As one of Texas’ most populous cities, Dallas continues to expand its attractions and living options with each passing year. The warm weather and affordability attract seniors to Dallas for retirement, but the activities and amenities keep them there. To accommodate the aging population, the city offers a number of senior apartments designed for adults age 55+. These complexes enable seniors to make friends easily in an environment that supports the natural changes that come with aging.
Senior apartments are sprawled across Dallas, and seniors can choose to live within the lively downtown area or in the city’s residential neighborhoods. The options included below are all located within a 10-mile radius of downtown. Many communities are a short drive from golf courses, sporting venues, nature areas, and museums to keep residents endlessly entertained. Some senior apartments are located near hospitals, so seniors can enjoy their active lifestyles with peace of mind.
To help you narrow down your options, we’ve compiled this all-inclusive guide on Dallas senior apartments. We use our 20+ years of senior living experience, proprietary data, contacts with local experts, and reviews from real residents to provide you with information on senior apartment costs, payment tips, state laws and regulation information, and local senior-specific activities in the Dallas area.
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Dallas 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 cost of a senior apartment in Dallas is $1,700 per month, according to A Place for Mom’s 2022-2023 proprietary data.[01] This figure doesn’t account for associated move-in fees and extras. This number varies depending on location, floor plan, amenities, and more. Costs tend to be lower toward the outskirts of the city and when apartments have fewer amenities.
The following figures represent baseline cost averages and don’t necessarily reflect total move-in costs, add-ons, and any related fees.
Because senior apartments aren’t covered by health insurance or programs like Medicaid or Medicare, seniors typically use a combination of personal resources to fund senior apartment costs.
However, if seniors require occasional care services within the home, in-home care may be covered by some forms of health insurance. Assisted living might even be in the picture if you’re planning further in the future. For both options, seniors may be able to use Medicaid, Medicare, or veterans benefits to cover some costs.
To pay rent on a senior apartment, seniors typically start with their savings and income resources — investments, savings accounts, Social Security benefits, and pensions. Other payment options could also include some combination of the following private sources:
Keep in mind that long-term care insurance isn’t an option for funding senior apartments, as this insurance typically only covers medical care costs or nursing home stays. However, it may cover in-home care costs, should a senior ever need care services within their senior apartment.
Senior living apartments based on income in Dallas, Texas, accept HUD 202 waivers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD 202 waivers are offered through HUD’s Section 202 program — designed to provide affordable housing with supportive services for the elderly.
Other options could include Supplemental Security Income (known as SSI) or Social Security benefits. Seniors 65 years of age or older and who meet financial requirements are eligible to receive monthly SSI payments.
For more information on other Texas state housing programs, check out these housing resources for seniors in Texas.
Veterans in Dallas, Texas, are eligible for a variety of veterans benefits offered through the Dallas County Veterans Services Office. Veteran Affairs (VA) pensions can help a senior pay for rent at a senior living apartment in Dallas. And, disabled senior veterans may qualify for additional pension benefits, like the Aid and Attendance benefit or the Housebound allowance, to help them pay for senior living or in-home care services, respectively. Reach out to a Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) Health Care advocate below if you need help accessing your VA health care benefits.
Number of veterans who live in Dallas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
Percentage of Dallas veterans that are 65+, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
Additional resources for veterans in Dallas, Texas
2377 N. Stemmons Freeway, Suite 631
Dallas, TX 75207
Phone: 972-692-4939
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
8610 Greenville Ave., Suite 125
Dallas, TX 75243
Phone: 214-361-5896
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
This center specializes in nonmedical help, counseling, and referral services
Medicaid cannot be used to cover rent in senior apartments. However, if you require home care services within the apartment, Medicaid may help cover those service costs. Medicaid benefits vary by state, and most Texan seniors receive their Medicaid coverage through STAR+PLUS — the state’s Medicaid-managed care program for seniors age 65+.
For Medicaid to cover senior care costs, such as in-home care or assisted living, seniors must apply and qualify for the STAR+PLUS Home and Community Based Services waiver program. Note that this program will not pay rent at a senior apartment but may cover medically approved care costs at an assisted living facility or through an in-home care provider.
Medicaid resources for Dallas residents
Medicare will not cover any senior living costs — like rent — at senior apartments. For medically necessary care costs, Medicare does offer ways to save for qualifying seniors. Check out the resources below if you require help signing up for Medicare, or dial 2-1-1.
Dallas resident Medicare resources
Suzanna Sulfstede, Dallas County Ombudsman
The Senior Source
3910 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: 214-823-5700, ext. 4
Email: SSulfstede@TheSeniorSource.orgHours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Local HICAP Phone: 214-871-5065
In general, senior apartments in Texas don’t require special licensing or inspections apart from the regulations of any apartment complex, like required maintenance and repair of any risks to tenants’ physical health.
However, senior apartments do have added age requirements that typically start at 55. Some low-income senior apartments also have income requirements to offer affordable options for seniors. Senior apartments are also required to be ADA compliant and provide reasonable accommodations and modifications for their tenants.
Reasonable accommodations and modifications
A number of federal laws prohibit housing providers (or owners of senior apartments) from refusing residency to individuals with disabilities. On top of that, laws require housing providers to offer all tenants with disabilities reasonable accommodations and modifications in all housing, programs, and activities. Housing providers must pay for property modifications unless it would pose an undue financial burden.[02]
Note that accommodations are changes in the way things are done, while modifications are construction changes to an individual’s apartment or rental unit.
Examples of accommodations:
Examples of modifications:
These types of accommodations and modifications are federally required of senior apartments through the Fair Housing Act, Section 504, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) — which provide equal opportunities to persons with disabilities. See this infographic for more information from the Texas Department of Housing on reasonable accommodations and modifications.
