Sarasota, Florida, is one of the most highly sought-after retirement cities in the United States. Warmth, culture, and a historically fortunate geography during hurricane season are just a few of the reasons why so many people over 65 dream of moving to Sarasota. Also known as the Crystal City, Sarasota is home to the world-famous Siesta Key Beach and punches above its weight when it comes to senior living, outdoor activities, and culture.
Memory care is the fasting growing senior care type in Sarasota County. Over 37% of the city’s population is over 65, and many of these seniors need memory care or will begin needing memory care in the next few years. A Place for Mom partners with 25 memory care communities within a 10-mile radius of downtown Sarasota.
In this guide, you’ll find local data about memory care costs, how to pay, Florida memory care regulations, and a deep dive into what living in Sarasota’s memory care communities is really like.
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On average, families paid $4,497 a month total for their memory care costs in Sarasota at our 25 partner communities.[02] This amount includes the following:
Memory care tends to cost more than assisted living, regardless of location. Memory care requires more staff training and specialized design features, such as wander-proof security systems. This, paired with the need for round-the-clock supervision, means memory care is more expensive than most other care types, with the exception of skilled nursing care.
Housing costs 22% more in Sarasota than it does in other parts of Florida, on average.[03] Sarasota has a reputation for glamour, and it has plenty of high-end neighborhoods where most of the mansions are residents’ second homes. Sarasota is still more affordable than Miami.
However, the cost of memory care in Sarasota is at or below national averages. Seniors pay less for memory care in Sarasota than in places like Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia; and Asheville, North Carolina, according to our proprietary data.
Florida can be a haven for some seniors who move there to avoid state income tax. Florida also doesn’t tax income from Social Security or pensions, and it doesn’t have an estate or inheritance tax.
Many seniors are also interested in moving to Florida because of the high quality of their nursing homes. Medicaid-approved nursing homes are covered by Florida Medicaid, making Florida a very friendly state to seniors who know they’ll need this type of care in the future.
Most people try to pay for as much of their loved one’s memory care as possible with Medicaid, Medicare, and other benefits. However, most people need to supplement these methods with some savings or other personal income. In this section, you’ll find an overview of how to pay for memory care in Sarasota, including private payment methods, veterans benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare.
While you may be able to cover aspects of memory care using other means — such as Medicaid or pensions — you’ll likely have to pay for some of your loved one’s memory care yourself. Because memory care is more expensive than other care types, you may want to make a payment plan early. Whether you choose to rely on your loved one’s retirement account, your own savings, or other income sources, it’s possible to keep the right memory care community within reach with careful planning.
Discover how to leverage your financial assets to pay for memory care by reading the articles below.
Number of veterans who live in Sarasota, Florida
About 78% of Sarasota veterans are 65+.
In Sarasota, about 78% of the city’s veterans are over 65, meaning senior veterans and their families will find a welcoming community.[04] Sarasota’s County Department for Veterans Services connects local veterans with helpful resources and compassionate advice.
You may be able to pay for some of your loved one’s memory care using veterans benefits. Benefits like the VA pension and the Aid and Attendance benefit can be used to pay for anything that improves a veteran’s quality of life, which includes any expenses related to memory care. Other veterans benefits can only be used to pay for specific expenses, such as care needs.
It can be a challenge to understand which benefits you or your loved one are eligible for because each benefit has different eligibility criteria. Some criteria include how long or in which war the veteran served, or health requirements. Other benefits include family members and caretakers. Even veterans or loved ones with a strong grasp of veterans benefits may need assistance to apply. You may want to reach out to a local benefits counselor who can help you determine the right benefits and help you apply.
Veterans in Sarasota can access expert veterans benefits counseling from the state and local county organizations. The Sarasota Vet Center also offers mental health counseling to local veterans.
You can reach out to all of these benefits counselors on behalf of your loved one.
Resources for Sarasota veterans
Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs
9500 Bay Pines Blvd., #214
St. Petersburg, FL 33708
Phone: 727-316-7440
Email: VSO@fdva.state.fl.us
Virtual benefits counseling
Sarasota County Department for Veterans Services
2200 Ringling Blvd., Suite 125
Sarasota, FL 34237
Phone: 941-861-3024
Email: veterans@scgov.net
Benefit seminar request form
Sarasota Vet Center
4801 Swift Road
Sarasota, FL 34231
Phone: 941-927-8285
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3233
124 S. Tuttle Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34237
Phone: 941-365-1918
Disabled American Veterans Chapter 97
7177 Bee Ridge Road
Sarasota, FL 34241
Phone: 727-319-7444
A state-run health insurance plan for low-income individuals, Florida Medicaid may cover some of your loved one’s memory care expenses. The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) runs Florida’s Medicaid program.
