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Independent Living in the Austin area

Age-restricted apartments and cottages with dining, transportation and activities, for adults who do not need daily care.

Quick answer

Independent Living in Texas is regulated by HHSC. We list 24 verified independent living providers across the Austin metro in Travis, Williamson and Hays counties.

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Independent living is housing, not care. Age-restricted apartments or cottages with dining, transportation, activities and maintenance handled — for adults who do not need help with daily activities.

Short answer

Independent Living in Texas is regulated by HHSC. We list 24 verified independent living providers across the Austin metro. Independent living is housing, not care.

Three things worth knowing first

  • Independent living is not licensed as a care facility in Texas, because no personal care is provided. That also means no HHSC inspection record to check.
  • Many Austin campuses are Life Plan Communities offering the full continuum, which can mean an entry fee and a contract worth having reviewed by an attorney.
  • If help with daily activities is already needed, independent living is the wrong category, even when a community offers to arrange outside caregivers.
You can check any Texas facility's record free. Use TULIP for current license status and the legacy HHSC provider search for inspection and deficiency history. Read the full explanation →

Verified independent living across the metro

We list 24 verified independent living providers in the Austin metro. The full table with addresses and counties lives in the directory.

See all 24 in the directory →

Independent Living by city

Questions Austin families ask

Should I call APS or HHSC about a problem at my mom's facility?

It depends where it happened. Adult Protective Services, 1-800-252-5400, handles abuse or neglect of adults living in the community. Abuse or neglect inside a licensed facility goes to HHSC Complaint and Incident Intake at 1-800-458-9858. Families frequently call the wrong number and lose time.

What is a long-term care ombudsman and is it free in Austin?

Yes, completely free and confidential. Ombudsmen advocate for nursing home and assisted living residents on rights, care quality, improper discharge, and restraint use. The office is independent of Texas HHS. Austin's regional office is Capital Area, reachable at 512-916-6054 or 888-622-9111, option three.

Who is the ombudsman for Travis County?

The Capital Area Area Agency on Aging serves Travis County. Managing Local Ombudsman Tracey Cummings can be reached at 512-916-6054 or 888-622-9111 option three, at 6800 Burleson Road, Building 310, Suite 165, Austin. The office also covers Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell, Burnet, Blanco, Fayette, Lee, and Llano.

Can an Austin assisted living facility make my parent leave if their needs increase?

Possibly. If a Type A community can no longer meet your parent's evacuation or nighttime care needs, they may require a move to a Type B community. Improper transfer or discharge is exactly what a long-term care ombudsman handles. Call Capital Area at 512-916-6054 before agreeing to move.

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