We know paying for nursing home care for a Dallas-Fort Worth senior loved one is a big concern for many of the families we work with. If your family member truly needs long-term, skilled nursing care and not an assisted living community, the costs can really add up.

Nursing homes use a daily room rate system for pricing. Most communities offer residents the choice between a semi-private and a private room. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the median daily rate for a nursing home is $186. Overall prices range from $140 to $325 per day. On average, a family should expect to pay $56,940 per year for a senior loved one’s care in a semi-private suite in a north Texas nursing home. [Read more…]

One question families in north Texas routinely ask us to address is what the difference is between home care and home health care. There are, in fact, distinct differences. While both can be delivered in the privacy of an older adult’s Dallas or Fort Worth home, the type of care provided is quite different.

Home Health Care in North Texas

Home health care is designed to bring skilled care and services in to the home. It might be medical care that is provided by a registered nurse or the therapeutic support of a physical therapist, speech therapist or occupational therapist. It most often follows a stay in the hospital for an injury, surgery or illness. Home health care allows the senior to continue to recuperate in their own home. [Read more…]

Families often find in-home care services to be a good short-term solution. When an older adult needs a helping hand or support with personal care, a home care agency can help meet those needs. This support will allow a Dallas or Fort Worth area senior to remain in their own home longer. It can be a good alternative to an assisted living community.
A few of the early concerns families express when we talk with them about this option include worries about how much it will cost and what type of payment options are available. [Read more…]

Assisted living communities have become a very popular type of housing option for older adults in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Older adults often say they feel as if they have found an ideal solution when they need a little extra help to maintain their independence. They have the privacy of their own apartment or suite with the care and support of experienced caregivers nearby when needed.

Another positive for these types of senior living communities is that they are significantly less expensive than a traditional nursing home. The cost of assisted living care in north Texas ranges from $1,400 to $16,595 each month. The median is $8,998. That means a senior and their family should expect to pay about $107,976 a year for a studio or one bedroom apartment in a Dallas assisted living community. [Read more…]

When a senior loved one is no longer safe living on their own, adult children often begin to explore the senior living options that are available for them. We are frequently asked by families we work with in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to explain the differences between a nursing home and an assisted living community. Initially, it may be a little confusing to understand the similarities and differences between these two types of senior care.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that there are a lot of misconceptions about both types of senior living. Some people mistakenly believe assisted living communities are just a prettier version of a nursing home. Another misperception is that the quality of care provided in a nursing care center isn’t very good. To help you better understand both types of senior care communities, we will explore the similarities and differences. [Read more…]