I. What You Should Know About Home Care in Sugar Land, TX
Situated in Fort Bend County, Sugar Land is a thriving city that was the hub of domestic sugar production for 160 years. The city is now home to 118,488 residents, of whom 15.6% are seniors aged 65 and older.
Sugar Land’s cost of living is above the Texas state median, although area home care rates are quite close to the nationwide average. Given that Sugar Land is just 20 miles from Texas’ largest metropolitan area, and that the Gulf Coast is about 50 miles away, it’s ideal if you’re looking to spend your retirement years in a city that features easy access to urban amenities and natural spaces. Plus, it almost never snows in Sugar Land and winter temperatures rarely dip below 43 degrees.
In addition to having great year-round weather and plenty of festivals, farmer’s markets and shopping areas to enjoy, you’ll appreciate the fact that there are a number of top-ranked health care facilities in the Sugar Land area. The city is home to Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, a modern, full-service facility with heart and vascular, cancer and neuroscience centers. The Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital offers a high-tech imaging center and comprehensive rehabilitation services. Given Sugar Land’s location, climate and abundance of health care services, it’s easy to see why this Texas city is a great place to age in place at home.
II. What You Should Expect to Pay for Home Care in Sugar Land, TX
Genworth Financial’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey shows that seniors in Sugar Land pay an average of $4,290 per month for home care services. Home health care, which also includes some limited medical care, also costs an average of $4,290 per month.
Genworth’s monthly rates are based on 44 hours of care per week, which may be more or less care than you require. You can estimate your in-home care costs by multiplying the average hourly rate of $22.50 by the number of hours of care you expect to need.
The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities
At a monthly average of $4,290 for either home care or home health care, rates for in-home care in Sugar Land are $95 above the statewide average of $4,195. In nearby College Station, seniors also pay about $4,195 for both kinds of in-home care, while rates for the same services are lower in nearby Victoria, where home care and home health care costs $3,956. In Beaumont, home care costs about $3,623, while home health care services run an average of $3,813 per month.
The Cost of Home Care Compared to Other Senior Living Options
Sugar Land home care and home health care services cost an average of $4,290 per month, which is less than the city’s average assisted living rate of $4,750. Adult day care services, which include supervision and care provided in a community setting, are the least-expensive type of senior care in Sugar Land at $1,138. Seniors who require around-the-clock skilled nursing support can expect to pay an average of $5,627 for a semiprivate room in a nursing home.
Note: Data for Sugar Land was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Houston, was used instead.
III. How to Find Home Care in Sugar Land, 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 Sugar Land, TX.
Remember that there’s not necessarily a right or wrong choice – it comes down to choosing a provider that you feel comfortable with and who’s capable of meeting your specific needs. No matter which provider you choose, you should always have a formal arrangement with your expectations and the payment rate in writing. Doing so will prevent confusion or potential disagreements down the line so that the focus remains on helping the person receiving care.
IV. Home Care Resources for Seniors in Sugar Land, TX
Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels
What You Should Know
Meals on Wheels is a volunteer-based program designed to help homebound seniors remain as independent as possible. Each weekday, Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver a hot, nutritionally balanced meal to each program participant while also performing a brief wellness check.
The menu rotates on a monthly basis, and each meal includes a protein, a serving of starch, a vegetable and bread. There’s also some fruit, a small desert and a serving of milk.
Who Is Eligible?
If you’re a senior aged 60 or older, and you’re having difficulty shopping for groceries and preparing your own nutritional meals, you can apply to become a Meals on Wheels client. There’s no financial criteria to qualify for the program, but you’ll be asked to contribute toward the cost of your meals. If you’re not able to pay the full amount, you can request a subsidy.
How to Get Started
To learn more about obtaining home-delivered meals in Sugar Land, call Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels at (281) 633-7049.
Fort Bend Transit Demand Response Service
What You Should Know
Fort Bend County operates a low-cost, shared-ride bus service that seniors can use to travel to and from destinations throughout Sugar Land and Fort Bend County.
Known as Demand Response Service, this transit service operates between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on public holidays. Riders can book a trip anywhere from 1-30 days in advance, and the standard service operates on a curb-to-curb basis. Those with disabilities who require extra assistance can request door-to-door service.
Who Is Eligible?
As a senior in Sugar Land, you’re eligible to use Fort Bend County’s Demand Response Service. Each one-way ride costs $1, and you can purchase a ticket book with 20 rides at the discounted rate of $18.
You can use the Demand Response Service to run errands, travel to and from nonurgent medical appointments, and for social engagements.
How to Get Started
To learn more about Fort Bend’s Demand Response Service, and to register as a rider, call Fort Bend’s Public Transportation department at (281) 633-7433 or (866) 751-8747.
Fort Bend Habitat for Humanity Critical Home Repair Program
What You Should Know
Habitat for Humanity is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to helping low-income families secure and maintain safe, affordable housing. The Fort Bend branch operates the Critical Home Repair Program, which is designed to help Fort Bend homeowners complete safety-critical repairs such as replacing damaged roofs, fixing damaged plumbing and electrical systems, and upgrading windows and doors.
Program funds can also be used by seniors and people living with disabilities who need modifications made to make their home safer and more accessible. These modifications may include the installation of wheelchair ramps, lowering of kitchen counters and adding grab bars to bathrooms.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for assistance through the Critical Home Repair Program, you must own and occupy your own home within Fort Bend County. You must also meet the current income limits for the program, which are adjusted on an annual basis.
Program fees are calculated on a sliding-scale basis, which means the amount you’re asked to contribute toward building materials is based on your income. Volunteer contractors complete the work, so there are no labor costs involved.
How to Get Started
To learn more about Fort Bend Habitat for Humanity’s Critical Home Repair Program, call (281) 403-0708, ext. 304.
Fort Bend County Veteran Service Office
What You Should Know
The Fort Bend County Veteran Service Office works to ensure that all veterans, survivors and dependents living in the county receive their maximum allowable entitlements through government programs.
Veteran service officers can help senior Sugar Land vets apply for VA benefits, including Aid and Attendance or the Housebound Allowance, two enhanced VA pension programs that provide supplemental benefits that can be used toward in-home care costs.
Who Is Eligible?
If you or your spouse served in the military, you can access free assistance services through the Fort Bend County Veteran Service Office.
How to Get Started
To book an appointment with a VSO, call (281) 341-4550.
T.E. Harman Center
What You Should Know
The T.E. Harman Center is a county-run community center for seniors aged 50 and older. Open Monday through Friday, the center hosts a wide range of social, educational and recreational programs for seniors, including art classes, organized bingo games and preventive health screening clinics. Amenities at the center include a beverage bar, fitness room, lobby with billiards table, full-sized community kitchen and library.
Who Is Eligible?
As a senior living in Sugar Land, you can purchase an annual membership to the T.E. Harman Center for $10.75, while nonresidents pay $160 per year.
How to Get Started
For up-to-date program schedules and operating hours, call the T.E. Harman Center at (281) 275-2893.