demonstration, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
If you qualify, you should automatically be enrolled in the Demonstration. You may choose to opt out of the Demonstration once you’ve received a notifying letter of enrollment in the mail. If you’d like additional information on the program, you can email managed_care_initiatives@hhsc.state.tx.us.
It can be difficult to navigate Medicaid and Medicare on your own, so Austin and Texas offer several programs and organizations to help you better understand your benefits and apply for them. Below, you’ll be able to find Medicaid and Medicaid applications, local organizations that can assist you with your application, and resources to help you better understand your senior living options and benefits.
Austin resident Medicare and Medicaid resources
Long-term care ombudsman
Clement “Pete” Moreno, Managing Local Ombudsman at the AAA of the Capital Area
6800 Burleson Road, Building 310, Suite 165
Austin, TX 78744
Phone: 512-916-6054
Email: cpmoreno@capcog.org
Unlike assisted living and memory care facilities, Texas doesn’t require a state agency to regulate independent living facilities, as they are not considered care facilities. However, independent living communities are still required to comply with Texas’ general housing and apartment standards for rental units, such as the Texas Property Code and Fair Housing Act.
But, if an independent living facility shares a campus or building with an assisted living facility (or ALF), the assisted living-designated area must comply with the assisted living regulation requirements set forth by Texas Health and Human Services (or HHS). If you would like to see the regulations for Austin assisted living facilities, check out the laws and regulation section on that page.
Stand-alone independent living rental communities are required to comply with the state’s housing and apartment regulations for landlords and tenants. It’s important to learn about your rights as a tenant, as it’ll help you find a safe and satisfactory living situation while renting.
Here’s a brief overview of tenants’ rights in Texas:
Before attempting to terminate an independent living agreement or hiring an external contractor, it’s strongly recommended that you reach out to an attorney or a tenants association. Consulting a housing expert will prevent you from breaching any lease or contractual agreements, and it’s also ultimately more likely to lead you to the result you desire. It’s also recommended for tenants to provide written notices of complaints or maintenance requests to their landlord and that they keep a copy of each notice as proof.[04]
If you’re seeking more information on your rights as a tenant in an independent living facility, be sure to read the Texas Tenants’ Rights Handbook.
In Texas, federal nondiscrimination laws — such as the Fair Housing Act, Section 504, and Americans with Disabilities Act (or ADA) — are in place to help protect tenants from being discriminated against due to a disability. This prohibits independent living facilities from refusing housing due to a senior’s disability. Furthermore, these laws require housing providers to provide reasonable accommodations and modifications in housing, programs, and activities for individuals with disabilities.
In most independent living communities, accommodations and modifications are provided; however, some smaller communities may not provide them. If you’re an individual with a disability, it’s important for you to learn about your right to ask for reasonable accommodations and modifications.
Reasonable accommodations are defined as changes to facility policies and could include the following:
Modifications are structural changes to common areas and individual units and could include the following:
These nondiscrimination laws apply to all independent living facilities in Austin. Independent living facility owners are required to pay for such modifications unless providing them would pose an undue financial or administrative burden. If you’d like more information, see this detailed infographic on reasonable accommodations and modifications.
Austin currently doesn’t have any COVID-19 regulations specific to independent living communities. However, the city does provide a COVID-19 in Austin page on its city website to provide residents with regular updates regarding risk levels, testing, vaccinations, and more.
Additionally, if an independent living facility shares a building with an assisted living facility, it must comply with any protective measures set forth by the assisted living facility. In Texas, assisted living facilities are required to develop their own infection prevention and control measures for common infections, including COVID-19. The measures may include the community’s hygiene practices, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), disinfection and sterilization techniques, safe injection methods, and physical distancing requirements.
Because communities are allowed to set their own standards, it’s best to check with your prospective community directly to see if they have any specific COVID-19 regulations in place.
Austin’s senior population is on the rise — in fact, the city has seen a nearly 75% increase in its senior population over the last decade.[06,07] The city attracts seniors due to its robust health care options, warm weather, and recent increase in senior living options. And, to keep up with the rapid growth, Austin has enacted an action plan called Age-Friendly Austin.
The Age-Friendly Austin initiative aims to make the city more friendly and supportive for current and future seniors. It addresses eight areas that influence the health and quality of life for seniors, including the following:
As the population grows, an increasing number of seniors are looking for unique retirement options. Luckily, Austin has expanded its independent living scene to help seniors maintain their independence and thrive without the stress of homeownership. Check out some features unique to Austin independent living communities below.
Austin independent living communities aim to help seniors continue their tried-and-true hobbies, form new friendships, maintain optimal health, and discover new interests. To do so, communities house a range of amenities for seniors to enjoy at their leisure.
Some of the most common amenities seen in Austin independent living communities include the following:
Many Austin communities also offer on-site activities facilitated by an activity and/or life enrichment director. These directors craft a monthly schedule of dynamic activities catered to the needs and interests of current residents. Some of the most popular activities at Austin independent living communities include the following:
Many seniors believe moving to a senior living community will result in sacrificing their privacy and space. However, that’s a common misconception, and Austin independent living communities do their best to help ensure residents get the space and privacy they need. In fact, the most popular in-network communities offer stunning, spacious villas and cottages. These villas and cottages often look like smaller homes or townhomes and offer seniors more privacy and space. Here are some key differences between regular units and cottages or villas:
A typical independent living unit in Austin features the following:
A villa or cottage offers the aforementioned amenities, and may also include:
On top of these features, Austin independent living residents benefit from the added safety of emergency call response systems and security systems. Several in-network communities have installed robust tech to help ensure residents reside in a safe environment. Plus, seniors never have to worry about chores that usually come with home ownership — communities happily offer housekeeping, dining, landscaping, maintenance, and transportation services.
