Assisted Living in Citrus County, FL

Assisted Living Costs in Citrus County

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, the average cost of assisted living in Citrus County is higher than both the state average of $3,500 and the national average of $4,000. The price of assisted living in nearby areas varies, with The Villages ($5,031) being significantly more expensive, while costs in Ocala ($3,275), Orlando ($3,275) and Tampa ($3,250) are all lower than Citrus County. 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Citrus County, so data for Homosassa Springs, a census-designated place in Citrus County, was used. 

Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart

• Citrus County: $4,125
• National average: $4,000
• State average: $3,500
• Tampa: $3,250
• Ocala: $3,275
• The Villages: $5,031
• Tallahassee: $4,339
• Pensacola: $4,096
• Panama City: $4,200

Care Cost Comparison

Costs for senior care are largely based on the type of care, the number of direct service hours and the cost of living in the area. In Citrus County, nursing home care costs approximately twice the amount of assisted living, while in-home care services are just slightly less expensive than assisted living. 

When comparing senior care costs it’s important to factor in additional expenses associated with in-home care, such as utilities, rent, home maintenance and food, while room and board is generally included in the cost of residential care for seniors. 

Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $4,125
• Homemaker services: $3,861
• Home health aide: $3,705
• Adult day health: N/A
• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $7,802

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Citrus County

Medicaid in Florida

Medicaid is a national health insurance program that is jointly funded by both the federal and state governments. It’s designed to provide low-income Americans of all ages with access to basic health care. In Florida, Medicaid is administered by the Agency for Health Care Administration, a branch of the Florida Department of Children and Families. 

To qualify for no-cost Medicaid in Florida, seniors aged 65 and older must earn no more than $2,313 (individual) or $4,626 (couple) a month. Income from all sources must be declared, including wages, pensions, alimony and investment interest. 

Medicaid applicants are also limited to owning no more than $2,000 (individual) or $3,000 (couple) in countable assets. Countable assets include cash and bank account balances, recreational real estate, stocks, bonds and any other investments. One vehicle, personal belongings, household furnishings and the applicants’ principle residence are excluded assets as long as the home is valued at $585,000 or less. 

Florida seniors aged 65 and older who qualify for Medicaid and need the level of care normally provided in a nursing home, may be eligible for the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care, Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC) program. This program helps to reduce rates of nursing home placement in Florida by providing additional services and supports in an assisted living setting to seniors. 

In accordance with federal law, seniors who apply for nursing home care will be screened by the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services (CARES) program to evaluate their long-term care needs. This assessment is then reviewed by a designated registered nurse or physician who makes recommendations on the least-restrictive placement option and medically-necessary support services for each senior. 

If approved for the SMMC LTC program, seniors living in assisted living may be assigned one or more of the following services: 

• Attendant or personal care
• Homemaker
• Intermittent and skilled nursing
• Medication administration and management
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Transportation
• Medical supplies and equipment

To learn more about Florida Medicaid and the SMMC LTC program, contact the Citrus County Elder Helpline at (800) 262-2243. 

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Optional State Supplementation

Florida seniors who are 65 or older, qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and are unable to live independently due to disability or age-related deterioration may be eligible for an SSI top up to help pay for the room-and-board portion of assisted living costs under the Optional State Supplementation (OSS) program. 

The maximum OSS payment for a single senior who resides in an assisted living facility is $78.40, while couples applying together may receive a maximum of $156.80. 

For more information about the Florida OSS program, contact ACCESS Florida at (866) 762-2237 or the Citrus County Elder Helpline at (800) 262-2243. 

Veterans Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits

Veterans and their survivors who receive a regular VA pension and either require daily assistance due to a disability or are housebound, may qualify for a pension increase through the VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance. These two benefit programs may also be available to veterans who have previously been excluded from the VA pension due to excess income due to the higher rates provided with these programs. 

Under the Aid and Attendance Benefit, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria: 

• Require daily assistance from another person to eat, bathe, dress, manage a prosthetic device or perform any other activity of daily living
• Live in a nursing home due to deterioration of physical and/or mental capacity
• Be largely bedridden as a result of an illness
• Have corrected eyesight that tests at 5/200 or worse or suffer from concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 or fewer degrees

Under the Housebound Allowance, applicants must have a VA disability rating of 100 percent and be largely confined to their home as a direct result of their disability. 

Disability doesn’t need to be related to military service for either benefit. Applicants may only be awarded benefits through either Aid and Attendance or Housebound Allowance, even if they meet the criteria for both programs. 

Veterans Service Officers from the Citrus County Veterans Service Office can make home visits to assist home bound veterans and their survivors with VA benefit applications. 

For more information about the VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance, contact the Citrus County Veterans Service Office at (352) 527-5915. 

Assisted Living Resources in Citrus County

Senior Centers in Citrus County

Citrus County operates four community centers that offer a wide range of social and recreational programming geared towards seniors, including weekly card games, escorted day trips to local attractions and low-cost communal meals. 

West Citrus Community Center
8940 West Veterans Drive, Homosassa, FL 34448
(352) 795-3831

East Citrus Community Center
9907 East Gulf to Lake Highway, Inverness, FL 34452
(352) 344-9666

Central Citrus Community Center – Senior Programs
2804 West Marc Knighton Court, Lecanto, FL 34461
(352) 527-5993

Inverness Community Center
1082 North Paul Drive, Inverness, FL 34450
(352) 726-1009

Community Aid Agencies

There are a number of government and nonprofit agencies that seniors in Citrus County can contact for help with Medicaid programs, assistance with legal issues and information about accessible transportation. 

City of Inverness Community Services
212 West Main Street, Inverness, FL 34450
(352) 726-3401

Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida
106 North Osceola Avenue, Inverness, FL 34450
(352) 726-6592

Resources for Veterans

Veterans who need assistance with VA benefits can contact the Citrus County Veterans Service. The Lecanto Community Based Outpatient Clinic provides primary health care services to eligible veterans of all ages, and the nearby Malcom Randall VA Medical Center offers inpatient health care for Veterans. 

Citrus County Veterans Service
2804 West Marc Knighton Court, Lecanto, FL 34461
(352) 527-5915

Lecanto Community Based Outpatient Clinic
2804 West Marc Knighton Court, Suite A, Lecanto, FL 34461-6301
(352) 746-8000

Malcom Randall VA Medical Center 
1601 Southwest Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608-1135
(352) 376-1611