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Safety Harbor, Florida, is a small city of around 17,000 residents on the western end of Tampa Bay with 21.6% of its population are seniors aged 65 and older. Safety Harbor is near many of the beautiful beaches in the Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg area and many entertainment venues, professional sports teams and museums. Safety Harbor is a wonderful location for snowbirds from the north. While its cost-of-living is slightly above the national average, it scores a 9.1/10 for the winter months on the Best places comfort index, making it one of the most enjoyable places to spend the winter in Florida.
Many snowbirds will decide to stay in the area. Those who require assisted living will find many facilities in the area that charge an average of $3,225 a month for assisted living, according to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2020. Final costs will depend on the facility chosen and the services 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 >
Safety Harbor’s average monthly assisted living cost of $3,225 is $475 a month less expensive than the state average of $3,700 a month and significantly lower than the national average of $4,300 a month. Regionally, Alabama has the lowest cost at $3,105 a month, while Georgia is $200 cheaper at $3,500. South Carolina is approximately $200 more expensive at $3,988 a month.
Safety Harbor offers one of the lowest costs of assisted living in Florida. Orlando is roughly $500 a month more at $3,700. Punta Gorda is approximately $700 more expensive at $3,938. Ocala averages $4,000 a month, while Sebastian is roughly $1,300 more expensive at $4,500.
Note: Data for Safety Harbor was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Tampa, was used instead.
Seniors in Florida cannot use Medicaid to cover assisted living costs directly. However, eligible seniors can use Florida’s Long-Term Care Waiver to help cover some of the costs of activities of daily living (ADL) such as grooming, mobility, eating and bathing.
If you would like to learn more about the financial assistance available for seniors, visit our Assisted Living in Florida state page.
| Contact | Description | |
| Florida Ombudsman Program | (888) 831-0404 | If a senior or a caregiver has a complaint about their treatment in a long-term care facility, such as assisted living, they can contact the Florida Ombudsman Program. The program’s volunteer ombudsmen advocate for seniors in disputes with facilities. The ombudsmen investigate the alleged complaint, and after their investigation is complete, work to resolve the issue between the senior and the facility. The ombudsmen conduct outreach to the larger community to educate residents about the rights enjoyed by seniors in LTC facilities, such as the right to privacy, the right to know about their medical treatment and the right to be treated with dignity and respect. |
| Florida Elder Law | (888) 895-7873 | If an older Floridian needs to make a will or wants to designate power of attorney to a spouse or another family member, they often lack the income to hire an attorney. Fortunately, seniors aged 60 and older can use the services of the Florida Elder Law Project to help them in these areas. The volunteer attorneys can help seniors with health care issues, deal with abuse or neglect, power of attorney, advanced directives, wills, and issues within assisted living facilities. The project cannot help seniors with criminal law, divorce or personal injury lawsuits. Seniors who want to arrange a meeting with a project attorney should call to schedule an appointment. |
| Florida SHINE | (800) 963-5337 | If seniors eligible for Medicare or caregivers would like to understand their health care options more clearly, they should contact a counselor at Florida SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders). SHINE counselors offer free, unbiased and confidential advice about Medicare options like Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage Programs, Part D Prescription Drug Plans, Medigap, and Long-Term Care Insurance. Counselors can also help seniors find financial assistance for prescription drug plans and sections of Medicare. |
| Area Agency on Aging (AAA) of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. | (727) 570-9696 | The local Area Agency on Aging provides many free resources to seniors. The agency connects seniors to organizations that offer free transportation to medical appointments and other important events. The agency advises seniors on Medicare benefits and how to prevent senior fraud. The agency also operates numerous senior centers that offer activities, special events, meals and trips for seniors. |
| Pinellas County Senior Connections | (727) 464-4200 | Senior Connections provides links to resources in the community, such as property tax exemptions for older residents. Instructions on applying for counts on the county’s beach parking permits are available as are instructions on applying for a prescription drug discount card. You’ll also find links on how seniors can prepare for emergency preparedness in the case of a hurricane or other natural disaster. |
Assisted living facilities in Florida are regulated by the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration. The agency conducts periodic audits to ensure these facilities maintain regulatory standards.
If you want to know more about these rules and regulations, visit our Assisted Living in Florida state page.
