Sarasota, Florida, offers seniors the chance to age gracefully within assisted living. Standards are high for assisted living facilities in Sarasota, and it shows. Seniors and their families can expect exceptional care, compassionate communication, and a sense of fun from their Sarasota assisted living facility.
Assisted living facilities offer a comfortable environment, meals, and personal care for seniors who need some extra help in their daily lives. Whether it means help with mobility, staying groomed, or maintaining their fitness, assisted living communities in Sarasota have the resources and the experience to give you and your loved one peace of mind.
A Place for Mom partners with 28 assisted living facilities within a 10-mile radius of Sarasota’s downtown area. This guide has everything you need to know about our partnering assisted living communities in Sarasota, Florida. Learn about what living in these communities is like according to residents and families. Discover how much your loved one can expect to pay, along with some valuable resources to help them afford the right community. We also include information about transportation, health care, and senior-vetted activities in the Sarasota area.
My father died in 2017, but my mother continues to live at the Fountains, now over 15 years. She moved to the Assisted Living residence in 2021. Overall, this has been a great place for both of them. They...
Caring for elderly people is very difficult emotionally and physically. They helped us make the hard decision with our mom. The transition was smooth and as they gotten to know her, they have given her...
My mom has lived at Aravilla for over a year and we are so very grateful for her care. Staff is friendly, engaging, she's always smiling. Absolutely the best decision we ever made. They've also made extra...
Aravilla has all you would hope for and expect in a caring and efficiently run facility. The staff are are helpful and quickly get to know the newbie. I would definitely recommend Aravilla to anyone who is...
Listening to my mother and father say the food needs improvement more variety . But everything else is good needs met and satisfied with the facility.
I like the care that my mom is getting from this caring community. The staff have been very attentive to her needs and always make sure that is able to be with the other residents during the activities. We...
I chose Inspired Living at Sarasota for my loved one because of their lovely outdoors. the individual rooms were big and the community seemed to be well run. unfortunately, my loved one was only able to stay...
This community is very nice and very clean - they could use more help just like everyone, but all of the staff members are very nice and really try to be helpful. They are very good with the residents and we...
We moved our father into Heron East and we were surprised at how the staff went over and above to make him feel comfortable and cared for. The move in was easy, the food is great and he has made some new...
We chose Discovery Village at Sarasota Bay because they have 24 hour nursing which was very important for us. There is not someone just on call - they are present in the building at all times. The facility...
I would highly recommend Savannah Grand of Sarasota to others for their loved ones. I feel the staff have a genuine concern for the residents that are coming in to the community. The communication has been...
The community is well organized and kind of laid back as the residents are able to socialize with each other. There are a lot of freedoms and activities for the residents to participate in. The care staff...
We transferred my mother to this cozy home-like environment after an unpleasant and alarming experience with one of the larger and more institutional facilities in the area. The difference was night and day....
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that ranks communities based on factors
we know are important to seniors and their families:
We’ve collected data from and about our network of more than 14,000 senior living communities in the U.S. for over twenty years, and we update this information at least once a year.
Additionally, we’ve gathered over 350,000 reviews from senior living residents and family members to provide first-hand accounts of what senior living communities are really like.
Assisted living in Sarasota costs an average of $4,500 a month.[01] This total monthly sum includes more than just a room and meals. Additional fees for care tend to fluctuate as care needs change. The final amount families paid for assisted living each month includes the following:
The cost of housing in Sarasota is about 22% higher than in the rest of Florida.[02] Despite the higher housing costs, assisted living costs in Sarasota are at or just above the national average. Sarasota has a wide range of affordability in its assisted living communities. Some luxury communities cost up to $6,500 a month, while others cost about $3,500.[01]
Florida is an affordable state, especially compared to states along the East Coast and in the West. Florida doesn’t have an income tax, including on Social Security benefits and pensions. It also doesn’t have an estate or inheritance tax. These tax breaks can help offset some of the higher cost of living in Sarasota.