Your loved one may be eligible for one of these two different health insurance plans:
Florida Medicaid’s SMMC LTC plan covers the following:
The SMMC LTC plan covers rent and meals for seniors who meet the following requirements:
Seniors who live in a memory care facility that isn’t Medicaid-approved may be able to pay for some of their personal or medical care using the SMMC LTC plan, but they won’t be able to use the plan to cover their rent or meals.
Additionally, seniors who become eligible for the SMMC LTC plan while living in their community may be placed on a waitlist to receive rent and meals assistance through the SMMC LTCs.
Seniors should meet the following criteria to be eligible for Florida Medicaid’s SMMC LTC plan:
If you’re unsure if your loved one qualifies for Florida Medicaid’s SMMC LTC Plan, or if you’re unsure if the SMMC LTC plan will cover your loved one’s rent or meals in their memory care facility, reach out to one of the resources below.
While A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with Medicaid-approved memory care facilities, you can still reach out to these experts to help you navigate your loved one’s Medicaid benefits:
Some seniors would rather receive their memory care from home. Home and community based services waivers (also called HCBS waivers) may be able to help your loved one afford home care services. There are a few things you should know about HCBS waivers in Sarasota, Florida:
Sarasota resident Medicaid resources
Florida Medicaid
2727 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 866-762-2237
Apply for Florida Medicaid, MMA plan
Department of Elder Affairs for the State of Florida
Phone: 800-963-5337
Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, Inc.
2830 Winkler Ave., Suite. 112
Fort Myers, FL 33816
Phone: 239-762-6900
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people over 65. Most seniors are eligible if they or a spouse have paid Medicare taxes during their career.
While Medicare won’t cover custodial costs, such as rent or meals, it will cover the cost of some procedures, medications, and items. A general rule is that Medicare will cover only medically necessary and short-term medical costs.
Short-term medical expenses include hospital stays under 20 days, prescription medications, and procedures. Short-term may also include recurring expenses for procedures, such as dialysis. Medically necessary expenses vary from person to person. A physician and representatives from Medicare should agree that the expense is medically necessary before Medicare will agree to cover it.
You can get a sense of what types of items, procedures, medications, and tests Medicare covers by using the Medicare coverage tool.
Medicare may cover some costs incurred while in a memory care facility. For example, if a senior has a medically necessary procedure, such as an appendectomy, Medicare may cover it. Medicare may even pay for rehabilitation or recovery while a patient is in a skilled nursing facility or wing. However, Medicare will not pay for a senior’s rent, meals, or personal care in a memory care facility.
Some seniors may be eligible for Medicare Savings Programs, which help cover the costs of Medicare premiums. Medicare Savings Programs have local income limits for eligibility. To be eligible for the programs, seniors in Sarasota can make no more than $1,549 a month. You can find more information about these programs, including how to apply, on the Medicare website.
You may want some extra help when applying for a loved one’s Medicare coverage. The following organizations can help you understand your loved one’s Medicare benefits, and they can help you apply. These organizations offer Medicare benefits counseling at no cost to you or your family.
Sarasota Medicare resources
SSA office — Sarasota
2001 Siesta Drive
Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: 800-772-1213
Your loved one will receive expert care from compassionate caregivers in Sarasota’s memory care communities. Florida memory care communities are held to high standards by the Bureau of Health Facilities Regulation. The bureau licenses memory care communities as a type of assisted living facility, so they go through the same regulatory procedures as all other assisted living facilities in Florida.
Memory care facilities are a subset of assisted living facilities in Florida, so they follow the same standards and requirements as all assisted living facilities. Florida’s Residential Care and Assisted Living Policy explains the foundational standards that assisted living facilities must follow:
Even though the Bureau of Health Facilities Regulation doesn’t offer specific licenses for memory care facilities, they do outline additional requirements for any facilities that offer memory care. If a community offers memory care services, they must meet these standards:
In addition to the regular training at assisted living facilities, caregivers and administrators at memory care facilities should undergo the following trainings:
Prior to opening, memory care facilities in Sarasota undergo an initial inspection. After the initial inspection, memory care facilities then go through an inspection every two years. Inspection results are all public, and you can find them on the Florida Health Finder portal. You can search by location or care type.
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
2727 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 888-419-3456
Feedback form
Bureau of Health Facility Regulation
Florida doesn’t enforce masking, vaccine, or quarantine policies for memory care facilities. Instead, Florida provides recommendations for quarantine and cleanliness in the event of an outbreak. Visitors are allowed in any Floridian memory care facility regardless of vaccination status. Sarasota provides vaccination sites, testing centers, and local updates about COVID-19 on the Sarasota COVID-19 FAQ page.
Facility cleanliness. High-use areas are regularly disinfected in Sarasota memory care facilities.
