Memory care in Texas costs a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars a month above the state's assisted-living base rate of about $5,666 per month in 2026. These are specialized facilities designed for people with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and other memory conditions, with secured environments, structured routines, and trained staff that standard assisted living does not provide. They provide secured environments, structured routines, and trained staff that standard assisted living facilities don't.

If your loved one's dementia has progressed beyond what you can manage at home, this guide will help you understand what memory care looks like, what it costs, what Medicaid covers, and how to find a facility you can trust.

In This Guide

What Memory Care Is (and How It Differs from Assisted Living)

Memory care is a specialized form of long-term care designed specifically for people with Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, and cognitive impairments. While regular assisted living helps with daily tasks, memory care adds layers of support that people with dementia need:

  • Secured environments. Locked doors and enclosed outdoor areas prevent wandering, which is one of the biggest safety risks for people with dementia.
  • Higher staff-to-resident ratios. Memory care units typically have more caregivers per resident than standard assisted living.
  • Dementia-trained staff. Caregivers are trained in de-escalation techniques, redirection, and communication strategies for cognitive impairment.
  • Structured daily routines. Predictable schedules reduce confusion and agitation.
  • Therapeutic programming. Activities designed to maintain cognitive function: music therapy, art programs, sensory stimulation, reminiscence therapy.
  • Medication management. Close supervision of medications that people with dementia often forget or mismanage.

In Texas, memory care is provided within assisted living facilities, which are licensed and regulated by HHSC under Texas Administrative Code Title 26, Chapter 553. A facility that serves residents with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder has to meet additional requirements, including an Alzheimer's Assisted Living Disclosure Statement (HHSC Form 3641) and dementia-specific staff training. Assisted living residents must not be permanently bedfast.

Memory Care Costs in Texas

The recognized cost authority, the CareScout (formerly Genworth) 2025 Cost of Care Survey, does not publish a separate statewide memory-care median for Texas. It puts the Texas assisted-living median at about $5,666 per month ($67,992 per year), and memory care commonly runs a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars a month above that base rate. Costs vary by metro area within the state.

For comparison, here is what the 2025 survey reports for Texas across settings:

Care Type Median Monthly Cost
Standard assisted living $5,666
Nursing home (semi-private) $5,627
Nursing home (private) $7,604
In-home care (44hr/wk) $5,720

Memory care typically costs a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars more per month than standard assisted living in the same area. The premium covers the specialized staffing, secured environment, and therapeutic programming.

Most memory care facilities charge a base rate plus additional fees based on the level of care needed. As dementia progresses and your loved one requires more assistance, the monthly cost will likely increase. Ask facilities for their full fee schedule, including the care level assessment process.

Trying to figure out how to pay for memory care? Chat with Brevy's care navigator to explore Medicaid, VA, and other options for your family.

Does Medicaid Cover Memory Care in Texas?

Partially. The STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver covers care services in assisted living (including memory care), but it doesn't pay for room and board.,

What Medicaid Covers

Medicaid pays for the personal care, medication management, and other health-related services your loved one receives in the memory care facility. Nursing, therapy, adaptive aids, medical supplies, and minor home modifications are covered too for members living in a contracted assisted living facility, but as separate STAR+PLUS HCBS services authorized on the individual service plan; they are not part of the assisted living daily rate. This can reduce the monthly cost significantly.

The resident pays room and board out of pocket, typically from Social Security income. You do not have to guess at that amount: under STAR+PLUS HCBS, the room-and-board charge is set at the SSI federal benefit rate minus an $85 personal needs allowance. It is a set rate that changes only when the federal benefit rate changes, generally each January 1, and it cannot be waived, although a facility may choose to accept a member for a lower amount. With the 2026 SSI federal benefit rate at $994 a month, that works out to about $909 a month. Plan for one more possible charge: a copayment is separate from room and board, not required of SSI recipients but required from members whose financial eligibility was determined under the special institutional criteria.

