I. What You Should Know About Home Care in Garland, TX
Garland, a northeast suburb of Dallas that’s home to 246,016 people, has plenty to recommend it to financially savvy older adults looking into potential retirement locations. The cost of housing here is 15% lower than the national average. While the area’s sales tax rate is a percentage point above the national average of 7.3%, Texas is one of nine U.S. states with no income tax, and there’s no state-level property tax either.
Seniors who prioritize access to excellent health care also find what they seek in this area. According to yearly rankings from U.S. News and World Report, two of Texas’ top five hospitals are located less than 30 minutes away in Dallas: UT Southwestern Medical Center and Baylor University Medical Center. UTSMC ranks among the nation’s top 25 hospitals for cardiology, heart surgery, geriatrics, diabetes and neurology, while Baylor ranks among the top 50 for gastroenterology and orthopedics.
Garland’s violent crime rate is substantially lower than the national average, and the city’s water quality is exceptionally high, rated 87 on a 100-point scale where the U.S average is 58. For all these reasons and more, approximately 29,000 seniors call Garland home, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.
II. What You Should Expect to Pay for Home Care in Garland, TX
Genworth Financial’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey reports that Garland’s average monthly cost for in-home care is $4,862 for either home care or home health care. These options have significant overlap in the benefits they provide, but in some markets, home health care is slightly more expensive due to involving a higher level of medical support.
The monthly cost of $4,862 comes from an assumption that most seniors will need 44 hours of care coverage per week. If you need more or less help and supervision, the cost will change accordingly. Calculated as an hourly rate, the cost for in-home care in Garland is $25.50.
The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities
Elsewhere in the nation, the average U.S. cost for home care is $4,957 and the average cost for home health care is $5,148. Throughout Texas, though, the average price for either type of care is $4,576, about $300 less than in Garland. The state sees a fairly wide range of pricing, from a low of $2,860 for either type of care in Brownsville to a high of $5,196 for either type in Austin. Corpus Christi reports a monthly cost of $3,623 for either type.
The Cost of Home Care Compared to Other Senior Living Options
Nursing home care may be the best option for seniors who need extensive medical supervision; in Garland, a semiprivate room in such a facility averages $5,627 a month. Assisted living care, which shares the community aspect of nursing home care but allows for more independence, averages $4,195 a month. Adult day care is the least expensive option at $1,517 a month, but usually works best as a supplement to other types of care since its operating hours are limited.
Note: Data for Garland was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Dallas, was used instead.
III. How to Find Home Care in Garland, TX
Finding a home care provider for yourself or a loved one can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Below, we explain the process of how to find a home care provider in 5 simple steps. Use the infographic below to help guide your search for in-home care in Garland, TX.
IV. Home Care Resources for Seniors in Garland, TX
VNA Texas Meals on Wheels
What You Should Know
Homebound seniors can get hot meals delivered directly to their doors five days a week through this service, provided by the Visiting Nurse Association. Although donations are accepted, no one is denied service because of inability to pay. The service also includes a once-a-month pet food delivery service.
Who Is Eligible?
VNA’s service is open to low-income Dallas County residents who are disabled or over 60 years of age and cannot travel from their homes independently.
How to Get Started
Fill out the online application or download, print, fill out and mail in a hard copy. Call (214) 689-2268) or email [email protected].
Texas Weatherization Assistance Program
What You Should Know
This government-funded, state-administered program helps you lower your energy bills via upgrades that make your home more energy-efficient. For example, the program’s funding can pay for installation of attic insulation, repair of faulty HVAC systems, sealing of windows and more.
Who Is Eligible?
This program is intended for low-income Texas residents of all ages. The maximum income for eligibility varies by the amount of people in your household. As of 2022, maximum income ranges from $27,180 for a single-person household to $93,260 for an eight-person household.
How to Get Started
Contact the Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services at (214) 819-2000 to apply.
Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program
What You Should Know
This program offers free legal support to low-income people throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area. DVAP attorneys can help you with a wide range of legal issues, including settling property tax disputes, fighting eviction notices, writing up wills and more. The DVAP does not accept cases involving criminal activity, traffic tickets or immigration.
Who Is Eligible?
While there’s no age-related restriction on who may access this service, your income must be under a certain amount to qualify for aid. Generally, your household income will need to be 125% or less than the federal poverty level, although in some cases you may still be able to successfully apply at less than 200%. The total worth of your assets is also a factor in your eligibility.
How to Get Started
For general inquiries, you can call DVAP’s Dallas offices at (214) 243-2236. For a more detailed examination of your case, DVAP holds an in-person legal clinic in Garland on the third Thursday of every month from January to November. The clinic is held at Salvation Army Downtown Garland, 451 W. Avenue D.
Some online clinics are also available; see DVAP’s site for the upcoming schedule.
Minor Home Repair Grant Program
What You Should Know
This city-run program can give you up to $5,000 in grant money to make household repairs that can update substandard or failing plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems, among other critical household elements. While you cannot use program funds for luxury upgrades, the program also covers the installation of accessibility features such as grab bars or wheelchair ramps.
Who Is Eligible?
There are a number of prerequisites for this program. In addition to being a current resident of the city and at least 62 years of age, you must have used the property in question as your primary residence for at least 12 months, and you must have documentation that proves you’re the property owner.
Your household’s income must also be 80% or less of the median household income. To prove eligibility, you’ll need to provide income and asset data for all people living in the house.
Note also that if you receive this grant, you must sign an affidavit affirming that you won’t sell the house within five years of the home repair being completed. If you do sell the house, you’re legally obligated to repay the full grant amount.
How to Get Started
Download and fill out the application form or give the city government a call at 972-205-2000 for more information.
Senior Homestead Property Tax Exemption
What You Should Know
The state of Texas collects no property taxes, but its local governments and taxing units do. The state allows homeowners to claim a $40,000 homestead exemption for their primary residence, which essentially lowers the home’s value for tax assessment purposes only. Senior citizens can apply for an extra exemption of $10,000 on top of the general exemption to lower the home’s taxable value by $50,000. For example, if a home is worth $150,000, using both the general and senior exemption would lower its taxable value to $100,000.
Who Is Eligible?
You automatically qualify for the $40,000 exemption if you own your home and it’s your primary residence. If you’re 65 years of age or older, you also qualify for the $10,000 senior exemption. The homestead exemption may only be claimed on your primary residence.
How to Get Started
Call the Dallas County Appraisal District at (214) 631-0910 or email [email protected]. You can also download and fill out the state’s Application for Residential Homestead Exemption.