El Paso Senior AdvisorWhat is the practical difference between Type A and Type B in El Paso?
A Type A facility may serve only residents who can evacuate on their own, follow emergency directions and need no routine care at night, while a Type B facility may serve residents who need help to evacuate, care at night and supervision because of confusion.
| Resident can | Type A | Type B |
|---|---|---|
| Evacuate without staff help | Required | Not required |
| Follow directions in an emergency | Required | Not required |
| Need routine care at night | No | Yes, allowed |
| Transfer to a wheelchair alone | Required for wheelchair users | May need help |
| Be permanently bedfast | No | No |
In El Paso, 22 of the 31 licensed assisted living facilities are Type B, 6 are Type A and 3 are legacy Type C foster homes.
Who is a Type A facility right for?
Type A suits an older adult who is largely independent, walks or transfers on their own, sleeps through the night and wants meals, medication supervision, housekeeping and company rather than hands-on care.
The risk is a second move: if your parent's needs grow, a Type A facility must discharge them when they can no longer evacuate alone. Ask the facility how often that has happened and where residents usually go next.
Who needs a Type B facility?
Type B fits someone who uses a wheelchair and needs help to transfer, needs help at night, has memory loss that makes emergency directions hard to follow, or is likely to need more care over the next few years.
Type B is also the only license that can add an Alzheimer's certification, so families planning for dementia should start with Type B buildings. Ask how the facility staffs overnight and how its last night fire drill went.
Are Type A homes cheaper than Type B in El Paso?
Not necessarily; price depends on the building, room type and care level more than the license, and some small Type A and Type B homes price similarly, while the large Type B communities often charge more for amenities and care levels.
Compare written quotes. Ask each facility whether its price changes with care needs and what the next move would cost if a Type A resident had to transfer.
How do we check a facility's license type?
The license type appears in HHSC's directory and on TULIP, and our assisted living roster and facility pages show it next to the license number, capacity and Alzheimer's certification.
If a facility's marketing describes care that its license type does not allow, such as night care in a Type A home, ask it to explain and check the TULIP findings.
Side by side
| Type A | Type B | |
|---|---|---|
| Evacuation | Resident leaves without staff help | Staff may help residents evacuate |
| Night care | Not routinely needed | Allowed |
| Dementia | Cannot be certified | Can hold an Alzheimer's certificate |
| Bedfast | Not allowed | Not allowed |
Sources: Texas Health and Safety Code chapters 142, 242 and 247; 26 Texas Administrative Code chapters 553, 554, 558 and 559; HHSC program handbooks; CareScout, CMS and VA rate tables, as cited above. See our editorial standards.
