22 Assisted Living Communities in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $3,350 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 22 Assisted Living Communities in Fort Lauderdale and several in surrounding areas.

• Assisted living: $3,350
• Nursing home semiprivate room: $8,699
• In-home care: $3,337
• Adult day health services: $1,408

Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study shows that monthly assisted living costs in Fort Lauderdale are below both the state ($3,500) and national ($4,000) averages. The price here is comparable to several Florida cities, including Tampa ($3,250) and Orlando ($3,275), but significantly lower than others, such as Jacksonville ($4,425), Tallahassee ($4,339) and Naples ($5,448).

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Fort Lauderdale, so data for the closest city, Miami, was used. 

A number of factors contribute to the cost of senior care, such as the type of care, whether room and board is included and a locale’s average cost of living. As with most other areas in Florida, nursing home care costs are more than double the price of assisted living in Fort Lauderdale.  Home-based senior care services, such as a home health aide or homemaker, cost about the same as assisted living. However, it’s important to recognize that assisted living prices include accommodation and meals. Seniors who remain in their homes need to budget for ongoing expenses, such as utilities, groceries, property taxes and HOA fees in addition to senior care costs.  Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $3,350

• Homemaker services: $3,337

• Home health aide: $3,432

• Adult day health: $1,408

• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $8,699

 

Sixteen percent of Florida’s population is covered under Medicaid, the nationwide program designed to provide basic health care for low-income Americans. Medicaid is jointly funded by federal and state governments, and in Florida, coverage is administered through the Agency for Health Care Administration.

Seniors who are 65 and older may qualify for Medicaid coverage if they earn no more than $2,313 per month as an individual or $4,626 as a couple. Medicaid counts income from all sources including wages, pensions and alimony. 

Medicaid applicants must also meet strict asset limits of $2,000 per individual and $3,000 per couple. Countable assets include cash and bank account balances, investments and real estate with the exception of the applicant’s principal residence valued up to $585,000. 

Personal belongings such as clothing, jewelry, household furnishings and a non-revocable burial trust are also exempt.

Florida seniors who qualify for Medicaid coverage and need the care services normally provided in a nursing home may qualify for the Florida Statewide Managed Care, Long-Term Care Program. 

The SMMC LTC reduces nursing home placement among low-income Florida seniors by supplementing existing independent living services with medically necessary care on a contracted basis. Under federal law, seniors seeking these Medicaid-funded services must be screened by Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services to determine eligibility. 

If approved for SMMC LTC, seniors who reside in an assisted living setting may receive the following additional supports as recommended by CARES personnel: 

• Adult companion
• Personal and attendant care
• Homemaker 
• Medication administration and management
• Intermittent and skilled nursing 
• Speech, occupational, or physical therapy
• Transportation to and from local medical appointments

To learn more about Florida Medicaid coverage for seniors and the SMMC LTC program, contact the Florida Elder Helpline at (954) 745-9779 or the Florida Department of Children and Families at (866) 762-2237. 

Qualified Income Trust

Seniors whose income exceeds current limits may be able to use a Qualified Income Trust to become Medicaid eligible. 

Also known as a Miller Trust, a QIT is a non-revocable legal agreement between the applicant and the State of Florida. The senior must set up a QIT account and direct any excess income, less a $130 monthly personal needs allowance, into the QIT. Contributed funds can only be used for specific medical expenses related to the senior’s care. 

To learn more about utilizing a QIT, contact the Florida Department of Children and Families at (866) 762-2237. 

Optional State Supplementation

Seniors aged 65 and older who qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits and are unable to live alone due to age-related deterioration or disability may qualify for the Optional State Supplementation program. 

The OSS is an SSI top-up program that helps seniors pay the room-and-board portion of monthly assisted living costs. The current maximum monthly OSS payment is $78.40 for individuals and $156.80 for couples. Note that the OSS supplement is usually paid directly to the facility. 

To learn more about the Florida OSS program, contact ACCESS Florida at (866) 762-2237. 

Assisted Living Bridge Loans

Seniors who require cash to finance a move to an assisted living facility may want to consider an assisted living bridge loan from Elderlife Financial. Available for terms up to 12 months and funded as a line of credit, borrowers only need to make monthly interest-only payments until the loan matures. 

Up to six people can apply for the loan, making it easy for family members to share the costs of moving their loved one into assisted living. Funds from the loan are sent directly to the assisted living facility, and the amount can be changed each month depending on the needs of the senior. 

Applications are usually processed within 24 hours, and there are no up-front costs or application fees. For more information about the Elderlife Assisted Living Bridge Loan call Elderlife Financial at (888) 228-4500. 

The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward County connects seniors with services including affordable door-to-door transportation, help with health insurance and free preventive health programs. Seniors 60 and older who need free legal assistance can contact the Senior Citizen Law Project.  Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward County
5300 Hiatus Rd, Sunrise, FL 33351
(954) 745-9779 Senior Citizen Law Project – Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida
491 North State Rd 7, Plantation, FL 33317
(954) 765-8955

Outpatient medical services are available at the William Bill Kling VA Clinic which is part of the Miami VA Healthcare System. Veterans can get help with VA benefit and pension applications by contacting Brevard County Veteran’s Services, and the city is home to a number of active VFW and American Legion posts. 

William Bill Kling VA Clinic
9800 West Commercial Blvd, Sunrise, FL 33351
(954) 475-5500

Brevard County Veteran’s Services
2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, FL 32940
(321) 633-2007

Fort Lauderdale Vet Center
3666 West Oakland Park Blvd, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33311
(954) 714-2381

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