The figures in the chart below reflect the average starting costs of assisted living in Sarasota and neighboring areas. It’s best read as a comparison of the general cost of living in Sarasota versus neighboring cities.
Most families attempt to pay for their loved one’s assisted living with public funds, such as veterans benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare, first. However, not everyone is eligible for these resources. And even when using public funds to pay for assisted living, most families need to supplement the cost with their own income or savings.
Anyone can pay for assisted living. The key is planning ahead. Explore these private and public payment methods we’ve compiled to make your own payment plan.
Retirement accounts are one of the most common and widely used methods to pay for assisted living. However, these are not the only ways to use your private funds. Learn how to leverage your own or your loved one’s assets to make sure they get the care they need. The following articles explain each payment method in detail.
Senior veterans can expect to find a wide and welcoming community in Sarasota, Florida. There are plenty of local organizations dedicated to helping veterans thrive. The Sarasota County Department for Veterans Services is an excellent starting point for veterans interested in applying for benefits, learning about housing or employment opportunities, or getting involved in service projects.
Your loved one may be able to pay for some or all their assisted living expenses with veterans benefits. Some, like VA pensions and the Aid and Attendance benefit offered through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), can be used to cover anything that improves the veteran’s quality of life, including any fees associated with assisted living.
There are nine categories of veterans benefits and multiple options within each category. Each different benefit has its own eligibility requirements. Your veteran loved one is likely eligible for some veterans benefits. It’s best to talk to a benefits counselor who can look closely at their case and help them apply for the right benefit or benefits.
Sarasota veterans have access to a wide network of benefit counselors local to Sarasota and from the state of Florida. Most of these resources are for benefit counseling, but the Sarasota Vet Center also offers mental health counseling to veterans and their families at no cost to the veteran.
The benefit counselors listed below can help you and your loved one identify the right benefits to apply for and walk you through the application process. Applying for veterans benefits can be complicated, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Resources for Sarasota veterans
Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs
9500 Bay Pines Blvd., #214
St. Petersburg, FL 33708
Phone: 727-316-7440
Email: vso@fdva.state.fl.us
Virtual benefits counseling
Sarasota County Department for Veterans Services
2200 Ringling Blvd., Suite 125
Sarasota, FL 34237
Phone: 941-861-3024
Email: veterans@scgov.net
Benefit Seminar Request Form
Sarasota Vet Center
4801 Swift Road
Sarasota, FL 34231
Phone: 941-927-8285
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3233
124 S. Tuttle Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34237
Phone: 941-365-1918
Disabled American Veterans Chapter 97
7177 Bee Ridge Road
Sarasota, FL 34241
Phone: 727-319-7444
Medicaid is a federal health insurance program for low-income adults and people with disabilities that is administered by the states. Each state runs their Medicaid program a bit differently. Florida Medicaid may cover some of the costs associated with assisted living. Run by the Agency for Health Care Administration, Florida Medicaid offers two different plans:
Florida Medicaid’s SMMC LTC plan covers the same health care services as the MMA plan, as well as personal care services. In general, the SMMC LTC plan covers the following additional services:
Florida Medicaid’s SMMC LTC plan guarantees coverage for rent and meals for eligible seniors already residing in Medicaid-approved nursing homes in Florida. In Florida, any facility that provides skilled nursing care is considered a nursing home.
Some assisted living facilities fall under this category and may be Medicaid-approved. If your loved one doesn’t yet live in a Medicaid-approved nursing home, or you are unsure if they qualify, you may want to speak with an advisor at your loved one’s community or an eldercare attorney.
To be eligible for Florida Medicaid, a senior should meet these criteria:
An individual can make no more than $18,075 a year, and a couple can make no more than $24,353 a year. These numbers may be adjusted annually for inflation.
To be eligible for the SMMC LTC plan, a senior must be in need of a nursing facility level of care. To meet this requirement, a senior typically goes through the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services (CARES) program. If a senior needs an assisted living level of care, they’re generally eligible for the SMMC LTC plan.
You can schedule your free needs assessment by contacting the local Medicaid office.
