10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Austin, TX

There are several ways to pay for memory care in Austin. Families usually combine some personal income sources, insurance policies, and pension income. Qualifying seniors also use federal and state programs, such as veterans benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare, to help cover some medical and memory care costs. In this section, you’ll find an overview of the most common payment methods used by families.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating memory care facilities. Memory care facilities are considered a type of assisted living in Texas, so memory care regulations are built into existing assisted living regulations and laws. The state of Texas refers to assisted living facilities as ALFs and categorizes them into two main types:^[07]

• Type A ALFs provide care to seniors who don’t need routine overnight attendance and are able to follow directions in an emergency.
• Type B ALFs are for seniors who need nighttime attendance and staff assistance to evacuate during emergency situations. This type includes facilities with special care units, including memory care and skilled nursing.

All certified memory care facilities fall under the Type B assisted living facility (ALF). The main difference between general assisted living and assisted living facilities with memory care is that the latter must meet additional certification requirements. Texas’ memory care regulations hold memory care communities to a higher standard than other states. Regulations require memory care staff to continuously learn about the latest dementia research and train in tried-and-true memory care techniques. Texas even requires facilities to offer specialized memory care programming to actively engage residents.

The additional licensing standards for assisted living facilities licensed in memory care include but are not limited to the following:

Memory care staffing and training regulations

• Memory care facilities providing care to more than 17 residents are required to have two caregiving staff members on-site at all times.
• Caregiving staff must undergo 4 hours of memory care-specific training before they assume any job-related duties or tasks.
• After the initial training, caregiving staff must complete 16 hours of on-the-job supervised training. This training should encompass all of their responsibilities, including assisting with activities of daily living, behavior management, emergency procedures, and more.
• Memory care facility managers are required to complete 6 hours of memory care training on an annual basis, while their memory care team will need to complete 12 hours of continued education and memory care training on a yearly basis.

Memory care admissions, assessments, and care plans

• It’s required for each memory care facility to develop a process for ensuring their ability to care for a potential resident and apply this process before admitting each resident.
• Within a new resident’s initial two weeks after admission, facilities are required to perform an assessment of the resident’s behaviors, health conditions, communication abilities, dietary requirements, required medications, and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL).
• Resident assessments should be used to craft personalized care plans that accommodate residents’ needs, preferences, and strengths. These care plans should keep a resident physically, cognitively, and socially healthy.
• Care plans must be adjusted on an annual basis and after serious conditional changes in the resident.

Memory care activities programming

• Memory care facilities must have an activities program that encourages, not forces, socialization, self-expression, physical activity, and cognitive awareness among residents.
• A designated activity director is required to lead activities and help ensure a healthy balance of group and individual activities that address varying cognitive, recreational, and activities of daily living (ADL) needs.
• The activity director must also consider each resident’s medical history, limitations, and preferences to determine person-centered activities. They must also arrange special equipment for the residents who need it.^[08]

Memory care facility inspections

To regulate memory care-specialized assisted living facilities, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission performs unannounced inspections approximately every two years after the initial inspection. Inspections assess a facility’s compliance with Texas’ health and life safety code.^[09]

The health code inspection includes a review of the following:

• Appropriate staff-to-resident ratios
• Employee background checks
• Management of the facility
• Any items that could affect resident health

The life safety code inspection reviews the following:^[09,10]

• Construction of the facility
• Safety and emergency features
• Protection from hazardous areas
• Documentation of fire drills, system checks, etc.

You can access each licensed community’s most recent inspection report and general facility information through the Texas Health and Human Services’ Long-term Care Provider Search. For any additional information not found in reports, you can email rsltcr.recordsmgmt@hhsc.state.tx.us.

Texas Health and Human Services (HHS or HHSC) contact information

4601 W. Guadalupe St.
Austin, TX 78751
Phone: 512-424-6500
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

COVID-19 regulations for Austin memory care facilities

There are currently no COVID-19 regulations specific to memory care communities in Austin. However, the state does qualify memory care facilities as assisted living facilities; therefore, they must follow assisted living guidelines. The state requires assisted living facilities to develop their own infection prevention and control measures for common infections, including COVID-19. The measures may include guidance on the community’s hygiene practices, disinfection and sterilization techniques, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe injection methods, and physical distancing requirements.

Because communities are allowed to set their own rules, it’s best to check with your prospective community to see what measures are being taken to protect seniors against common infections and COVID-19. You can also visit the COVID-19 in Austin page on the city website for regular updates regarding risk levels, testing, vaccinations, and more.

Austin’s 65+ senior population has seen nearly a 75% increase over the last decade.^[02] The rise can be attributed to Austin’s wealth of health care options, warm weather, unique activities, and increase in senior-friendly initiatives.