Staff safety. Caregiving staff members go through a 4-hour training course on senior care and disease prevention.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Memory care facilities in Sarasota follow all CDC guidelines.
Memory care is the fastest-growing type of senior care in Sarasota. While the city may have the reputation as a young retiree’s paradise, it also attracts older adults who need the personalized help of professionals at an assisted living or memory care facility.
Standards and demand for memory care facilities tend to be high in Sarasota. Memory care communities are often newer than other care types in Sarasota because of an increased demand in recent years. State-of-the-art design, secure grounds, and highly trained staff are the norm for Sarasota facilities offering care for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.
In Florida, memory care facilities are licensed as a type of assisted living community. Because of this, most memory care facilities in Sarasota are attached to assisted living facilities or are part of facilities with multiple levels of care. This means residents’ needs range from basic activities of daily living (ADL) assistance to round-the-clock memory care, and different areas of the facility accommodate those needs accordingly.
Multilevel care facilities in Sarasota tend to be large, with 100 or more residents. These large facilities have more amenities, such as gyms, craft rooms, and pools, which may not be available to residents of the memory care wing.
Some residents move into a memory care wing from another care type within their multilevel care facility, which can be an easier transition. Staff members often work throughout the facility, which means residents may enjoy a level of familiarity with their caregivers. Moving to a memory care wing in a multilevel care facility can also mean an added level of care continuity. Families can also have increased peace of mind by having an established relationship with the staff.
Sarasota has an increasing number of facilities that only offer memory care. These are smaller, with up to 50 residents, and they’re newer. Most have been built within the last 10 years, and it shows in the details. Stand-alone memory care facilities in Sarasota are more likely to have research-backed design features, such as the village model and circular hallways. They may also provide more extensive memory care training for their staff members. Because these facilities are often newer, they’re more expensive and many have waiting lists.
Seniors living in Sarasota’s memory care facilities live in private or shared rooms, eat in communal dining areas, and spend their time in common areas like the library, game rooms, or on walking paths. Real estate is in high demand in Sarasota, so rooms tend to be smaller than in other areas in Florida. However, many have views of palm trees and glowing beaches.
Activity coordinators organize daily games and social events to keep residents active and engaged. Crafts, singalongs, and reminiscence activities are some of the most common, but some communities go high-tech by using virtual reality.
Memory care in Sarasota is more expensive than in most other Florida cities, so some families choose to place their loved one in the surrounding communities. Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton are two of the most popular communities. Lakewood Ranch is inland from Sarasota and tends to have young families and seniors. Bradenton is just north of Sarasota, and about 25% of its population is above 65.[06]
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Number of seniors over the age of 65 currently living in Sarasota, Florida
Many memory care facilities in Sarasota are paired with on-site skilled nursing facilities. While these can’t take the place of a hospital for an invasive procedure or more serious illnesses, they can help seniors who need to recover from a procedure or illness.
For a city with a population of 54,764, Sarasota has a high concentration of health care facilities.[01] This is largely due to the many seniors who call Sarasota home. Sarasota’s health care facilities are evenly spread throughout the city, and because Sarasota is only about 24 square miles across, medical care is never far away.
With 895 beds, Sarasota Memorial Hospital is the largest public hospital in Sarasota. It’s operated by the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, and it offers every specialty, including robust programs in geriatrics and neurology. This hospital has six different locations across Southwest Florida, but it’s based in Sarasota.
1700 S. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL, 34239
Phone: 941-917-9000
An award-winning acute care hospital, the HCA Florida Blake Hospital specializes in trauma. This includes emergency medicine, burn care, strokes, heart heath, and orthopedics. It’s technically in Bradenton, but it serves all of Sarasota County.
2020 W. 59th St.
Bradenton, FL 34209
Phone: 941-792-6611
The Roskamp Clinic is a research institute and clinic specializing in memory disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other kinds of dementia. Expert physicians and researchers study the causes of dementia and attempt to find ways to limit memory loss and other effects. The clinic offers comprehensive exams and treatments to local seniors with memory loss.
2040 Whitfield Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34243
Phone: 941-256-8019
Public transportation alone isn’t the best way for seniors with dementia to get around. Thankfully, most memory care facilities in Sarasota offer complimentary transportation to and from appointments. Most of these facilities also provide a caregiver escort during the ride. Additionally, Florida Medicaid provides transportation from medical appointments.
Visiting family and friends can take advantage of Sarasota County’s public transportation system, Breeze (formerly known as The Sarasota County Transit System, or SCAT). Breeze offers affordable bus rides to most areas around Sarasota County, including Siesta Key.
Breeze also provides OnDemand, which is a pick-up and drop-off service for people with disabilities, including seniors with memory loss. You can find route and fee information on the Breeze website.