Florida seniors may be eligible for a home and community based services waiver (also called a HCBS waiver) to help cover the costs of in-home care, which may be provided in their assisted living community. Here’s what you need to know about HCBS waivers in Florida:
Seniors or their families living in Sarasota, Florida, can find Medicaid benefits counseling from a few different organizations, including the following:
Sarasota resident Medicaid resources
Florida Medicaid
2727 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 866-762-2237
Apply for Florida Medicaid, MMA plan
SSA office — Sarasota
2001 Siesta Drive
Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: 800-772-1213
Department of Elder Affairs for the State of Florida
Phone: 800-963-5337
Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, Inc.
2830 Winkler Ave., Suite 112
Fort Myers, FL 33816
Phone: 239-762-6900
Medicare is a federally run health insurance program. Medicare covers some health care costs for seniors age 65 and older or people with disabilities. While Medicare won’t cover the cost of rent or meals at an assisted living facility in Sarasota, it can cover some health care procedures, medications, and items.
Like most health insurance programs, Medicare only covers health care expenses. Short-term expenses, such as a few days in a rehabilitation facility, are typically covered. Recurring expenses, like dialysis or medications, are also often covered.
In order for Medicare to cover a procedure, medication, or item, a physician and Medicare official need to establish that it’s medically necessary. You can get an idea of what’s usually covered by Medicare by going to the coverage portal on the Medicare website.
Seniors in Sarasota can get help to pay for their Medicare premiums through local Medicare Savings Programs. Typically, a senior needs to be under an income limit to be eligible for one of these programs. In Sarasota, you need to make less than $1,549 a month as of 2022, although this limit may be updated to reflect inflation. The Medicare website outlines these programs in full and includes updated information about how to apply.
If your loved one is struggling to apply for Medicare or understand their coverage, they can speak to a Medicare benefit counselor. The following organizations offer Medicare benefit counseling services at no cost to the senior:
Sarasota resident Medicare resource
SSA office — Sarasota
2001 Siesta Drive
Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: 800-772-1213
Sarasota assisted living facilities have high standards and offer compassionate care to their residents. All assisted living facilities in Florida are licensed and regulated by the Bureau of Health Facilities Regulation.
The bureau regulates a few different assisted living licenses. Small residential care homes receive an Adult Foster Care license, and communities that offer skilled nursing receive an Extended Congregate Care license. Most traditional assisted living communities apply for the Assisted Living Facility license.
According to the Bureau of Health Facilities Regulation, all assisted living facilities in Florida should follow these standards to maintain their licensure:
Employees in Florida need to first meet the following requirements before working in an assisted living facility:
The Bureau of Health Facilities Regulation inspects all assisted living facilities at least every two years. Inspection results are available on Florida Health Finder. You can search by community type, location, or proximity to a given address.
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
2727 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 888-419-3456
Feedback form
Bureau of Health Facility Regulation
Florida doesn’t enforce any masking, vaccination, or quarantine mandates for assisted living communities. However, communities may ask staff members, visitors, and residents to mask.
Residents of assisted living facilities in Sarasota are encouraged to receive visitors regularly. Visitors are allowed at any time, regardless of vaccination status, and can take their loved one on outings and trips. You can find vaccination sites, testing centers, local mandates on the Sarasota COVID-19 FAQ page.
Facility cleanliness. Frequently used areas are regularly disinfected.
Staff safety. Caregiving staff members are required to go through a 4-hour training course on senior care and disease mitigation.
Vaccination. All visitors are allowed in Florida assisted living communities regardless of vaccination status.
CDC guidelines. Sarasota assisted living communities follow CDC guidelines.
Standards are high for Sarasota’s assisted living communities. Considered one of the best places to retire in the world, Sarasota lives up to its reputation. Lush scenery, including the famous Siesta Key Beach, and a coastline that’s protected from coastal weather patterns are just a few of the reasons why Sarasota tops so many retirement wish lists. Discover what makes Sarasota so special, and learn about our local partnering assisted living communities.
