Fort Worth, Texas, entices the aging population with its warm summers, mild winters, enchanting natural areas, and variety of senior-friendly activities. And, with its close proximity to Dallas, the area has become known as the Dallas-Fort Worth — or DFW — metroplex. This greater metroplex enables seniors to reap the benefits and conveniences of a big city like Dallas and still enjoy the suburban, small-town feel of Fort Worth.
Independent living in DFW is an expansive senior living scene that meets the aging population’s unique needs. In fact, Fort Worth itself offers nine independent living facilities within a 10-mile radius of Northside Fort Worth. This number may seem small at first, but that’s because these options are concentrated to the Fort Worth metro specifically. Seniors can find many more senior living options if they expand their search into the greater DFW area. Our Dallas and Arlington independent living pages showcase these options.
In this all-inclusive guide, you’ll learn about the various types of independent living communities available to seniors in Fort Worth. We use our proprietary data to bring you real resident ratings and information on each community’s cleanliness, activities, amenities, and services. You’ll also get access to information on average local independent living costs, how seniors typically pay, senior-specific resources, and senior-favored activities in Fort Worth.
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...
They was helpful and caring. They didn’t just want to rent out the room; they really wanted my mother to have the best place that accommodated her needs and wants. This place is a great place to live.
I think Brookdale Tanglewood is very nice the staff seems friendly my concerns for my mom is the cost of the care we have to really watch her budget she is paying more than she makes in a month & I know the...
I am very pleased with everything that I renewed the lease for 15 months. Yes, I highly recommend this community to other families based on the experience I have had so far.
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...
This Facility is outstanding, The resident are nice and helpful. The Staff is great and very helpful including [name removed], She is very knowledgeable, smart and nice. If you like good food this the place...
Friendly very informative, answered all my questions. Apartment sizes are compatible with others we have rented. This is a great choice.
I would honestly rate everything with a 4.5. We visited a few places and felt like the Vantage was the best fit for my mother. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about the residents and keep...
I love the new director there and there are a few R.A.'s that are just precious. [name removed], the head med tech, is fantastic. I would recommend this community to other families based on the experience I...
My mother in law resided at Discovery Village Alliance for 3 years. We have had nothing short of a wonderful experience during her time there! The staff has always been kind and attentive, the facilities and...
Ridgemar Place is a beautiful building inside. They are working on making outside better so construction Crews are around al but take care in respecting residents. So it is a safe environment.
The staff at Bristol Park at Eagle Mt. stayed the same the 10 months she was a resident. Each apartment is just the right size for the comfortability and safety of the resident . I highly recommend ...
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.
They were one of the few that would accommodate my mother's transfer equipment .Facility is very nice and clean. Just not perfect so I can't give it a 5
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
We were drawn to this facility because it's Christian- Church of Christ based and the grounds are beautiful. The staff is very nice and community is very clean. I would highly recommend this place!
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...
Great new place. Needs improvement in certain places. Have had a couple of issues. Some have been resolved. Looking into moving my mother into a more hands on nursing care place. Plus we have a language...
The family member settled well and is happy. The staff I worked with was excellent. Based on the experience we have had, we have already recommend Town Village Crossings to other families who may need a...
Have been with Parkwood Retirement Community for 6 wonderful years. The staff here for their very best to service. The staff here do their very best to service all to the best of their abilities. Plan to...
We have lived at ParcPlace for five years. We love it here. You never have to worry about being bored or alone because there are so many activities and someone is always waiting to play a game or ready to...
Have been with Parkwood Retirement com, for 6 wonderful years. The staff here do their very best to service all the vest of their abilities. Plan to reside here till it's time for me to move foe my last time
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 at an independent living community in Fort Worth is $2,696 per month, according to A Place for Mom’s 2022-2023 proprietary data.[01] However, costs will greatly vary based on your chosen floor plan, location, services, and amenities.