What's Required

To qualify for STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver services in memory care:

  • The person must meet Medicaid financial eligibility for the institutional living arrangement, which is the budget Texas applies to HCBS waiver services: in 2026, countable income no more than $2,982/month and countable resources no more than $2,000 for an individual ($5,964 and $3,000 for a couple). Where only one spouse applies, the at-home spouse keeps a protected resource amount equal to the greater of half the couple's combined countable resources or $32,532, capped at $162,660, so a married applicant is not held to the $2,000 figure for the household.
  • They must require a Nursing Facility Level of Care (NFLOC), which is assessed based on functional limitations, not just the dementia diagnosis
  • The facility must accept Medicaid HCBS waiver members

A dementia diagnosis alone doesn't guarantee NFLOC. The assessment looks at the person's ability to perform daily activities, behavioral issues (wandering, agitation, aggression), and cognitive function.

The Waitlist Reality

Texas may cap how many people a waiver serves and run an interest list (the state's term for a waitlist) when demand exceeds that capacity. STAR+PLUS HCBS has one, and a person becomes an applicant only when released from it. If your loved one needs memory care now, you may need to start with private pay while waiting for a waiver slot. Alternatively, if their needs reach nursing home level, nursing facility care is covered under regular Medicaid rather than a waiver, and the enrollment caps and interest lists apply to the waivers, not to regular Medicaid.

For more on Medicaid coverage options, read our Texas Medicaid programs guide.

How to Choose a Memory Care Facility in Texas

Check the License and Inspections

Every memory care facility in Texas operates under an HHSC assisted living license (26 TAC Chapter 553), with added dementia requirements when it serves residents with Alzheimer's or a related disorder. Search for any facility's inspection history at apps.hhs.texas.gov/LTCSearch. Look for patterns: a single minor violation is different from repeated problems.

Visit at Different Times

Tour during a structured activity so you can see how staff interact with residents. Then visit unannounced on an evening or weekend. The quality of care often differs between planned tours and normal operations.

Questions to Ask

  • What's your staff-to-resident ratio? (During the day and at night. Night shifts matter.)
  • What dementia-specific training do caregivers receive? (Look for Alzheimer's Association or similar certified training programs.)
  • How do you handle wandering and elopement? (Ask about specific safety features, not just "we have secured doors.")
  • What happens when my loved one's needs increase? (Some facilities discharge residents who reach a certain care level. Others keep them through end of life.)
  • What's included in the base rate, and what costs extra? (Medication management, incontinence supplies, and laundry are common add-on charges.)
  • Can I see a sample daily schedule?
  • How do you communicate with families about changes in condition?

Red Flags

  • Staff can't answer specific questions about their dementia care approach
  • The facility smells like urine or cleaning chemicals covering urine
  • Residents are parked in front of a TV with no engagement
  • High staff turnover (ask directly: "How long has your longest-serving caregiver been here?")
  • Pressure to sign a contract during your first visit

When It's Time for Memory Care

This is one of the hardest calls a family makes. There's no single threshold, but these signs suggest it may be time:

  • Safety issues at home. Leaving the stove on, wandering outside, falls becoming frequent.
  • Caregiver burnout. You're exhausted, your own health is suffering, or you're unable to leave them alone.
  • Increased aggression or agitation. Behavioral changes that make home care unsafe for the caregiver or the person with dementia.
  • Nighttime restlessness. Sundowning (increased confusion in the evening) that disrupts the entire household.
  • Care needs exceeding what home care provides. When 24-hour supervision is needed and home care hours aren't enough.

Many families feel guilty about this decision. It's one of the hardest ones you'll make. But here's what families who've been through it often say: they wish they'd done it sooner. The structured environment and specialized care in a good memory care facility can actually improve quality of life for someone with dementia, not just maintain it.

In-Home Dementia Care Alternatives

If your loved one is in the earlier stages of dementia, in-home care may be a good fit. Non-medical in-home care in Texas runs a median of about $30 per hour. At the survey's standard 44 hours per week, that works out to roughly $5,720 per month, comparable to memory care costs.

