Best Memory Care in Texas

Overview of Longhorn Village

Longhorn Village is a skilled nursing facility in Austin, Texas, located in the Steiner Ranch area on Longhorn Parkway. The 60-bed community operates as part of a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). It is a nonprofit facility owned by Stacy Hibma and has been operating for 21 years. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. Services include rehabilitation, respite care, memory care, and 24-hour staffing. CMS rates Longhorn Village at 5 stars overall, a perfect score across Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures. Nursing staffing averages 5 hours and 35 minutes per resident per day, roughly 48% above the Texas average of 3 hours and 47 minutes, placing the facility 10th out of 289 Texas SNFs. Across four Health Inspections since 2024, the facility recorded seven citations, a rate of 1.75 per inspection, compared with the Texas average of 3.67, with no fines or enforcement actions. Three abuse/neglect citations issued in late 2024 were all corrected. Amenities include a fitness center, library, outdoor spaces, and salon services, as well as the Lifelong Learning program. With 82% of admissions covered by Medicare and an average length of stay of 64 days, the facility’s care model mainly focuses on short-term post-acute rehabilitation. The occupancy rate is 45%, well below the Texas average of 63.5%, which indicates current availability. Longhorn Village fits Medicare-covered patients seeking short-term skilled nursing and rehabilitation in a well-staffed, nonprofit CCRC setting in northwest Austin, with immediate bed availability.

Recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Continuing Care Retirement Communities in 2025, Querencia at Barton Creek combines independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing within one Austin campus. The nonprofit community, located on Barton Creek Boulevard, includes 42 skilled nursing beds and accepts Medicare and private pay, but not Medicaid. Querencia holds a 5-star CMS overall rating, the highest available, driven by top marks in Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures. Nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 49 minutes per resident per day, about 27% above the Texas average, ranking the facility 26th among 289 Texas skilled nursing facilities. Weekend staffing averages 37% above the state benchmark. Occupancy stands at 94%, well above the Texas average of 63.5%, reflecting consistent local demand. Since 2022, the facility has received 16 health citations across 4 inspections, 38% fewer than the Texas average of 25.9. No fines have been reported in the past three years. A September 2025 inspection resulted in one serious Quality of Care citation, which has now been corrected. Residents have access to rehabilitation services, dining, health and wellness programming, clubs and social groups, and organized resident and family engagement through an active Resident Council. Querencia at Barton Creek’s continuum of care, above-average staffing, and short-term rehabilitation capacity fit residents seeking post-acute recovery or a planned transition across care levels in southwest Austin.

Overview of The Village at Incarnate Word

The Village at Incarnate Word is a 60-bed nursing and rehabilitation community in San Antonio, Texas. It is operated by Incarnate Word Retirement Community, Inc., a voluntary nonprofit founded by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. The facility offers nursing and rehabilitation, assisted living, independent living, memory care, and respite care. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. The facility holds a 5-star CMS overall rating, placing it among the top performers in the state. Across three inspections since 2023, the facility recorded 13 citations, roughly half the Texas average of 25.9, with zero critical or serious findings and no federal penalties in that period. Total nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 23 minutes per resident per day, 16% above the Texas average, with certified nurse aide staffing 36% above the state benchmark, ranking the facility 49th out of 289 Texas SNFs for total adjusted nursing hours. The occupancy rate is 91%, well above the Texas average of 63.5% and ranks 15th statewide, reflecting consistent local demand. The community has been voted the #1 Best Senior Living in San Antonio for three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025 by San Antonio Express-News Readers’ Choice. Long-stay hospitalization and emergency department rates are among the clearest clinical signals for the facility. Hospitalizations are 1.02 per 1,000 resident days, 52% below the state average, and ED visits are 0.60 per 1,000 resident days, 71% below the state average. The campus includes a Spiritual Life program, an active resident council, and a CCRC structure spanning multiple levels of care. In-home care services are also available. The Village at Incarnate Word fits older adults seeking a nonprofit, faith-affiliated continuum of care in San Antonio, from short-term rehabilitation through long-term skilled nursing and memory care, within a community that maintains strong staffing and a low-acuity compliance record.

Luxe Life Senior Living is a privately owned 34-bed nursing home in Katy, Texas, operated by Ignite Medical Resort Katy LLC. Located in Harris County, the facility provides skilled nursing, memory care, and respite care services and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

CMS rates the facility 4 stars overall, 33% above the Texas average, driven largely by a strong Health Inspection record. Across 5 inspections over the past seven years, the facility recorded 22 citations, roughly in line with the state per-inspection average. The most recent standard inspection, in November 2025, reflects that standing. One area warrants attention: CMS has recorded five federal civil money penalties in the past three years, totaling approximately $22,000, 141% above the Texas average for fines, but the individual amounts are modest.

Staffing is below par. Nurse staffing averages 2 hours and 51 minutes per resident per day, compared with a Texas average of 3 hours and 47 minutes, placing the facility 272nd out of 289 Texas nursing homes on that measure. Weekend coverage is better, averaging 3 hours and 15 minutes per day versus a state average of 2 hours and 58 minutes. However, the total nursing hours are a gap for residents with higher-acuity needs.

The facility is built around a hospitality-forward model, with a spa, upscale lounges, an exercise and wellness center, and landscaped courtyards with walking paths. 24-hour staffing option rounds out the care structure. Occupancy is 63.5%, below the Texas average, indicating current availability.

Luxe Life Senior Living fits residents seeking a short-term post-acute stay or memory care placement in a higher-amenity environment, where inspection performance and quality measures matter more than the volume of nursing hours.