Seniors can typically expect the following included in their monthly rent across DFW-area independent living communities:
The following on-site services are also typical, yet may require additional fees:
Seniors typically use a combination of their private income sources and senior benefit programs to pay for independent living in DFW. Social Security is one benefit program commonly utilized to pay, while senior veterans can also use benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). To free up some additional cash, seniors can save on their health care costs and pay for potential senior care services in the future by using Medicaid or Medicare. We cover all these methods and more in this section.
Seniors usually gather private funds over a lifetime to prepare for their ideal retirement. Private funds are sometimes necessary to partially cover the costs of a resort-style independent living community. Private funds might include personal savings accounts, investment returns, pensions, 401Ks, and more. Depending on circumstances, many retirees also look at the following methods for privately paying for their ideal independent living community:
If you’re a veteran or a surviving spouse of a veteran, you may be eligible for funds provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In this section, you’ll learn more about VA benefits, how they can be used to pay for your ideal independent living community, and how you can access your benefits as a senior veteran in DFW.
The VA provides various pensions and benefits, and this income may be used to pay for independent living senior community expenses. It’s most beneficial for seniors with a disability to look into the Aid and Attendance benefit, as it’s one of the most generous benefit programs. Aid and Attendance can be added to an existing VA pension to cover anything that improves a veteran’s quality of life, which could include independent living or senior care services.
To verify your VA benefits eligibility status, you should reach out to a local veterans service organization (VSO) before applying. These organizations are vetted by the VA to help veterans obtain the benefits they’re entitled to. They’ll help you successfully file claims or appeal denied claims. You can also view this service-related disabilities fact sheet to see if your condition qualifies you or a loved one for VA benefits. This guide can be a starting point for you, but it’s best to work with the expert VSOs.
Furthermore, Fort Worth makes it simple for seniors to access VA benefit programs, as most of these VSOs are available at one location — Tarrant County Veteran Services Office. This office connects senior veterans to local, regional, and national services offered by groups such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Texas Veterans Commission, and more. Reach out to any of these organizations for benefits assistance using the contact information below.
Resources for Fort Worth veterans
Tarrant County Veteran Services Office
1200 Circle Drive, 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 jointly funded by the state of Texas and the federal government. It cannot be used to pay for rent at a private independent senior living community in Fort Worth. However, it can be used to cover some third-party home health care services within an independent living community, if that’s where the senior already calls home.
Texas’ Medicaid program for seniors 65+ and individuals with disabilities is called STAR+PLUS. It’s operated by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Medicaid can cover some long-term health care and medically necessary in-home health care services within a patient’s residence of choice.
As of 2023, seniors 65+ must not exceed the following monthly income limits to qualify for STAR+PLUS:[03]
STAR+PLUS offers a home and community based services (HCBS) waiver program to help seniors remain in the residential setting of their choice while receiving care. This program helps seniors avoid institutional settings like hospitals or nursing homes by providing medically necessary in-home health care services.
The services can be provided in an independent living community, if that is where the senior already calls home. However, you should check with your prospective community’s policies beforehand, as they may have a policy on their residents’ ability to care for themselves.
The types of care costs that may be covered by Medicaid’s home and community based services (HCBS) programs can include the following:
As of 2023, seniors 65+ must meet the following requirements to qualify for the HCBS waiver program:[04]
In Texas, seniors have several ways to access their Medicaid resources. You can search for a Medicaid benefits office near you, apply online, or read online guides below to learn more.
Fort Worth resident Medicaid resources
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that provides coverage to adults 65+ and individuals with disabilities. It cannot be used to pay rent for Fort Worth independent living communities, but it can help cover some medical care costs. Medicare can help cover hospital stays, hospice care, certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, rehabilitative care, medical supplies, and preventive care services.
As of 2023, seniors must not exceed the following income requirements to qualify for Texas Medicare:[03]
Resources include all of your assets, like your savings accounts, properties, investments, etc. To further save on Medicare Parts A and B premiums, deductibles, copayments, and/or coinsurance, seniors can apply for Texas Medicare Savings Program.
