6 Assisted Living Communities in Eustis, Florida

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $3,275 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 6 Assisted Living Communities in Eustis and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Eustis, FL

• Assisted Living: $3,275
• Nursing Home Care: $8,106
• In-home Care: $4,004
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,300

At $3,275 per month, the average price of assisted living in Eustis is lower than the state ($3,500) and national ($4,000) averages. Costs are higher in nearby Deltona ($3,850) and significantly more expensive in The Villages ($5,031). 

Overall, assisted living costs in Florida are lower than many other areas in the United States. Assisted care costs tend to be higher than the state average in areas with high property values, such as Naples ($5,448) and Jacksonville, while costs are lowest inland, such as Sebring ($3,038) and Lakeland ($2,808). 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Eustis, so data for the closest city, Orlando, was used. 

Senior care costs in Eustis start at $1,300 per month for adult day health services, which include nonmedical care in a group setting Monday through Friday. Assisted living includes room and board and costs $3,275 per month, making it $729 less expensive than either homemaker or home health aide services for 44 hours a week.  The most expensive senior care service is semiprivate nursing home care at $8,106 per month. The high cost reflects the fact that nursing facilities provide 24/7 medical care to adults and seniors who have complex medical needs. 

 

Medicaid is a national government-funded health plan that provides eligible low-income people with essential health benefits, such as primary care, hospital services and long-term care. In some states Medicaid also includes optional, state-specific benefits that cover basic dental and vision care services, prescription medications, physical and occupational therapy, hospice care and community-based nursing home diversion programs. 

Eligibility for Medicaid coverage in Florida is determined by either the Social Security Administration or the Department of Children and Families. Seniors who meet the income and asset criteria benefits for Supplemental Security Income benefits automatically qualify for basic Medicaid coverage. 

Qualifying for Medicaid

Seniors aged 65 and older who need long-term care services may qualify if they earn $2,313 or less per month and they own under $2,000 worth of countable assets, including all cash, stocks, bonds and most types of real estate. 

Senior couples requiring long-term Medicaid services may qualify if they earn $4,262 or less per month and own under $3,000 in joint countable assets. If only one spouse needs coverage, the income of the healthy spouse is disregarded. The non-applicant spouse (community spouse) can receive income transferred from the applicant to bring the total monthly income of the community spouse up to a maximum of $3,161 per month to prevent spousal impoverishment. 

Some specific assets are exempt under Medicaid rules. These assets include one vehicle, an irrevocable burial contract, household furnishings and personal items and a home owned and occupied by the Medicaid applicant and/or their spouse valued at no more than $585,000. 

The community spouse may also keep half of the couple’s joint assets (in addition to Medicaid-exempt assets) worth a maximum of $126,420 under the community spouse resource allowance rule. 

Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program

The Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long Term Care program is managed care designed to reduce institutionalization rates among Medicaid-enrolled seniors who meet the clinical criteria for nursing home placement. 

This program funds community-based services to help seniors in an assisted living facility. These amenities are assigned based on the needs identified by the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services, a federally mandated preadmission screening program for all Medicaid participants who request enrollment in a long-term care plan.

Based on the needs identified by CARES, seniors who are deemed eligible to participate in the SMMC LTC may be provided with one or more of the following benefits:

• Durable medical equipment and disposable medical supplies
• Intermittent skilled nursing care
• Personal care to help with activities of daily living
• Speech, physical, occupational and/or respiratory therapy
• Access to a personal emergency medical alert device
• Hospice care
• Homemaker services and home-delivered meals
• Adult day care
• Assisted living facility services

For more information about Florida’s Medicaid program and the SMMC LTC, contact the Lake County Elder Helpline at (800) 262-2243 or Elder Options, the Area Agency on Aging for Lake County, at (352) 378-6649. 

Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance

Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance are two VA pension top-up programs that provide cash benefits that can be used towards the costs of assisted living.

Eligible veterans and survivors who have a chronic illness, disability or multiple disabilities unrelated to military service that impact their ability to care for themselves or leave their home can apply for one of these two programs.

For the Housebound Allowance, applicants must have a VA-assessed disability rating of 100% and have marked difficulty travelling outside of their residence. 

Under the Housebound Allowance, the maximum total combined VA monthly pension payment is $1,378 for a single veteran, $1,728 for a veteran with one dependent and $925 for a single surviving spouse. 

For Aid and Attendance, applicants must meet one or more of the following criteria: 

• Need help from another person to perform one or more activities of daily living 

• Be bedridden except to participate in medically necessary treatments

• Have a visual field to 5 or fewer degrees 

• Be a full-time resident of a nursing facility

• Have corrected eyesight in both eyes tested at 5/200 or below

Under the Aid and Attendance Benefit, the maximum monthly VA pension payment is $1,881 for a single veteran, $2,230 for a veteran with one dependent and $1,211 for a single survivor.

Note: To qualify for either program, applicants must be eligible for a regular VA pension. Eligible applicants can only collect benefits through either Aid and Attendance or Housebound. 

For more information and help with the application process, contact the Lake County Veterans Services Office at (352) 742-6586. 

Optional State Supplementation

The Florida Optional State Supplementation program provides Supplemental Security Income top-up funding to eligible seniors who are aged 65 or older, qualify for SSI benefits and need to live in an assisted living facility because they cannot safely live on their own.

Single applicants may receive $78.40 per month in OSS funding, and couples may receive up to $156.80. The OSS benefit is designed to help seniors pay for the room-and-board portion of their care costs.   

For more information on the OSS for seniors, call the Lake County Elder Helpline at (800) 262-2243. 

The Eustis Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of classes, programs and events at its city facilities geared towards seniors, such as the aquatic center, community center, American Legion building and the service center. 

City of Eustis Parks and Recreation
2214 E. Bates Ave., Eustis, FL 32726
(352) 357-7969

Seniors aged 60 and older are eligible for half-price fares on LakeXpress, the local public transit system.  Seniors who are unable to use the regular fixed-route system due to age or disability can register for the Lake County Connection, the local door-to-door paratransit service.  Lake County FL Transit Division
2440 U.S. Highway 441, Fruitland Park, FL 34731
(352) 742-1940

The Lake County Veterans Services Office provides veterans and survivors with help navigating the VA claims process and information about state and federal benefits. Seniors can meet with the Veterans Service Officer at the Lake County Administrative Building or request a home visit. 

Outpatient VA health services, including primary and mental health care, are available at the Tavares VA Clinic. Comprehensive inpatient and outpatient hospital services are offered at the nearby Orlando VA Medical Center. 

Lake County Veterans Services Office
418 W. Alfred St., Tavares, FL 32778
(352) 742-6586

Tavares VA Clinic
1390 E. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, FL
(352) 253-2900

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