25 Assisted Living Communities in Hernando County, Florida

The average cost of assisted living in the county is $3,250 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the county, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 25 Assisted Living Communities in Hernando County and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Hernando County, FL

• Assisted Living: $3,250
• Nursing Home Care: $8,319
• In-home Care: $3,718
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,907

Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study reviews senior care costs nationwide. The study shows that assisted living prices in Hernando County are below the state ($3,500) and national ($4,000) averages. In fact, Hernando County has some of the lowest assisted living costs along Florida’s Gulf Coast, particularly when compared to nearby cities, such as Homosassa Springs ($4,125), Cape Coral ($4,000) and Naples ($5,5448). 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Hernando County, so data for the closest city, Tampa, was used. 

The wide range of senior care costs is largely due to the differences in levels of care between each option. In Hernando County, adult day health services are the least expensive option because these services are delivered during weekdays only in a communal setting. Nursing home care is the most expensive option because it involves around-the-clock skilled nursing care in a licensed residential facility.  Assisted living costs are lower than homemaker and home health aide services based on 44 hours of service weekly. It’s important to note that in-home senior care costs are in addition to ongoing expenses, such as utilities, groceries and home maintenance, while assisted living prices include room and board. 

Medicaid, the nationwide health protection program, provides 16% of Florida residents with basic health coverage using funds from the state and federal governments. Designed to provide health care to those who cannot afford private health insurance, about 88% of all seniors and people with disabilities in Florida qualify for free Medicaid. 

In order to qualify for Florida Medicaid, seniors can earn no more than 300% of the federal poverty level, which is $2,313 per month ($4,626 for couples). Income from all sources must be included when calculating monthly income for Medicaid. Seniors who already receive Social Security Income benefits are prequalified for Medicaid coverage. 

Seniors must also meet asset limits, currently set at $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. Countable assets include cash, bank account balances, recreational and investment property and stocks and bonds. Some assets are exempt, such as a non-revocable burial trust, one vehicle owned by the applicant and a home that the applicant owns and lives in valued below $585,000. 

Note: Florida is an income cap state; therefore, seniors deemed ineligible for Medicaid due to excess income cannot spend down their excess income on medical expenses to become eligible. 

Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program

Medicaid enrollees who are either disabled or elderly (aged 65 or older) and meet the criteria for nursing home placement may qualify for the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program. 

Created in 2011 by the Florida Legislature, this Medicaid waiver program is designed to lower the rates of nursing home placement among Medicaid enrollees by augmenting their care with additional medical and nonmedical services delivered in an assisted living setting.

The SMMC LTC program assigns services to participants based on medical necessity as determined by the Florida Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services program. A designated CARES assessor evaluates each senior who requests Medicaid-funded long-term care services and makes placement recommendations based on current and future care needs. 

Seniors who are accepted into the SMMC LTC may be provided with one or more of the following: 

• A personal emergency response system
• Attendant or personal care
• Homemaker services
• Help traveling to and from medical appointments
• Assistance with medication management and administration
• Skilled and intermittent nursing
• Nutritional counseling
• Hospice care

To learn more about Medicaid enrollment and the SMMC LTC waiver program or to request a CARES assessment, contact the Hernando County Elder Helpline at (800) 262-2243. 

Optional State Supplementation

The state provides senior Supplemental Security Income recipients with up to $78.40 per month ($156.80 per couple) in addition to the federal SSI rate through the Optional State Supplementation program. This program is designed to help SSI recipients pay for the room and board portion of their assisted living costs.

To qualify for OSS benefits, seniors aged 65 and older must live in a licensed assisted living facility and be permanent residents of Florida. If approved, the OSS benefits are added onto the applicants’ monthly SSI payment. 

For more information on the OSS program, contact ACCESS Florida at (866) 762-2237. 

Veterans can get assistance with VA benefit applications and appeals and access shuttle service to the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa through the Hernando County Department of Veteran Services. Outpatient VA medical care is available at the Brooksville VA Medical Clinic. There are also numerous American Legion and VFW posts throughout the county that provide services to veterans. 

Hernando County Department of Veteran Services
621 W. Jefferson St., Brooksville, FL 34601
(352) 754-4033

Brooksville VA Clinic
14540 Cortez Blvd., Ste. 108, Brooksville, FL 34613-6001
(352) 597-8287

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