As of 2023, seniors mustn’t exceed the following monthly income limits to qualify for the Texas Medicare Savings Program:[03]
If you’re a Fort Worth resident who qualifies for both Medicare and Medicaid, you might qualify for dual coverage. Texas offers a joint Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP) called the Dual Eligible Integrated Care Demonstration Project for six counties — with Tarrant County being one of them. This project is commonly referred to as “the Demonstration,” and it aims to offer the following:
To qualify, a senior must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Qualifying seniors should automatically be enrolled in the Demonstration. If you’d like to opt out, you can do so after you receive a letter of notification in the mail. If you’d like additional information on the program, you can email managed_care_initiatives@hhsc.state.tx.us.
Below, you’ll find applications and resources to help you access Medicare in Fort Worth. If you’d like assistance with Medicare in Texas, you can reach out to a local Social Security Administration office, the Texas Legal Services Center, or the nearest local area agency on aging.
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 for 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
Fort Worth independent senior living communities are not regulated by a state agency unless they share a building or campus with an assisted living care facility. Stand-alone independent living communities without shared assisted living spaces are treated the same as general apartment complexes. This means they must comply with general Texas housing and rental standards, such as the Texas Property Code and Fair Housing Act.
Housing laws 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.
If an independent living community shares its building or campus with an assisted living community, the area designated for assisted living and any shared areas must follow assisted living facility regulations. Assisted living regulations are set by Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) to help ensure a proper environment for aging seniors. If you’d like to learn more about Texas’ assisted living regulations, visit the laws and regulations section of our Fort Worth assisted living page.
In Texas, stand-alone independent living communities are 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.
It’s useful to learn about your tenants’ rights, as it’ll help you find a safe and satisfactory living situation while you rent. Here’s a brief overview of some important tenants’ rights in Texas:[05]
Before attempting to terminate a lease or hiring an external contractor, it’s strongly recommended that you reach out to an attorney or a local tenants association for advice. Consulting a housing expert will prevent you from breaching any lease agreements, leading 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.[05]
If you’re seeking more information on your rights as a senior apartment tenant, 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) — protect tenants from being discriminated against due to their disability. Furthermore, these laws require housing providers to provide reasonable accommodations and modifications in housing, programs, and activities for individuals with disabilities.
If you’re a senior with a disability, you have the right to request reasonable accommodations and modifications within your independent living community. Reasonable accommodations are defined as changes to facility policies. Here are some examples of reasonable accommodations that could be provided by a rental community:[06]
Modifications are structural changes to common areas and individual units. Some examples of reasonable modifications in line with the ADA include the following:[06]
These nondiscrimination laws apply to all rental communities in Fort Worth. Property 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 for Texas renters.
For general concerns, Fort Worth offers an overview of renter’s rights and guidelines on its city website. For further questions regarding a lease or contract, the city recommends that renters reach out to the following agencies:
You can also view rental inspection scores on the Fort Worth city website. Search for your prospective independent living community by name or address to find its most recent inspection date and score.
Due to the overall decline in COVID-19 infections, Fort Worth doesn’t have any COVID-19 regulations in place for stand-alone independent living communities. Nevertheless, Fort Worth residents can visit the COVID-19 informational page on the city’s official website to get the latest news regarding local outbreaks, vaccinations, COVID-19 testing, and more.
On the other hand, an independent living community that shares spaces with an assisted living community must comply with any standards set forth by the assisted living community. The Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) requires assisted living facilities to set their own infection prevention and control measures for common infections, including COVID-19. These measures may include a 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 how they’re handling COVID-19.
Fort Worth has become a hotspot for seniors looking to lead an active retirement in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area. The city attracts seniors due to its small-town feel within a metropolitan area, robust health care options, and ideal weather. To accommodate the aging population, the city enacted an action plan called Age-Friendly Fort Worth in 2017. The city has since then implemented aging-friendly practices across the following domains to increase the quality of life for local seniors:
The DFW area has also increased its senior living options over the last few years. A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with many independent living communities in Fort Worth’s metro, but options more than double when the search is expanded to the greater DFW metroplex, including Dallas and Arlington. Fort Worth still offers several great options for those who want to remain in the city’s metro area. Below, you’ll find all the unique features of these local independent living communities in Fort Worth.