Seniors and their families can expect exceptional care from their assisted living community in Sarasota. Assisted living provides a step up in care from independent living and usually involves personal care services. Assisted living is a good option for people who need help with their activities of daily living, such as grooming, bathing, or remembering to take medications, but it doesn’t provide health care or rehabilitation.
Over 37% of the population in Sarasota is 65+, and its popularity among seniors is still growing. Assisted living communities in Sarasota have developed to meet this demand, and the competition for new residents has pushed local assisted living communities to excel.
Communities are uniformly spotless, combining familiar design touches with state-of-the-art security systems and amenities. Residents receive compassionate care from some of the best caregivers in Florida. In Sarasota, caregivers are there because they want to be.
About half of Sarasota’s assisted living facilities provide at least one additional care type. Memory care is the most common care type tied to assisted living in Sarasota, and memory care is also the fastest-growing care type in the area. Many assisted living communities are also partnered with independent living facilities and skilled nursing units.
These facilities tend to be large and are evenly distributed throughout downtown Sarasota and neighboring suburbs. Most multicare facilities in Sarasota were built between 20 and 30 years ago. Amenities such as yoga studios, bars, and game rooms are the norm. Almost all assisted living communities also include a pool, although the beach is nearby.
Residents can often choose to have their own room or share a room with a spouse or a roommate. Rooms range between about 220 square feet to over 1,000 square feet for a shared room. Restaurant-style dining is offered at almost every assisted living community, and communities enjoy offering chef-prepared meals using local produce and seafood.
Activity coordinators work to fill residents’ days with engaging and sociable pastimes. Outings to local cultural highlights and, of course, the beaches occur every week in most communities. Daily activities like gardening clubs, finance classes, fitness courses, and dances are also common.
Safe, quiet, and dynamic, Sarasota has a strong argument to be paradise on earth. With a population of about 54,764 people, Sarasota is just the right size for most seniors. Bright blue skies, crystal clear water, and an unusually vibrant cultural scene keep even the most urbane residents happy.
And Sarasota plays host to a few well-known names, including Mick Jagger, Stephen King, and Brian Johnson. Ernest Hemingway and Jimmy Buffet have also called Sarasota home, so you’ll be in good company as you sip your margarita on the beach.
Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton offer cost-effective senior living options within an hour of Sarasota. Lakewood Ranch is inland and attracts young professionals, families, and seniors. It’s a growing city, and the assisted living facilities tend to be newer and more affordable. It’s within a 25-minute drive of Sarasota.
Bradenton is just north of Sarasota and is booming with seniors who want to stay near the water. It’s only 15 miles away from Sarasota, but senior living costs are about $500 cheaper, on average, in Bradenton than they are in Sarasota.
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Sarasota has a strong network of health care professionals and hospitals to serve local seniors. Hospitals and health care providers are spread evenly throughout the city, which keeps health care accessible for seniors regardless of where they live.
Sarasota Memorial Hospital has 895 beds, making it the largest public hospital in Sarasota. Operated by the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, it offers care services within every specialty. Providers specialize in geriatrics and neurology, among other specialties. The hospital has its own Cancer Institute. The hospital system operates six different campuses across Southwest Florida, but the main campus is in Sarasota.
1700 S. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL, 34239
Phone: 941-917-9000
Find a provider
The HCA Florida Blake Hospital is an award-winning hospital specializing in acute care, including emergency medicine, burn care, strokes, heart health, trauma, and orthopedics. While technically in Bradenton, it serves all of Sarasota County.
2020 59th St. W
Bradenton, FL 34209
Phone: 941-792-6611
Find a provider
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota is Sarasota County’s most well-known rehabilitation facility. Specializing in rehabilitation care for strokes, hip fractures, and spinal cord rehabilitation, Encompass also runs support groups for amputees, stroke and cardiac patients, and MS patients.
6400 Edgelake Drive
Sarasota, FL 34240
Phone: 941-921-8600
What to expect
Of our partnering assisted living communities in Sarasota, 96% offer complimentary transportation, so seniors won’t need to worry about finding their own way to get around. Visiting family members and friends should be aware that Sarasota is a driving city. While only 24 square miles, Sarasota does have traffic, especially during the winter months. Expect to spend some time in the car if you’re trying to get to the more popular areas, such as Siesta Key Beach.