Inspections
For senior apartments subsidized and certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs performs frequent inspections. These inspections oversee whether the housing is decent, safe, sanitary, and in good repair.[03]
Inspection frequency changes based on the apartment’s prior inspection score. All scores are out of 100. Scores above 90 result in inspections every three years while scores below 80 result in yearly inspections.[04]
There are no COVID-19 regulations specific to senior apartments in Dallas, Texas. However, the city does provide its residents with some general information regarding COVID-19. This information includes COVID-19 testing sites, resources, facility closures, and FAQs.
The Dallas area offers a spectrum of senior apartment options, from affordable layouts to luxury living tailored to seniors. Most senior apartments have an age requirement of around 62 or 65, while some go as low as 55. The lowered age limit enables senior couples with age gaps to live together. Age limits promote a supportive environment where seniors are surrounded by people in the same stage of life. Below, you’ll find more exciting features of senior apartments in Dallas.
Most Dallas senior apartments are designed with aging in mind — to minimize the challenges of daily life. These complexes accommodate seniors experiencing the natural effects of aging. For example, senior apartment layouts will often have grab bars in the bathrooms, ramps in high-traffic areas, elevators, and railings. This can also mean that maintenance, housekeeping, and other convenient services or features can be built into rental costs.
Many Dallas senior apartments feature an array of convenient and enticing amenities. Residents can utilize common social areas, like courtyards, BBQ areas, and pools. They can also gather in clubhouses, attend to important tasks in a business center, or relax in a resident library or TV lounge. Affordable options may not have as many on-site amenities. However, they’re often only a short drive away from a local senior center and city attractions like golf courses, shopping centers, restaurants, and museums.
Senior apartments in Dallas typically feature one-bedroom and two-bedroom options, with three-bedroom options being rare. Apartments typically have full kitchens equipped with daily appliances. Most units are equipped with a washer and dryer and are cable-ready. Walk-in closets and personal patios or balconies are also common to senior apartments. Some senior apartments even have an in-unit emergency response system in place to provide a safety net for seniors living alone.
The Dallas suburbs are also attractive to seniors seeking a peaceful senior environment without straying too far from the city’s entertainment and activities. Cities like Garland, Irving, and Plano expand the range and price of senior apartments available, as well as enable seniors to enjoy life within peaceful residential neighborhoods.
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Number of seniors 65+ in Dallas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
Percentage of seniors 65+ in Dallas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
Percentage of 65+ Dallas seniors currently not working, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
Average annual Social Security income for 65+ Dallas seniors, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
For added convenience, some senior apartments are located fairly close to health care providers in Dallas. The city has many hospitals, including two that are highly ranked across the state. Seniors can choose to receive care from the following top Dallas hospitals:
UT Southwestern Medical Center is ranked as the No. 1 hospital in Dallas and No. 2 in all of Texas, according to U.S. News and World Report. It’s also nationally ranked in nine specialties, including No. 26 in geriatrics.
Baylor University Medical Center is ranked No. 2 in Dallas and No. 4 across the state, according to U.S. News and World Report. It’s nationally ranked in gastroenterology.
Parkland Health is ranked No. 3 in Dallas, according to U.S. News and World Report. The hospital has 16 health centers across Dallas County and also has a Center for Geriatric Care and Healthy Aging for seniors seeking specialized care.
The widespread nature of Dallas makes it difficult to walk everywhere, so most residents do own a car. But, the city does have walkable neighborhoods like downtown and Oak Lawn.
Dallas residents also turn to other options for getting around without a car, including public transportation. Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) provides trains, buses, streetcars, and trolleys throughout the city. DART typically runs between 5 a.m. and midnight. They also offer a rider assistance program for elderly and disabled residents that meet certain eligibility requirements.
Based on data about Dallas’ public density, walking routes, public transportation options, biking trails, and more, this Texan city has received the following scores from WalkScore, each out of 100:
Over the last decade, Dallas has taken almost every possible hobby or interest and turned it into an enjoyable activity or attraction. Seniors can enjoy exciting sights, sounds, and tastes all over the city. Indulge in delicious foods at one of Dallas’ most popular restaurants, where seniors can satisfy every craving with mouthwatering options like famed Texas barbecue, seafood, Tex-Mex, Italian, and more.
The arts and culture scene enables local seniors to see their favorite plays at performing arts centers or enjoy symphonies in one of the city’s many venues. Or, seniors can pick and choose from their favorite topics and find a museum dedicated to practically any chosen topic. View artworks from around the world at the Dallas Museum of Art, or learn about the legacy of President John F. Kennedy at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.
Dallas residents also enjoy the sights of creatures from across the globe at the Dallas Zoo and Dallas World Aquarium. Outdoorsy seniors can stroll the breathtaking 66 acres of scenery at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden or explore the city’s numerous parks and trails. The Dallas area even offers many locations for senior-friendly sports like golf, tennis, and pickleball. Seniors can also find stimulating activities and resources at one of the city’s many local senior centers.
Parkwood Healthcare, The Spring at Silverton Active Adult 55 and Solea Tavolo Park are the top-rated Senior Apartments facilities near Dallas, TX. These Senior Apartments facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Senior Apartments in Dallas is $1,657 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
A Place for Mom. (2022, October). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2022). Reasonable accommodations and modifications.
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. (2022). Compliance: frequently asked questions.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2021). Federal regulations and guidance: UPCS inspection frequency.
Walk Score. (2022). Living in Dallas.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population 65 years and over in the United States (S0103) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
A Place for Mom. (2022, October). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2022). Reasonable accommodations and modifications.
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. (2022). Compliance: frequently asked questions.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2021). Federal regulations and guidance: UPCS inspection frequency.
Walk Score. (2022). Living in Dallas.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population 65 years and over in the United States (S0103) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.