22 Assisted Living Communities in Saint Johns County, Florida

The average cost of assisted living in the county is $4,425 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 22 Assisted Living Communities in Saint Johns County and several in surrounding areas.

• Assisted living: $4,425
• Nursing home semiprivate room: $7,118
• In-home care: $3,670
• Adult day health services: $2,080

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, the average cost of assisted living in Saint Johns County is higher than both the state average ($3,500) and national average ($4,000). The price of assisted living here is comparable to Tallahassee ($4,339) and Homosassa Springs ($4,125) and significantly higher than Orlando ($3,275), Tampa ($3,250) and Lakeland ($2,808).

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

Senior care costs are largely based on the type of care, the number of direct service hours and the overall cost of living in a particular location. In Saint Johns County, the cost of nursing home care in a semiprivate room is nearly double the price of assisted living. In-home senior care options such as a homemaker are less expensive than assisted living while the price of a home health aide is comparable to assisted living.  It’s important to note that residential senior care services usually include room and board, while expenses such as food, home maintenance and utilities are not included with in-home senior care prices.  Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $4,425

• Homemaker services: $3,670

• Home health aide: $4,290

• Adult day health: $2,080

• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $7,118

Medicaid is a nationwide health insurance program that provides limited health coverage to Americans who have both a low income and minimal assets. Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal and state governments, and in Florida, Medicaid is administered by the Agency for Health Care Administration, a branch of the Florida Department of Children and Families. 

Seniors who are permanent residents of Florida may qualify for free Medicaid coverage if they have an income of less than $2,313 a month as a single applicant and under $4,626 when applying as a couple. Income from all sources must be counted, including pensions, investment interest, alimony and wages. 

To qualify, Medicaid also requires that individual seniors have less than $2,000 in countable assets ($3,000 for a couple). Assets include all cash, bank account balances, stocks, bonds and investment real estate. Exempt assets include non-revocable burial trusts, clothing, household furnishings, one vehicle and a home used as a primary residence for the applicant and valued at $585,000 or less. 

Florida seniors aged 65 and older who meet the criteria for Medicaid coverage and require the type of care normally provided in a nursing home may be eligible for additional support services through the Florida Statewide Medicaid Managed Care, Long-Term Care Program. This program helps prevent or delay nursing home placement among Florida seniors by providing medically necessary services in an assisted living setting. 

As per federal law, eligibility for the SMMC LTC program is determined by the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services preadmission screening program. A designated CARES assessor evaluates each applicant’s needs, and a registered nurse or physician reviews the assessment and recommends services. 

If approved for the SMMC LTC program, services may include: 

• Adult day health services
• Attendant and personal care
• Homemaker
• Medication administration and management
• Medical supplies and equipment
• Intermittent and skilled nursing
• Occupational, physical, speech and respiratory therapy

For more information on Florida Medicaid for seniors and the SMMC LTC program, contact the Saint Johns County Elder Helpline at (888) 242-4464 or the Agency for Health Care Administration at (877) 711-3662. 

Optional State Supplementation 

Low-income Florida seniors who are 65 or older, qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits and cannot live independently due to illness, disability or age-related deterioration may be eligible for financial assistance toward the room-and-board portion of assisted living costs through the Florida Optional State Supplementation program.

This SSI top-up provides up to $78.40 for an individual and up to $156.80 for a couple receiving SSI payments and residing in an assisted living facility. Note that OSS cannot be combined with Medicaid benefits for assisted living. 

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

Assisted Living Bridge Loans

Elderlife Financial Services offers short-term assisted living bridge loans for seniors who need funds to facilitate a move into an assisted living facility.  

These loans are available in terms of up to 12 months, require no up-front application fees and are funded as either a lump sum or a line of credit. Loan applications can be made over the phone, and a response is usually provided within 24 hours. 

Assisted living bridge loans may be ideal for seniors who need funds for care while they are waiting for benefit approval or need to sell their home to finance their care. 

For more information on assisted living bridge loans contact Elderlife Financial at (888) 228-4500. 

Veterans Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits

Veterans and their survivors who qualify for a regular VA pension and are either housebound or need daily assistance from another person may be eligible for benefits through the Aid and Attendance and Housebound program. 

Under the Aid and Attendance program, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria: 

• Be bedridden

• Need daily assistance from a caregiver to complete at least one activity of daily living such as feeding, dressing, bathing, toileting or adjusting a prosthetic device

• Have concentric contraction of the visual field that measures 5 or fewer degrees

• Have corrected vision in both eyes of 5/200 or worse

• Reside in a nursing home to access care for a mental or physical impairment 

Under the Housebound pension top-up program, applicants must have a VA disability rating of 100 percent and be largely housebound as a result of their disability. Note that applicants who already receive a VA disability pension are ineligible for these benefits, and benefits from Aid and Attendance cannot be combined with Housebound benefits. 

For more information about the VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits, contact the Jacksonville Vet Center at (904) 399-8351. 

Veterans can access VA health care services at the St. Augustine Community Based Outpatient Clinic. Both the Jacksonville Vet Center and the Saint Johns County Veterans Services Office provide information about VA pensions, benefits and services. The county is also home to an active American Legion Post where veterans can share camaraderie and access community services. 

St. Augustine Community Based Outpatient Clinic
195 Southpark Boulevard, Saint Augustine, FL 32086-5134
(904) 829-0814

Jacksonville Vet Center
3728 Phillips Highway, Suite 31, Jacksonville, FL 32207
(904) 399-8351

Saint Johns County Veterans Services Office
200 San Sebastian View, Suite 1400, St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 209-6160

Alton Green Memorial Post 194
1029 West Pearl Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 829-8189

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