The 10 Best Nursing Homes in Amarillo, TX for 2024 | Caring.com (2024)

The sprawling city of Amarillo, located in the Texas Panhandle, is studded with unique cultural amenities, beautiful parks, and plenty ofhotelsto accommodate family and friends visiting loved ones in local nursing homes. The city has approximately200,000 residentsand a large senior community that makes up almost 14% of the population.It’s served by theNorthwest Texas Healthcare System,BSA Health System and the Amarillo VA Health Care System, which are comprised of long-term acute care hospitals, medical centers and outpatient care centers. Compared to other cities in the nation, it’s an affordable option for nursing home level care, with fees averaging $5,171 per month for semi-private accommodations.

Nursing homesprovide extensive care and supervision for those who are disabled or chronically ill. Exact services depend on the individual’s care plan, but these facilities generally provide medication monitoring and administration, occupational and physical therapy and 24-hour emergency care. Because of the comprehensive care nursing homes provide, this level of care is ideal for those who require around-the-clock care and supervision. Those who need a lesser degree of care may benefit more fromassisted livingorhome care.

This guide provides an overview of the cost of nursing home care in Amarillo and a summary of the programs available to seniors who need this level of care.

In Amarillo, semi-private accommodations in nursing homes cost $5,171 per month on average. Private rooms are pricier at $6,753 per month.

With fees averaging $5,171 per month for semiprivate accommodations, Amarillo is relatively affordable for nursing home care compared to other major U.S. cities. Nationwide, skilled nursing facilities charge $7,756, making it the most expensive senior care option. Compared to the Texas median of $5,019, Amarillo is a little pricier than average, indicating that many cities provide more affordable care.

In San Angelo, nursing homes charge some of the lowest fees in the state, with care averaging $4,489 monthly. Waco is comparatively affordable at $4,745 monthly. Among the cities with more expensive care are Houston and Brownsville, where nursing home residents pay average fees of $5,627 and $6,350, respectively.

Because of their comprehensive services and high level of care, nursing homes are the most expensive senior care option in Amarillo, with semiprivate rooms costing $5,171 and private rooms costing $6,753 per month on average. For those who need a lesser degree of care, there are several more affordable options. Assisted living, which also features residential care but with a more limited range of specialized services, is considerably cheaper at $4,600 monthly. Those who prefer to live at home may opt for home-based care, which costs $4,004 per month. Adult day health care is the cheapest option at $1,408 monthly.

Many seniors and their families use some form of financial assistance to help them pay for nursing care. The main options available are Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits. These programs can be complicated, especially when it comes to benefit terms. Below, we give a brief overview of how these programs may be used towards paying for skilled nursing care.

• Medicare: Medicare will typically cover all skilled nursing costs for the first 20 days of one’s stay in a nursing home and a portion of the costs until day 100. After 100 days in a skilled nursing facility, Medicare will not cover any part of the cost of the stay. While this is adequate when short-term care is needed, those in need of long-term care will need to either pay out-of-pocket or use another source of financial assistance.
• Medicaid: Medicaid covers most of the costs of living in a skilled nursing facility for those who qualify. Care, room, and board are covered with no time limit, but residents may be charged for extras like specially prepared food or cosmetic services. Medicaid eligibility standards are strict and complex, so not all seniors are eligible for Medicaid benefits.
• Veterans Benefits: Veterans receiving a VA pension may also be eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit administered by the VA. Aid and Attendance is a monthly allowance that beneficiaries may use to pay for their long-term care, including skilled nursing care.

If these options aren’t available to you, check if your loved one has long-term care insurance or contact your Area Agency on Aging to ask about any local financial assistance programs for seniors.

Many seniors in Amarillo can delay or avoid nursing home placement in favor of less intensive and more affordable care options. The following community-based organizations may help seniors obtain the services they need to remain in their own home or an assisted living facility. Alternately, they may help area residents understand their options for paying for nursing home care.

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