To accommodate seniors experiencing dementia, the city has an Alzheimer’s Association Capital of Texas Chapter, and it takes on many initiatives to raise awareness. Some initiatives include events, classes, and conferences dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease awareness and research.

The city of Austin has also expanded its senior living options to accommodate people with dementia by offering unique memory care communities. Learn more about the unique features of Austin memory care facilities and how they’re built to accommodate seniors with dementia below.

Memory care staff receive specialized training to manage common dementia symptoms

Our partnering Austin memory care facilities strive to offer a personalized experience for seniors with dementia. That is precisely why Texas requires memory care communities to provide specialized memory care training to its caregiving staff. In fact, 95% of communities use redirection, cueing, and reorientation techniques to help manage common dementia symptoms. Through comprehensive training and learned techniques, dementia caregivers aim to help manage common symptoms in seniors with dementia. Here’s a brief overview of what symptoms memory care caregivers are equipped to handle:^[01]

• 95% of communities specially train their staff to handle dementia symptoms like restlessness, pacing, and wandering.
• 60% of communities specially train their caregivers to handle hallucinations and delusions.
• 50% of communities specially train their caregivers to handle anxiety, aggression, or agitation.

Memory care communities personalize activities to encourage reminiscence and socialization

Due to memory care regulations in Texas, Austin memory care facilities must offer specialized activities programming for senior residents. The programming must encourage residents to socialize, express themselves, exercise, and stimulate their minds. This naturally means that all of our partner facilities offer robust on-site activities.

Memory care communities are also required to appoint an activity director to manage and facilitate the specialized activities program. Some communities put this responsibility on trained caregivers; however, most of our partner communities employ a full-time activity director to run the program. This director dedicates time to learning about each resident’s medical history, preferences, and abilities to establish person-centered activities for them. Some of the most common memory care activities include the following:

• Reminiscence therapies. Person-centered therapeutic activities often involve reminiscence. These activities are informed by a resident’s family, friends, and sometimes physician. Reminiscence often enables residents to reflect on cherished memories and create new, joyful memories through activities like art classes, movie viewings, brain-stimulating games, and memory boxes.
• Social activities and events. Dementia and aging are known to be associated with feelings of isolation. To combat loneliness, many partner communities host group activities and events to socially and physically engage residents. Ranging from simple fitness classes and interest clubs to holiday celebrations and movie nights, memory care residents will find themselves forming new friendships while keeping up with their favorite pastimes.

Memory care communities ensure resident safety through intentional design and other features

Because seniors with dementia are often prone to confusion and wandering, many memory care facilities prioritize security. In our Austin network, 100% of communities offer round-the-clock staffing while 75% offer on-site nursing to help ensure timely care and safety for residents. About 70% of communities are also designed to specifically accommodate memory loss. This means that they incorporate human-centered architecture and design to promote comfort and reduce confusion for residents navigating the community.^[01]

To further prevent wandering, most memory care partners in Austin offer an enclosed courtyard, enabling residents to enjoy fresh air in a safe space. Residents can also freely roam indoor and outdoor walking paths that are monitored by staff. A select few communities also take advanced security measures by installing high-tech systems that enable faster responses to wandering. These systems detect residents’ movements and send alerts when a resident gets near a boundary or wanders off the premises.

Health care for seniors in Austin

Austin offers a range of health care options, providing seniors with an additional safety net. The city has robust medical centers with some specialized centers for dementia patients. Learn more about the top medical centers in Austin.

Transportation for seniors in Austin

Due to the dangers of wandering and confusion among dementia patients, it’s not recommended for seniors with dementia to use public transportation. Luckily, most memory care communities provide transportation services. In fact, 90% of our partner memory care facilities in Austin offer at-cost or complimentary transportation services with trained caregiver escorts.

Furthermore, if a senior is a Medicaid recipient and they don’t have transportation services at their community, they may receive rides through the medical transportation program provided by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Services include rides to doctors’ offices, hospitals, drug stores, or any places that provide Medicaid-covered health care services. Keep in mind that it’s still important for seniors with dementia to have a caregiving escort during these trips to ensure their safe arrival and return.

Family and friends may also find it useful to learn about public transportation options to get around when visiting a senior loved one at a memory care community. CapMetro offers buses, rail lines, shuttles, and more throughout Austin. The public transportation system even offers seniors 65+ a Reduced Fare ID (RFID) Card for $3, enabling families to enjoy trips with their loved ones with accommodations for any mobility impairments they may have. After the initial $3 for the card, seniors will pay half-priced fares for any rides, and the card must be renewed every two years.