Sarasota’s public transportation system is called Breeze (formerly known as The Sarasota County Transit System, or SCAT). Breeze offers bus transportation throughout Sarasota County. It also offers OnDemand, which is a pickup and drop-off service. Routes, fees, and instructions for how to sign up for OnDemand can be found on the Breeze website.
WalkScore.com rates cities for their walkability, bikeability, and public transportation. Sarasota received the following scores, each out of 100:
Living in Sarasota comes with its own rewards. Seniors in Sarasota benefit from a community of engaged peers, and visiting family or friends can enjoy one of the top vacation spots in the world. While there’s not a bad time to visit Sarasota, it does get hot in the summer months. Peak season runs from about November to March.
Almost every partnering assisted living community in Sarasota employs an activities coordinator to plan daily classes, games, and outings for the residents. Residents can enjoy their community’s amenities, like a pool, garden, or game room. Visiting musicians and lecture series often come through Sarasota assisted living communities, enriching the lives of the residents.
Sarasota County’s senior centers are called Senior Friendship Centers, and seniors can purchase yearly memberships for $125. With a membership, seniors can access daily classes, activities, social events, and all services run by the center.
These include a daily lunch at the Sarasota Friendship Café, educational programs, adult day care, and the Friendly Visitor Program. You can learn more about what’s included in your Senior Friendship Center membership and sign up on the Sarasota Friendship Center webpage.
Siesta Key Beach is one of the best beaches in the world. Made up of almost 100% white quartz sand, it stays cool on your feet on even the hottest of days. The clear water and expansive shallows are perfect for wading. It’s also large, so you can find your own patch of paradise. Siesta Key Beach is one of the few public beaches with lifeguards on duty. Seniors can also request sand wheelchairs at any of the lifeguard stations for no cost.
There are additional beach options in and around Sarasota. Lido Beach, Caspersen Beach, and Longboat Key Beach are popular favorites, and they also offer sand wheelchairs. Unlike most other cities on the Gulf Coast, Sarasota is typically protected from coastal storms.
The Ringling Museum offers a deep dive into the long history of circus life in Sarasota. John Ringling — also known as the Circus King — built his fanciful Ca d’Zan mansion here, and it’s still open for tours today. The museum also includes two separate circus museums, the Bayfront Gardens, the State Art Museum of Florida, and the Asolo Theater. Budget at least one full day for The Ringling Museum, or buy a membership to visit for shorter times across a few days. Seniors get ticket discounts at the door.
The Sarasota Audubon Society recommends The Celery Fields as one of Sarasota County’s best birding destinations. The Celery Fields are the region’s primary storm water collection zone, and Sarasota County has worked to restore more than 100 acres to traditional wetlands. It’s an ideal location for breeding birds, and many can be seen from picnic areas scattered throughout the site. Seniors get an admissions discount.
Amble amongst antique and notable vehicles from history in the Sarasota Classic Car Museum. In its collection are Paul McCartney’s Mini Cooper and John Lennon’s Mercedes Benz. Besides its permanent collection, the museum also has traveling exhibitions, such as The Automotive Art of Ferdinand Porsche and Enzo Ferrari.
Sarasota is within driving distance from some of Florida’s most celebrated attractions. Walt Disney World is an hour and a half away, and Fort Myers is just under two hours away. Everglades National Park is two and half hours south of Sarasota.
Visitsarasota.com is an excellent resource to find up-to-date information about events and deals in Sarasota. Learn about weekly community events, farmers markets, and restaurant deals.
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A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Rentcafe.com. (2022). Cost of living in Sarasota, FL.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101): Sarasota city [Data set]. American Community Survey
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and sex (S0101): Sarasota city [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Rentcafe.com. (2022). Cost of living in Sarasota, FL.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101): Sarasota city [Data set]. American Community Survey
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and sex (S0101): Sarasota city [Data set]. American Community Survey.