57 Communities in Lee County, Florida

The average cost of assisted living in the county is $4,000 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 57 Assisted Living Communities in Lee County and several in surrounding areas.

• Assisted living: $4,000
• Nursing home semiprivate room: $8,304
• In-home care: $3,909
• Adult day health services: $1,571

Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study shows that the cost of assisted living in Lee County is the same as the national average of $4,000 and $500 per month more than the state average of $3,500. 

Prices for assisted living are lower in nearby Punta Gorda ($3,400) and North Port ($3,874), although further south, prices are significantly higher in Naples ($5,448). Compared to Lee County, assisted living costs are significantly lower  in inland areas such as Sebring ($3,038) and Lakeland ($2,808) as well as coastal Tampa ($3,250). 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Lee County, so data for Cape Coral, a city located in Lee County, was used. 

Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart

As with most areas throughout the country, the least expensive senior care option in Lee County is adult day health care and the most expensive is nursing home care. The wide range of prices for senior care services reflects the different types of care provided, the staff to senior ratio and the number of direct service hours each senior receives per month.  Prices for assisted living in Lee County are similar to in-home services such as a homemaker or home health aide, however, residential senior care includes room and board. Seniors weighing their options should take into account that in-home care costs don’t include ongoing expenses like groceries, home maintenance and rent. This can make the total monthly cost of staying at home significantly higher than with assisted living.  Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $4,000

• Homemaker services: $3,909

• Home health aide: $4,385

• Adult day health: $1,571

• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $8,304

Approximately 16 percent of Florida residents receive health care coverage through Medicaid, the nationwide health insurance program funded by the federal and state governments. 

Because Medicaid is designed to assist those who would otherwise not be able to afford health care or health insurance, there are strict income and asset limits placed on applicants. Currently, a single senior seeking Medicaid coverage can earn a maximum of $2,313 per month and own up to $2,000 in countable assets. For senior couples applying together, the limits are $4,626 in monthly income and $3,000 in assets.

Under Medicaid rules, certain assets are exempt. These include the applicant’s principal residence valued at $585,000 or less, personal effects such as clothing and jewelry, one vehicle, household furniture and a non-revocable burial trust. 

Seniors who are already deemed eligible for Supplemental Security Income automatically qualify for Medicaid coverage in Florida. No additional application is needed unless the senior requires a nursing home level of care. 

Florida residents 65 and older who qualify for Medicaid, reside in an assisted living facility and require the level of care usually provided in a nursing home can apply to the Florida Statewide Managed Care, Long-Term Care Program for additional services that can prevent or delay nursing home placement. 

Under federal law, Medicaid-covered seniors who are seeking assistance must be evaluated by a registered nurse or physician through the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services program. This assessment is designed to identify a seniors’ long term care needs, which may include a recommendation for additional Medicaid-funded support services through the SMMC LTC. 

SMMC LTC program participants may qualify for one or more of the following services within an assisted living environment: 

• Medication management and administration
• Physical, occupational, speech or respiratory therapy
• Homemaker or adult companion services
• Intermittent and skilled nursing 
• Medical supplies and equipment
• Access to a personal emergency call system
• Case management

For more information about Medicaid and the SMMC LTC program, call the Agency for Health Care Administration at (877) 711-3662 or the Lee County Elder Helpline at (239) 652-6901. 

Optional State Supplementation

Seniors who receive Supplemental Security Income and cannot live on their own as a result of physical and/or mental deterioration or disabilities may qualify for Optional State Supplementation. This is a cash-based program that provides additional funds for the room-and-board portion of assisted living expenses. 

Under this program, the maximum a single senior living in a licensed assisted living facility can receive is $78.40 a month, while couples applying together may be eligible for up to $156.80.

For more information about the OSS program, contact the Florida Department of Children and Families at (866) 762-2237.

Reverse Mortgage

Florida couples aged 62 and older who own their home may qualify for a reverse mortgage if only one spouse needs to be placed in an assisted living facility. 

Funds made available through a reverse mortgage may be used to pay for assisted living, as well as other expenses such as home maintenance, debt repayment and senior care services. 

Seniors who apply for a reverse mortgage must participate in HUD-approved financial counseling. The application and approval process can take up to 90 days. To learn more about reverse mortgages for seniors, contact Elderlife Financial at (888) 228-4500. 

Veterans can learn about benefits and apply to VA programs through Lee County Veterans Services. Local VA health care is available at Lee County Healthcare Center in Cape Coral, which is part of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System. There are also a number of active VFW and American Legion posts in the county. 

Lee County Human and Veterans Services
2440 Thompson Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901
(329) 533-8381

Lee County Healthcare Center, Cape Coral, FL
2489 Diplomat Parkway East, Cape Coral, FL 33909
(239) 652-1800

Fort Myers Vet Center
4110 Center Pointe Drive, Unit 204, Fort Myers, FL 33916
(239) 652-1861

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