Assisted Living in North Port, FL

Assisted Living Costs in North Port

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, assisted living costs in North Port are slightly above the state average of $3,500 and lower than the national average of $4,000. Prices for assisted living are higher in nearby Cape Coral ($4,000) and Naples ($5,448), while costs are similar in other areas of Florida such as Palm Bay ($3,750), Port St. Lucie ($3,620) and Deltona ($3,850). 

Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart

• North Port: $3,874
• National average: $4,000
• State average: $3,500
• Punta Gorda: $3,400
• Cape Coral: $4,000
• Naples: $5,448
• Lakeland: $2,808
• Deltona: $3,850
• Palm Bay: $3,750

Care Cost Comparison

Senior care costs vary widely based on the location, the type of care and the number of direct service hours provided each month. In North Port, nursing home care costs are more than double those for assisted living, while homemaker services are priced close to assisted living. Home health aide costs are about half the cost of nursing home care but more than assisted living. 

When comparing the true cost of senior care options, it’s important to keep in mind that the cost of in-home care does not include ongoing home maintenance expenses such as property taxes, HOA fees and utilities. With residential senior care services, room and board is generally included in the monthly fee. 

Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $3,874
• Homemaker services: $3,813
• Home health aide: $4,385
• Adult day health: $1,907
• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $8,669

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in North Port

Medicaid in Florida

Medicaid is a national health insurance program designed to provide limited health care coverage to Americans who have both a low income and few countable assets. Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal and state governments and administered by each state. In Florida, the Agency for Health Care Administration through the Florida Department of Children and Families administers Medicaid.

Seniors aged 65 and older who are permanent residents of Florida may be eligible for Florida Medicaid coverage if they have a monthly income under $2,313 as a single applicant or $4,626 when applying with a spouse. Income from all sources, including wages, alimony, investment interest and pensions, must be declared. 

Medicaid applicants are also subject to asset limits, which are currently set at $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples. Under Medicaid rules, countable assets include all cash and bank account balances, investments and recreational properties. Clothing, furniture, one vehicle and a principal residence worth $585,000 or less are exempt. 

Seniors who qualify for Florida Medicaid coverage and require the level of senior care normally found in a nursing home due to disability or age-related deterioration may be eligible for personal care services in an assisted living setting under the Florida Statewide Medicaid Managed Care, Long-Term Care Program. 

The SMMC LTC is designed to reduce the rates of nursing home placement of seniors in Florida by providing additional care services based on medical necessity. These services are assigned according to each senior’s needs as determined by the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services and may include:

• Attendant care and adult companion 
• Homemaker
• Medication supplies and equipment
• Medication management and administration
• Occupational, physical, speech and respiratory therapy
• Transportation 
• Skilled and intermittent nursing
• Personal care

For more information on Florida Medicaid and the SMMC LTC program, contact the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration at (877) 711-3662 or the Florida Elder Helpline at (800) 963-5337. 

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Optional State Supplementation

Florida seniors age 65 and older who either receive or are eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits and who are unable to live independently due to disability or age-related deterioration may qualify for additional funds through the Optional State Supplementation program. 

OSS tops up SSI benefits using state-generated revenue to help low-income seniors pay for the room-and-board portion of assisted living costs. As of January 2019, the maximum OSS payment available for single seniors is $78.40, and couples can receive up to $156.80. 

For more information about the Florida Optional State Supplementation program contact ACCESS Florida at (866) 762-2237. 

Veterans Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits

Veterans and their survivors who receive or are eligible to receive a VA pension and need daily care may qualify for a pension top-up through the Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits program. These two programs may also be available to veterans who are currently disqualified from a basic VA pension due to excess income from the higher benefit rates with these programs. 

To qualify for the Aid and Attendance pension top-up benefit, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria: 

• Need daily assistance from another person to complete one or more activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, grooming or managing a prosthetic device
• Be bedridden as a result of a disability or disabilities
• Have corrected vision tested at 5/200 or worse in both eyes
• Have concentric contraction of the visual field measuring 5 or fewer degrees
• Currently reside in a nursing home to access care for mental or physical ailments

To qualify for Housebound benefits, applicants must have a VA disability rating of 100 percent and be largely confined to their home as a result of disability. 

Note that for both of these pension top-up programs, applicants do not need to have a service-related disability. Qualified applicants may only receive benefits from one of these programs, even if they meet the criteria for both. 

To apply for the Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits, contact the City of North Port Veterans Service Office at (941) 429-7214. 

Assisted Living Resources in North Port

Senior Centers in North Port

The North Port Senior Center provides older adults with access to a wide range of free and low-cost activities that promote socialization, physical activity and wellness. Programs include weekly bingo games and movie screenings, bimonthly blood pressure checks by a registered nurse and special luncheons. 

North Port Senior Center
4940 Pan American Boulevard, North Port, FL 34287
(941) 426-2204

Community Assistance Agencies

A number of organizations provide seniors in North Port with support and assistance. The SCAT Plus program is low-cost, wheelchair-accessible public transit that seniors can use to travel throughout the area, and the Sarasota Friendship Center offers health services and wellness programs for low-income seniors.

Senior Friendship Centers – Sarasota County
1888 Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota, FL 34236
(941) 955-2122

Sarasota County Accessible Transit/SCAT Plus
5303 Pinkney Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34233-2421
(941) 861-1234

City of North Port – Free Discount Prescription Drug Program
4970 City Hall Boulevard, North Port, FL 34286
(941) 429-7200

Veteran Centers and Clinics

North Port veterans and their survivors can access VA health care services at the nearby Port Charlotte VA Clinic. For information about VA pensions and benefits, contact the Sarasota Vet Center or County Veterans Services. 

Port Charlotte Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
4161 Tamiami Trail, Suite 401, Port Charlotte, FL 33952-9254
(941) 235-2710

Sarasota County Veterans Services
North Port City Hall Office, Room 264
4970 City Hall Boulevard, North Port, FL 34286
(941) 429-7214

Sarasota Vet Center
4801 Swift Road, Suite A, Sarasota, FL 34231
(941) 927-8285