9 Assisted Living Communities in Port Charlotte, Florida

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $3,400 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the city, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 9 Assisted Living Communities in Port Charlotte and several in surrounding areas.

• Assisted living: $3,400
• Nursing home semiprivate room: $8,502
• In-home care: $4,385
• Adult day health services: $1,733

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care survey, the average monthly cost of assisted living in Port Charlotte is $3,400, which is $100 less than the state average and $600 below the national average. Cities such as Naples ($5,448) and Cape Coral ($4,000) are much more expensive, while less costly areas include Sebring ($3,038), Miami ($3,350) and the Tampa area ($3,250). 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Port Charlotte, so data for the closest city, Punta Gorda, was used. 

Care costs depend on the level of care an individual needs, with location and individual services being other considerations. For seniors with intensive care needs, the average cost of nursing home care in Port Charlotte is $8,502, which is more than $5,000 over the cost of assisted living. In-home care, such as homemaker services and home health aides, cost about $1,000 more than assisted living. When considering this type of care, it’s important to account for living expenses, such as rent/mortgage, utilities, maintenance and food. These costs are typically included in the price of assisted living and nursing home care.  Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $3,400

• Homemaker services: $4,385

• Home health aide: $4,385

• Adult day health: $1,733

• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $8,502

 

Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) is managed by the Health Care Administration Agency in Florida. SMMC provides low-income families and individuals with access to free or low-cost health care and helps the elderly and disabled with the costs of nursing facilities and other medical and long-term care costs. Other benefits include physician’s services, inpatient and outpatient hospital services, durable medical equipment and hearing, vision and dental services. Individuals who are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) automatically qualify for Medicaid in Florida.

In order to be eligible for this program, individuals must be:

• A resident of the state of Florida
• A U.S. citizen, permanent resident or legal alien
• Proven to have low income
• Blind, disabled or at least 65 years of age
• Single with a monthly income below $891 and countable assets at $5,000 or less
• Married with a monthly income below $1,208 and countable assets at $6,000 or less

Countable assets include cash, stocks, bonds, investments, savings and checking accounts and real estate the individual doesn’t reside in.

The Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program (SMMC LTC) provides services to individuals who require long-term care support. SMMC LTC is designed to delay or prevent premature institutionalization while individuals maintain stable health at home or in an assisted living facility. 

SMMC LTC provides many services, including: 

• Assistive care services
• Assisted living
• Medical equipment and supplies
• Medication management
• Personal emergency response system
• Occupational, physical, respiratory and speech therapies
• Nonemergency transportation

Through this program, Medicaid reimburses over two dozen home and community services and nursing facilities. This waiver is a capitated, managed care program, which means it pays a fixed amount of money to health care service providers; however, room and board costs aren’t covered. 

Medicaid participants are required to be enrolled in the Long-Term Care program if they:

• Are age 18 and older and need nursing facility level of care
• Are In Hospice 
• Are In institutional care
• Meet Florida Medicaid financial requirements

Counselors are available to help residents of Port Charlotte and surrounding cities choose from three LTC plans that best meet their needs, including Humana, Sunshine and United. Depending on which plan seniors choose, additional benefits may be provided, such as cellular phone service, dental services, hearing evaluation and over-the-counter medications and supplies.

SMMC LTC limits the number of people who can receive assistance, and waiting lists for some of these services are possible in areas across the state.

For more information about SMMC and SMMC LTC, please contact the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida at (866) 413-5337 or apply for benefits online through the ACCESS system.

Optional State Supplementation

The Optional State Supplementation (OSS) program provides cash assistance to individuals who have low income, or receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and live in a noninstitutional, residential living facility, such as an assisted living residence, mental health residential treatment facility or an adult family care home. The funds are given directly to the individual, or a legal guardian, and intended to help pay for room and board. 

OSS payment is determined by the individual’s monthly income, and in many cases, the maximum monthly OSS payout is $78.40 for single seniors and $156.80 for couples. Individuals are able to keep $54 of their gross monthly income for personal needs and the remaining income amount, along with the OSS payment, goes to the provider for the cost of care. 

To be eligible to receive an OSS payment, an individual must be:

• Aged 65 or older, blind or disabled

• A resident of Florida living in a licensed residential living facility

• A U.S. citizen or qualified alien

• Single with a monthly income that doesn’t exceed $752.40 and assets valued at $2,000 or less

• Married with a combined monthly income of $1,504.80 or less and assets that don’t exceed $3,000

An application must be submitted in the same month an applicant wants OSS, and no OSS payments can be paid for previous months.

To learn more information about OSS or submit an application, apply online through the ACCESS system or call (866) 762-2237.

Program of All-Inclusive Care 

Hope Program of All-Inclusive Care (PACE) is a service for low-income seniors who would otherwise qualify for nursing home placement. It provides them with various services in the home or assisted living facility that would otherwise be an out-of-pocket expense. PACE includes amenities that are covered by both Medicaid and Medicare, so seniors receive all their medical and long-term services through this program. 

Hope PACE offers medical services that includes:

• Physician specialists and nursing care

• Medications

• Medical equipment

• Hospitalization, skilled nursing facility care and hospice care

• Occupational, physical and speech therapy

To be eligible for PACE, an individual must:

• Be age 55 years or older

• Live within the service area of the Hope PACE Center

• Meet medical eligibility requirements determined by CARES

• Be able to live safely in the community

• Be dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare or Medicaid only

For seniors who don’t have dual Medicaid and Medicare, there’s an option for private pay with PACE. For more information about PACE and enrollment, please call (239) 985-6400.

AAA is a nonprofit organization that provides information and assistance for older adults and caregivers concerning outreach programs that are funded through federal and state programs, including health and wellness workshops, Medicare saving for low-income beneficiaries and community-based services. Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida
15201 N. Cleveland Ave, Suite 1100, North Fort Myers, FL 33903
(239) 652-6900

The Veterans Administration (VA) is available to assist and advise veterans of the medical, social and financial benefits they may be entitled to. Visit one of these local offices for more information.  

Charlotte County Veteran Services
1050 Loveland Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33980
(941) 764-5579

Veteran Services West County Office
6868 San Casa Drive, Unit 12, Englewood, FL 34224
(941) 681-3716

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.