Options for in-home dementia care:

The Alzheimer's Association's six Texas chapters (Houston and Southeast Texas, Dallas and Northeast Texas, North Central Texas, San Antonio and South Texas, Capital of Texas in Austin, and West Texas, which covers Amarillo, El Paso, Lubbock, the Permian Basin, and San Angelo) provide caregiver support groups, education programs, and local resource referrals at no charge. The Association's national 24/7 Helpline, 1-800-272-3900, is one line for the whole country rather than a chapter number, staffed around the clock by someone who can register you for those free programs or set up a free care consultation with a master's-level dementia expert.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is memory care the same as a nursing home?

No. Memory care is a specialized form of assisted living focused on dementia, while nursing homes provide skilled medical care for people with complex medical needs. Memory care in Texas is provided within licensed assisted living facilities. Some nursing homes have dedicated memory care wings, but standalone memory care communities are more common.

Does Medicare pay for memory care?

No. Medicare doesn't cover long-term residential care of any kind, including memory care or assisted living. Medicare Part A may cover a short-term skilled nursing facility stay of up to 100 days per benefit period, and only after a qualifying 3-day inpatient hospital stay; it does not cover care when custodial care is the only kind needed.

Can someone with dementia stay in regular assisted living?

It depends on the stage and the facility. Some people with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia do fine in standard assisted living. But as dementia progresses and wandering, agitation, or significant confusion develops, the person typically needs the secured environment and specialized care of a memory care unit.

How do I pay for memory care if my parent doesn't have Medicaid?

Common payment sources include: private savings and income (Social Security, pensions), long-term care insurance, VA Aid and Attendance (up to $29,093 a year for a veteran with no dependents, $34,488 with one dependent, and $18,697 for a surviving spouse), and eventually Medicaid if assets are spent down. Many families start with private pay and transition to Medicaid when assets are depleted. See our guide to paying for senior care for all options.

Next Steps

If you're considering memory care for someone you love, start by visiting two or three facilities in your area. Nothing replaces seeing a place in person, talking to staff, and observing how residents are treated.

Here's where to go from here:

  • Check facility records: Search HHSC LTCSearch for inspection results
  • Learn about paying for care: Our how to pay for senior care guide covers every funding option
  • Explore Medicaid coverage: Read our Texas Medicaid programs guide to understand what's covered
  • Consider assisted living: If memory care isn't needed yet, our assisted living guide may be more relevant
  • Get caregiver support: The Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900), your local Area Agency on Aging (1-800-252-9240, whose services include information and referral, benefits counseling, care coordination, and caregiver support), and our respite care guide can help

Learn More

Care TypesMemory Care by StateMemory care is specialized assisted living for dementia. What it costs, who pays (Medicare doesn't), and how the rules change by state, with a guide to yours. Care TypesAssisted Living in TexasHow to choose an assisted living facility in Texas: check the HHSC inspection record, learn what STAR+PLUS Medicaid covers, and compare 2025 care costs. Care TypesNursing Homes in TexasNursing homes in Texas in 2026: a semi-private room runs about $67,525/year, well below the national median. What it costs, how Medicaid pays, how to choose. Care TypesHome Care vs. Home Health in TexasHome care vs home health in Texas: what each covers, what home care costs, when Medicare and Medicaid pay, and how to find a licensed provider near you. FinancialHow to Pay for Senior Care in TexasA plain-English guide to paying for senior care in Texas: Medicaid, Medicare, VA benefits, insurance, and private pay options. Costs and eligibility for 2026. MedicaidTexas Medicaid ProgramsTexas Medicaid programs for seniors 65+ include STAR+PLUS, CAS, HCBS waivers, and PACE. Find out what each one covers, who qualifies, and how to enroll. CaregiverRespite Care in TexasFind respite care in Texas through Medicaid, VA benefits, and state programs. Learn about in-home, adult day care, and facility-based options for caregivers. Care TypesAssisted Living vs. Memory Care in TexasAssisted living vs. memory care in Texas: about $5,666/month for daily-living help vs. somewhat more for secured, dementia-trained care. How to decide. Care TypesMemory Care vs. Nursing Home in TexasMemory care vs. a nursing home in Texas turns on skilled-nursing need and who pays: memory care is largely private-pay; Texas Medicaid covers a nursing home.

Find personalized help finding Texas memory care at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.