Beautiful weather, accessible museums, and world-renowned beaches make Sarasota a friendly place for seniors with memory loss. While seniors with memory loss shouldn’t engage in any of these activities unsupervised, they all provide invaluable social and cognitive stimulation. And more importantly, they’re fun. Read on to discover the best activities for seniors with memory loss in Sarasota.
All of A Place for Mom’s partnering memory care communities have a dedicated on-staff activity director whose job is to keep seniors active and engaged.[02] Reminiscence activities are the norm, such as singalongs to hits from the past. Some communities even use virtual reality to help seniors relive moments from their past. Brain games, like checkers, are also popular.
Sarasota’s Senior Friendship Centers are the city’s one-stop shop for daily activities and social events. With a membership, seniors can access all the amenities and activities at the center, including the library, computer room, kitchen, and gym. The center organizes educational events, social hours, and a daily lunch that’s free to members.
The Senior Friendship Center in Sarasota also provides adult day care services for seniors with memory loss. Caregivers can register to participate in adult day care on the Senior Friendship Center website. Membership to the center is $125 each year per senior. You can learn more about what membership includes and how to pay on the Senior Friendship Center website.
The most famous attraction in Sarasota is Siesta Key Beach. Known for its bright white sand and clear water, Siesta Key Beach remains an accessible day trip for seniors with memory loss and their loved ones. The beach is one of the few in the area with lifeguards, and seniors can request a sand wheelchair at no cost at one of the lifeguard stations. Siesta Key Beach is large, so you’ll likely find plenty of space.
If you want something a little different, you can head to other local beaches. Lido Beach, Caspersen Beach, and Longboat Key Beach each offer a slightly different feel, but all are safe and relatively large. Note that these beaches may not employ lifeguards.
More than just a museum, The Ringling Museum houses two circus museums, the fanciful Cà d’Zan mansion, the State Art Museum of Florida, the Bayfront Gardens, and the Asolo Theater. Spread over expansive grounds, the museum started as an homage to the circus traditions of Sarasota helmed by John Ringling.
For seniors with memory loss, an entire day spent in the museum may be overwhelming, so you may want to consider buying a membership and exploring the museum for a shorter time over a few days. Seniors can ask for a discount at the door.
Nature is often the best medicine. Enjoy some fresh air at Celery Fields, considered one of the area’s premier birding destinations according to the Sarasota Audubon Society. The Celery Fields are the region’s storm water collection zone, but they’re mostly known as an exceptional picnic area. With 100 acres of restored wetlands and shaded picnic areas, the fields make a wonderful afternoon activity for seniors of all abilities.
The Sarasota Classic Car Museum is an ideal place for seniors to reminisce. Although the museum has a range of historic models, most notable is its collection of celebrity vehicles. Within its collection are Paul McCartney’s Mini Cooper and John Lennon’s Mercedes Benz. Traveling exhibitions, such as The Automotive Art of Ferdinand Porsche and Enzo Ferrari, regularly cycle through the museum.
Visitsarasota.com is a great resource for weekly activities in and around Sarasota. It publishes updated information about events, sales, and weather conditions. You can find information about social events, farmers markets, and more.
Bayshore Guest Home and Gardens, Grand Villa of Sarasota and The Windsor of Bradenton are the top-rated Memory Care facilities near Sarasota, FL. These Memory Care facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Memory Care in Sarasota is $4,588 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
The 74 memory care facilities near you in Sarasota, Florida typically provide housing, therapies, and care tailored to those who have Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. To find memory care in Sarasota, Florida, browse our detailed listings showing photos, floor plans, amenities, activities, and reviews from real families.
Browse A Place for Mom’s listings for memory care in Sarasota, Florida, to take a virtual tour. Our local senior living experts can arrange for a live tour of these communities as well.
The cost of memory care facilities in Sarasota, Florida ranges from $595 to $10550. The average Memory Care cost in Sarasota, Florida is $4,588. Prices often vary based on care provided, amenities, unit size, and more.
The cost of memory care in Sarasota, Florida typically starts at $595. A Place for Mom’s local, expert senior living advisors can help you find affordable memory care facilities near you and offer advice on how to lower costs and pay for care with VA benefits or public payment options.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and sex (S0101): Sarasota city [Data set]. American Community Survey.
A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Rentcafe.com. (2022). Cost of living in Sarasota, FL.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101): Sarasota city [Data set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and sex (S0101): Bradenton city [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Florida Department of Health. (2020). Probable Alzheimer’s cases (aged 65 years and older) [Data set]. FL Health Charts.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and sex (S0101): Sarasota city [Data set]. American Community Survey.
A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Rentcafe.com. (2022). Cost of living in Sarasota, FL.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101): Sarasota city [Data set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and sex (S0101): Bradenton city [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Florida Department of Health. (2020). Probable Alzheimer’s cases (aged 65 years and older) [Data set]. FL Health Charts.