About a third of our partner independent living communities offer multi-tiered care levels to promote aging in place. Many seniors enter independent living to escape the stresses of home ownership and to reap the benefits of resort-style services and amenities. Luckily, seniors don’t have to worry about relocating if their care needs increase, as many of our partner communities also offer care services on-site.
Most of our partners offer an assisted living unit or memory care unit on-site to accommodate seniors’ unique needs. Assisted living offers seniors the same amenities of independent living in addition to assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and personalized care services. Memory care offers all of that with a more personalized and attentive approach to help handle each resident’s dementia symptoms. Some communities even offer visiting nurses to oversee advanced care needs. This multi-tiered care approach also enables senior couples to age together on the same campus, despite differing care needs.
Many seniors choose independent living for the added convenience provided by the robust services and resort-style amenities on-site. As a resident of our partner communities, daily tasks are taken care of with services like on-site dining, housekeeping, and transportation. Senior residents don’t have to cook, clean, or drive unless it’s something they wish to do. In that case, some communities offer apartment units with full kitchens and resident parking.
Independent living communities also offer amenities to help residents maintain a daily routine and optimal health. Seniors can stay physically, mentally, and socially active by utilizing the following on-site amenities in Fort Worth:
Independent living communities in Fort Worth aim to help residents immerse in new experiences and engage in their favorite tried-and-true activities. Communities host a variety of activities and classes based on the current resident population’s interests. Residents can find new ways to get active, relax, and socialize through these community-hosted activities.
Some of the most common activities seen in Fort Worth independent living communities include the following:
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Fort Worth’s health care options are part of the greater Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area, with the top-rated medical centers mainly in Dallas. Below, you’ll find information on what these medical centers in the DFW area have to offer.
UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern Medical Center is ranked as the No. 1 hospital in the DFW 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, and it ranks No. 4 across Texas, according to U.S. News and World Report. It nationally ranks in gastroenterology.
Parkland Health’s Dallas location ranks as the No. 3 hospital in the DFW 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 DFW metroplex, according to U.S. News and World Report. It’s high performing in diabetic care, stroke care, and heart failure treatment.
Some Fort Worth seniors prefer to drive around the city themselves; however, transportation services are typically available at our independent living in DFW partners. As a matter of fact, approximately 90% of our partner independent living communities in Fort Worth offer complimentary transportation services to residents.[01] Keep in mind, some communities limit rides to appointments and errands, while others will provide rides for leisure and social activities.
Seniors and their visiting loved ones can also utilize Tarrant County’s public transportation system, Trinity Metro, to easily get around Fort Worth. 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.
Local residents and their families may also want to get a better idea of the city’s sprawl. The following scores from Walk Score can help you paint a picture of the city’s infrastructure and accessibility. The scores are each out of 100 and are based on Fort Worth’s public density, walking and biking routes, public transportation options, and other factors:[09]
Seniors have a world of interesting activities to experience in Fort Worth, Texas. With the city growing into one greater metroplex — Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) — residents are able to find something for even their most niche interests. The DFW area boasts famous American restaurants, museums, events, parks, and more.
Here’s a brief summary of some of the top senior activities in Fort Worth:
If you need any accommodations due to a disability, be sure to inquire with each destination above before planning your visit. Many of these locations offer accessible options for those with limited mobility to get around. Some locations even offer specialized accommodations for specific disabilities.
Sunrise of Fort Worth, Watermere at Flower Mound and Town Village Crossing are the top-rated Independent Living facilities near Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth is $3,763 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.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2023, March 1). Appendix XXXI, Monthly income/resource limits. In STAR+PLUS Handbook.
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 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. (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.
Texas Health and Human Services. (2023, March 1). Appendix XXXI, Monthly income/resource limits. In STAR+PLUS Handbook.
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 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. (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.