This is the real 2026 picture for cost of a board and care home in Arlington, Tarrant County — real local numbers and how families here actually pay, not a national average.
What senior care looks like in Arlington
Arlington is the largest Tarrant County city, sitting between Dallas and Fort Worth, with a deep, mid-priced inventory of assisted living and memory care from downtown to Viridian.
Arlington sits in Tarrant County. Nearby hospitals include Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital, Medical City Arlington, which matters for discharge planning and for staying close to a parent's doctors. Families here commonly focus on areas such as Downtown Arlington, North Arlington, Viridian. Arlington communities generally price near the metro median.
How Arlington families cover it
Most families layer several sources rather than relying on one. Private savings and Social Security tend to lead the way, and a long-term-care insurance policy picks up next when the family holds one. Wartime veterans and surviving spouses should check VA Aid & Attendance through the Dallas VA Medical Center. And Texas's STAR+PLUS Medicaid (including the HCBS waiver) can cover care services — though not room and board — for seniors who meet the functional and financial tests, after an HHSC medical-necessity assessment. Arlington communities generally price near the metro median.
A free advisor can sort out which of these your family actually qualifies for, and which Arlington-area communities will take them.
Cost of a Board and Care Home: what drives the number
Small board-and-care homes usually price below large campuses for comparable care, trading amenities for a higher caregiver-to-resident ratio.
What board & care homes includes in Texas
Board-and-care homes are small residential assisted living homes — often a converted house with a handful of residents — offering a quieter, family-style alternative to a big campus.
In Texas these are small Type A or Type B ALFs licensed by HHSC under Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 247 and 26 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 553, with the same disclosure and inspection standards as larger communities. A typical monthly range is $3,000 to $5,000 a month.
The details that matter most rarely show up in the brochure:
- the owner or operator's tenure and hands-on involvement
- the caregiver-to-resident ratio, which is the small home's main selling point
- what happens if care needs exceed what the home is licensed for
How to move forward
A free Dallas Senior Advisor advisor can shortlist options that fit your budget and timeline and set up tours. Reach out online — there's never a fee for families.
