10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Pensacola, FL

It can feel understandably difficult to unravel all the ways to help your loved one pay for a move to a memory care facility in Pensacola. Often, seniors pay for memory care using a combination of direct and indirect payment methods, including spending their personal savings and relying on Medicare to cover some of their short-term medical fees.

Individuals who fall within low-income guidelines may be able to depend on Medicaid to pick up most or all of their health care costs, leaving more room in the budget to cover the cost of a memory care facility in Pensacola.

Memory care units, communities, and buildings in Florida are considered assisted living facilities. As such, they are licensed by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration’s Bureau of Health Facility Regulation. Licensing helps maintain a standard of living and care to ensure security and safety for residents. Assisted living communities with memory care facilities must apply for specialty licenses beyond the standard licensure due to the unique and focused services they offer.

It is up to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to inspect all Florida assisted living and memory care communities regularly. Each thorough inspection ensures the facility is complying with licensing guidelines for space requirements, staff training, staff-to-patient ratios, residential care plans, resident activity requirements, sanitization, zoning, and other considerations.

Inspections provide an important safety net to assure residents with Alzheimer’s and related diseases and their loved ones that their needs are being met. In fact, memory care facilities must go above and beyond to prove that they are focused on meeting the needs of their particular population. Not only are all memory care facilities expected to disclose their specific services, but they must record and provide proof of all advertisements to maintain a license to operate in Florida. They must also meet standards of operation, as well as train all staff on dementia-specific curriculum.

If you are interested in checking into a Pensacola memory care facility’s inspection report, use this facility locator. Be aware that when an assisted living facility doesn’t pass a part of the inspection, its deficiencies are noted by the AHCA and are available through a public record search. After your relative moves into a memory care facility, you can always report a concern to the AHCA.

Pensacola memory care facilities also need to meet Escambia County zoning requirements. That is, they can’t just be licensed and inspected by the state. They must also meet all local zoning and ordinance expectations.

Florida Department of Health contact information

Florida Department of Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: 850-245-4444
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

COVID-19 regulations for Pensacola memory care facilities

There are no COVID-19 restrictions or guidelines currently in place for Pensacola or greater Escambia County. Escambia County’s COVID-19 spread remains at a low level per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nevertheless, memory care staff, residents, and visitors should remain vigilant and make certain they’re taking steps toward keeping the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 and the flu to a minimum.

As the aging in place movement has evolved, so have the possibilities when it comes to memory care facilities. Many memory care communities extend far beyond being mere properties where individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia can safely reside. Today, memory care facilities are frequently arranged as beautiful, welcoming communities featuring leading-edge therapies, amenities, and plenty of opportunities for residents to live fulfilling lives. In Pensacola in particular, residents of memory care facilities can take solace in the proximity of white sand beaches and calming ocean waves.

A variety of living arrangement choices

Each of the seven memory care facilities in Pensacola partnered with a Place for Mom has its own distinct environment and architectural layout. Two are stand-alone facilities, meaning that they’re communities intended just for people with impaired cognition. The five others are a mixture of combined living types, which may be preferential if your loved one isn’t quite ready for full memory care services yet.

For instance, one of the memory care facilities you’ll see listed in this guide combines independent living, assisted living, and memory care. This type of arrangement is especially attractive if you’re looking for a way to help your relative progress from being fully independent to needing more help as the years go by. Picking a combination-style facility can also be ideal if your loved one has a spouse who doesn’t need memory care but wants to live close by for daily visits.

It’s worth mentioning that one of our partner memory care facilities is a personal care home. These homes are very small and may cost less than larger communities. As the name suggests, the property is a converted residence, so the setting is homey, welcoming, and intimate.

Safety features of memory care facilities

Safety is always a priority at all our partner Pensacola memory care facilities. To maintain the highest degree of care, all our partners have staff who are awake round-the-clock to make certain that residents always have access to someone who can assist them.

To encourage freedom of movement within parameters, all our partner memory care facilities in Pensacola have gated areas. These include outdoor spaces such as enclosed courtyards for the enjoyment and protection of residents. By offering spaces that are always monitored, memory care facilities can preserve the dignity of residents without risking their security.

Another safety factor inherent in our partner memory care facilities is attention to redirecting residents exhibiting common symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia. These may include exit-seeking behavior, hallucinations, disorientations, and wandering. Staff members are also taught how to identify and approach these types of side effects of cognitive impairment to avoid progressive episodes of agitation or confusion.