Most Austin independent living communities share a campus with an assisted living facility, enabling residents to gracefully age in place. If you’re not familiar with how the two differ, check out how assisted living differs from independent living. Typically, independent living eliminates the stresses of home ownership and offers seniors a maintenance-free lifestyle filled with activities and amenities. On the other hand, Austin assisted living offers seniors all of that in addition to assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and personalized care services.
Some communities even offer a memory care unit, making for an easy transition for any seniors who develop memory loss problems or a type of dementia down the line. This multi-tiered care approach also helps senior couples with differing care needs age together. Many of these communities also have on-site doctors and nurses to monitor residents’ vitals, medications, and health issues.
Because of Austin’s fast pace, some seniors prefer to live further from the city’s downtown. Luckily, there are many suburbs that’ve become popular. For example, Round Rock is often clumped in with Austin, as it has become a part of the city’s metro area due to the city’s rapid growth and expansion. It offers all of the independent living luxuries of Austin communities at a slightly lower starting price. Plus, the city offers gorgeous parks and premium outlets to shop.
However, if you’d prefer a lower cost and don’t mind living 30 minutes from Austin’s downtown, Pflugerville might be your best option, where costs are cut nearly in half. It offers peaceful, family-friendly neighborhoods without sacrificing quality of life, as it’s still close to daily conveniences and not too far from Austin’s attractions.
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Number of seniors over the age of 65 currently living in Austin
Average annual retirement income for Austin seniors 65+[07]
Austin’s range of health care options makes it attractive to seniors. The city has robust medical centers throughout the city. Here’s some information on Austin’s top-rated medical centers:
St. David’s Medical Center has multiple campuses in Austin. The main location on 32nd street is ranked as the No. 1 hospital in Austin and ranks 37th nationally in rehabilitation, according to U.S. News and World Report. St. David’s South Austin Medical Center also ranks as the No. 3 hospital in Austin and is nationally accredited for its oncology program.
Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin is the No. 2 hospital in Austin, according to U.S. News and World Report. This medical center offers a comprehensive Level I stroke center and Level IV trauma center. It also offers multiple locations in Austin and Round Rock.
Austin’s vast urban sprawl makes it difficult for residents to easily walk everywhere, so many residents own a vehicle to drive themselves around. However, the city’s downtown area is known for being easy to walk and bike. And, to seniors’ advantage, 100% of our in-network independent living communities offer complimentary transportation services. Do remember that some communities may limit their rides to appointments and errands, while others also offer rides to leisure events.
Seniors can also utilize CapMetro — the citywide public transportation system offering buses, rail lines, shuttles, and more. CapMetro offers a $3 Reduced Fare ID (RFID) Card for seniors 65+, Medicare card holders, and individuals with disabilities, which offers half-priced fares for all transportation services. Seniors must renew the card every two years.
The city’s parks and recreation department also operates a Senior Transportation Program to offer rides to seniors 60+ in the Austin area. This transportation service is funded by the City of Austin and Capital Area of Council of Governments (CAPCOG) to enhance the quality of life for seniors and to promote independence among the population. Seniors must apply for the service. After approval, seniors can receive free rides for medical appointments and select routes. To reserve a ride for errands, riders must pay a $3 fee per destination.
To get a better understanding of Austin’s sprawl, check out the following scores from WalkScore. They’re each out of 100 and are based on downtown Austin’s public density, walking routes, public transportation options, biking routes, and infrastructure:[08]
With an infamous slogan like “Keep Austin Weird,” the city has a reputation to live up to — and it does. Seniors have a world of unique activities and experiences awaiting them in Austin. And most of them are happy to accommodate seniors with disabilities — just be sure to ask.
Check out some unique, senior-favored places and activities in Austin:
Amberlin Pflugerville, Brookdale North Austin and The Isle at Cedar Ridge are the top-rated Independent Living facilities near Austin, TX. These Independent Living facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Independent Living in Austin is $5,345 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) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2023). Appendix VIII, monthly income/resource limits in STAR+PLUS Handbook.
Texas Young Lawyers Association & State Bar of Texas. (2019). Tenants’ Rights Handbook.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2022). Reasonable accommodations and modifications.
United States Census Bureau. (2011). Population 65 years and over in the United States (S0103) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population 65 years and over in the United States (S0103) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
WalkScore. (2023). Living in downtown Austin.
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) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2023). Appendix VIII, monthly income/resource limits in STAR+PLUS Handbook.
Texas Young Lawyers Association & State Bar of Texas. (2019). Tenants’ Rights Handbook.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2022). Reasonable accommodations and modifications.
United States Census Bureau. (2011). Population 65 years and over in the United States (S0103) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population 65 years and over in the United States (S0103) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
WalkScore. (2023). Living in downtown Austin.