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Nestled along the Atlantic Ocean just south of the Florida-Georgia state line, Fernandina Beach is a small waterfront city situated on Amelia Island, which is connected to the mainland via two scenic bridges. Fernandina Beach is also the seat of Nassau County, the northeasternmost county in Florida, which is part of the Jacksonville metro area. Approximately one-third of the city’s 13,169 residents are seniors aged 65 and older, who may be drawn here by the exceptionally warm and sunny year-round climate that makes it easy for retirees to enjoy the area’s many beaches, fishing piers and parks.
Genworth’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey shows that the average cost of assisted living care in Fernandina Beach is $4,150 per month, although actual rates are facility-dependent based on the location and amenities offered.
Hundreds of thousands of American seniors utilize assisted living, a figure that is only growing. For these seniors, assisted living combines residential housing,assistance in daily activities, and some healthcare. These communities also strive to provide an atmosphere that is comfortable and engaging for their residents… Read More >
In Fernandina Beach, assisted living costs about $4,150 per month, which is higher than Florida’s statewide average rate of $3,700, but $150 below the nationwide average of $4,300. Rates are lower in neighboring Alabama, where seniors pay around $3,150 per month, and in Georgia, where the statewide average is $3,500.
Rates for assisted living vary widely throughout Florida. In Tampa, assisted living communities charge an average of $3,225 per month, while across the state in Miami, rates run around $3,500. Orlando’s rate matches the statewide average of $3,700, while costs in Cape Coral ($4,500), Port St. Lucie ($4,399) and Gainesville ($4,571) are higher. The capital of Tallahassee ranks as one of the costliest cities in Florida for assisted living care, with an average rate of $5,506.
Note: Data for Fernandina Beach was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Jacksonville, was used instead.
Seniors in Fernandina Beach who need help covering their assisted living costs may be eligible for enrollment in the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-term Care Program. This Florida Medicaid nursing home diversion program helps prevent the institutionalization of frail seniors by providing additional funding for personal care services and other supports in assisted living facilities.
Learn more about this Medicaid program, plus who’s eligible, on our Assisted Living in Florida page.
| Contact | Description | |
| ElderSource – Area Agency on Aging and Disability Resource Center of Northeast Florida | (888) 242-4464 | ElderSource is the federally mandated Area Agency on Aging for the greater Jacksonville area. Seniors and their caregivers can call ElderSource to learn about local, state and federal resources, including Medicaid counseling, long-term care planning and assistance with legal issues related to aging. |
| Janice Ancrum Senior Life Center | (904) 261-0701 | The Nassau County Council on Aging operates the Janice Ancrum Senior Life Center in Fernandina Beach, a large multipurpose community center for seniors aged 60 and older. Programming at the center includes fitness, crafting and cooking classes; organized games; music lessons; preventive health screening clinics and holiday celebrations. |
| Nassau County Veterans’ Service Office | (904) 548-4670 | The Nassau County Veterans’ Service Office provides free assistance to veterans, survivors and dependents. VSO staff can help veterans apply for the VA Aid and Attendance enhanced pension program that beneficiaries can use to help cover assisted living costs. |
| Jacksonville Area Legal Aid – Elder Law | (904) 356-8371 | Jackson Area Legal Aid is a nonprofit law firm that provides free and low-cost legal information and representation to eligible seniors. The firm operates a dedicated Elder Law program to help low-income seniors prepare their advanced health care directives and wills. Lawyers from JALA can also assist with other civil matters, such as access to public benefits, consumer fraud and elder abuse. |
| NassauTRANSIT | (904) 261-0700 | NassuaTRANSIT is the regional public transit and paratransit provider for Nassau County. Local transit service is available within Fernandina Beach Monday through Friday, while the island-wide Island Hopper offers hop-on, hop-off service throughout the northern section of Amelia Island every Thursday through Monday. There’s also a weekday express bus that travels between Nassau County and downtown Jacksonville, and seniors with disabilities can apply for door-to-door paratransit service. |
Assisted living communities in Fernandina Beach are regulated by the state and must comply with a number of laws related to resident care. To learn more about these laws, visit our Assisted Living in Florida page.
