5 Communities in Winter Garden, Florida

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $3,275 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 5 Assisted Living Communities in Winter Garden and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Winter Garden, FL

• Assisted Living: $3,275
• Nursing Home Care: $8,106
• In-home Care: $4,004
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,300

There is a wide range of prices for senior care across the country, and Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study collected data from thousands of locations nationwide. The study shows that monthly assisted living prices in Winter Garden are lower than the state ($3,500) and national ($4,000) averages. Costs are higher in nearby areas, such as Deltona ($3,850) and The Villages ($5,031), while costs are the same in Ocala ($3,275). To the south, assisted living prices are slightly higher along the coast in Sebastian ($3,524) and Palm Bay ($3,750), while prices are lower to the east in Lakeland ($2,808). 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Winter Garden, so data for the closest city, Orlando, was used. 

Prices for senior care vary based on the type of care, local cost of living and services included. In Winter Garden, nursing home care is by far the most expensive option, costing more than double what assisted living does. In-home care, based on 44 hours of service a week from a home health aide or homemaker, costs about $700 more per month than assisted living.  When considering the different senior care options, it’s important to recognize that in-home care prices are in addition to ongoing expenses, such as food, utilities and home maintenance. By comparison, residential care in an assisted living facility includes room and board. 

 

Medicaid is the nationwide health coverage program for low-income children, adults and seniors. It’s jointly funded by state and federal governments, and in Florida, seniors and those with disabilities make up 29% of Medicaid enrollees statewide. 

To qualify for no-cost Medicaid, seniors must meet strict income and asset limits currently set at $2,313 per month ($4,626 for a couple) and $2,000 ($3,000 per couple) respectively.

Note: Seniors who qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are automatically eligible for basic Medicaid coverage. 

Florida is an income cap state, so seniors are unable to spend down excess income in order to achieve Medicaid eligibility. 

Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program

Medicaid enrollees who meet the criteria for nursing home admission may be eligible for long-term care services while residing in an assisted living facility through the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program. 

This Medicaid waiver program reduces nursing home placement rates among Medicaid recipients by providing a range of medically necessary supports designed to delay or prevent nursing home placement, including:

• Skilled and intermittent nursing
• Medical supplies and durable medical equipment
• Case management
• Home meal delivery
• Physical, occupational and speech therapy
• Medication administration
• Homemaker services
• Transportation assistance
• Personal emergency call system
• Attendant care

As per federal law, all Medicaid enrollees who request Medicaid-funded long-term care services must undergo preplacement screening through the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services program. The CARES assessment may result in a referral to the SMMC LTC program along with specific recommendations regarding support services. 

For more information regarding Florida Medicaid and the SMMC LTC program, contact the Florida Elder Helpline at (800) 963-5337. 

Optional State Supplementation

Low-income seniors aged 65 and older who receive Social Security Income payments and reside in an assisted living facility due to an inability to live on their own may qualify for a SSI monthly top-up through the Optional State Supplementation program. 

Administered by the Florida Department of Children and Families, the OSS uses state funds to provide qualified SSI recipients with additional money for use towards the room-and-board portion of their care. 

Seniors may qualify for up to $78.40 ($156.80/couple). If approved for the OSS, funds are added to monthly SSI payments. 

For more information, contact ACCESS Florida at (866) 762-2237. 

VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Benefits

Qualified veterans and their surviving spouses or children who receive a regular VA pension and are either housebound or severely limited due to a disability or age-related deterioration may be eligible for a higher pension payment through the VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance. 

These programs provide a combined VA pension payment to veterans up to:

• $16,540 under Housebound (without dependents)

• $20,731 under Housebound with one dependent

• $22,577 under Aid and Attendance (without dependents)

• $26,766 under Aid and Attendance (with one dependent) 

To qualify for Aid and Attendance, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria: 

• Have severely impaired vision tested at 5/200 or worse

• Be bedridden due to illness

• Live in a nursing home due to a physical or mental disability

• Need help performing one or more tasks of daily living, such as getting dressed, eating, using the toilet or bathing   

To qualify for the Housebound Allowance, applicants must spend most of their time in their home due to a permanent disability. 

Note: Benefits from these two programs cannot be combined, and veterans on VA disability benefits are excluded. 

For more information and application assistance, contact the Orange County Veterans Service Office at (407) 836-8990. 

The City of Winter Garden Parks and Recreation Department hosts a number of programs geared towards seniors aged 50 and older, including Bocci, chair yoga, duplicate bridge and monthly escorted trips to local restaurants. 

Orange County Community Action operates the Maxey Community Center, which hosts a number of senior social clubs and crafting classes. 

City of Winter Garden – Active 50+ Day Trips and Programming
300 W. Plant St., Winter Garden, FL 34787
(407) 656-4111

Maxey Community Center
830 Klondike St., Winter Garden, FL 34787
(407) 254-1970

For outpatient VA health services, seniors can contact the Clermont VA Clinic, while the Orlando VA Medical Center provides comprehensive emergency, acute and long-term health care services. Assistance with VA benefit claims and appeals is available to veterans and dependents at the Orange County Veterans Service Office. 

Clermont VA Clinic
805 Oakley Seaver Dr., Clermont, FL 34711-1968
(352) 536-8200

Orlando VA Medical Center
13800 Veterans Way, Orlando, FL 32827
(407) 631-1000

Orange County Veterans Service Office
2100 E. Michigan St., Orlando, FL 32806
(407) 836-8990

Seniors can contact Seniors First, a local nonprofit agency, to enroll in the Meals on Wheels program, get help with pet care costs and obtain free secondhand durable medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, walkers and canes. Low-cost, door-to-door wheelchair accessible transportation is available through the ACCESS LYNX program.  Seniors First, Inc.
5395 LB McLeod Rd., Orlando, FL 32811
(407) 292-0177 LYNX
455 N. Garland Ave., Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 841-5969

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