Activities and positive experiences

Life in a memory care facility in Pensacola shouldn’t be dull. Of all our partner Pensacola memory care facilities, 86% have a dedicated activity director who arranges opportunities for residents to congregate or participate in events. These events can include highly supervised outings to places such as Pensacola’s waterfront downtown or white-sand beaches that visiting family members can attend.

It’s not unusual for our partner memory care facilities to include a wide range of spaces for residents to indulge in their favorite pastimes. These can include arts and crafts areas, libraries, TV lounges, and gardens. Access to private dining can be yet another way to help residents feel like they’re in more of an at-home environment.

Health care for seniors in Pensacola

Transportation for seniors in Pensacola

Getting out to see the best of Pensacola and its subtropical climate is possible for residents living in memory care facilities. As long as they are with responsible, dedicated caregivers, they can get out using a variety of transportation options. For example, 86% of the memory care communities partnered with A Place for Mom offer complimentary transportation to residents. And 71% of them provide transportation at a budget-friendly cost.

If you’re visiting your relative in Pensacola and would rather use another type of transportation method than a facility-run shuttle or your personal vehicle, try the ECAT. Run by the Escambia County Area Transit system seven days a week, ECAT buses crisscross the city day and evening. You’ll find ECAT both affordable and easy to use. All ECAT vehicles are wheelchair-friendly, but the ECAT also has a curbside ECAT ADA bus if you or your loved one finds the regular buses difficult to use.

Another way to get around Pensacola to medical appointments is the Go Seniors! Transportation Program through the Escambia County Medical Society Foundation. Go Seniors! only offers transportation to medical appointments and costs $20 per ride. Your relative must obtain a voucher for this private transportation through his or her physician. If you don’t have a voucher, try Comfort Keepers for dependable fee-based transportation for individuals and their caregivers.

The ECCT Paratransit Services program is yet another resource ideal for seniors, particularly those with limited finances. It’s a free transportation option but requires you to call a day ahead to see if it’s possible to get a ride on your preferred date. Since ECCT Paratransit Services is first come, first served, it can fill up fast and isn’t guaranteed.

Freedom To Go is our final private transportation service exclusively designed for seniors in Pensacola. With this service, seniors can easily navigate the city, whether it’s for essential doctor appointments, grocery shopping, or enjoying brunch with friends. Their drivers are available from Monday to Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Prices may vary in response to fluctuations in gas prices, ensuring fair and up-to-date rates.

Senior activities in Pensacola

Life and activities in Pensacola tend to revolve around two prominent features of the city: its subtropical climate and welcoming atmosphere. Not surprisingly, some of the favorite pastimes residents and tourists love are visiting the city’s many beaches and exploring its most appealing, well-known landmarks.

Gulf Coast fun along the shore

Heading out to the beach isn’t difficult in Escambia County, with its miles upon miles of shoreline. Pensacola Beach is one of the largest and most popular surfside attractions. Its 1,500-foot pier makes for a wonderful place to stroll and watch ships, waves, and sea birds. If you’re up for it, your loved one can even try their hand at a little old-fashioned fishing if they have the right gear. For a more rustic beach environment, head to the protected Gulf Island National Seashore. There, you’ll find a couple of beaches and plenty of trails.

Sightseeing across Escambia County

What could be a more convenient way to see all the area’s highlights from the comfortable seat of a refurbished and air-conditioned 1930s Ford transit bus? Going on a tour of Pensacola’s landmarks allows you and your loved one to sightsee in the most relaxing way possible. Or, you could cruise around by waterways on the Pensacola Bay City Ferry.

Afterward, you can always pick and choose specific places to tour on your own. For example, many seniors appreciate The National Naval Aviation Museum with its free admission. If your loved one likes history, try the Historic Pensacola Village. All seniors and military members receive discounts to go there and learn about the past people who built Pensacola and this part of the Florida Panhandle.

Root for the team!

In addition to the beach and museums, you’ll want to go to a minor league baseball game at the Blue Wahoos Ballpark at least once. Located along the beautiful Pensacola Bay, it’s a great venue for anyone interested in supporting the home team. Plus, the ballpark is the site for other festivities like seasonal holiday celebrations and live performances. When you’re done at the ballpark, be sure to grab a bite at a nearby coffee shop or restaurant. There’s no limit to the types of foods available in Pensacola. From tapas bars to barbecue eateries, you’ll find exactly what you’re in the mood to try while you’re spending time with the person you love.