Long term care industry is stabilizing force for Texas economy, local communities

Like an old friend you can always count on, long term care facilities in Texas are always there. And like old friends, they sometimes get taken for granted.

Nursing homes in Texas aren’t just there for individuals who need 24-hour care and their families. They are there for the communities they serve, quietly but consistently boosting the local economy.

There are more than 1,215 long term care facilities in Texas, employing hardworking caregivers in just about every legislative district in the state. With most homes providing full-time jobs for more than 100 people, they provide a steadying influence on local economies across the state during times of boom or bust.

“Long term care facilities are a vital, yet often overlooked, part of the local economy in almost every Texas community,” said Kevin Warren, president and CEO of the Texas Health Care Association. “This is important to understand because it means an increase in wages for CNAs, for example, will have a beneficial multiplier effect for the rest of the community.”

A look at the numbers can give a sense of just how big of an effect that could be.

More than 110,000 Texans support their families by working in long term care. About 61,000 of those employees are direct care staff, which includes nurses and aides.

The total labor income of those 110,000 Texans working in long term care is more than $4 BILLION. Factor in all the things those nursing homes buy from the local economy and the total economic activity directly tied to Texas nursing homes is more than $14.5 billion every year.