Florida has long been considered a retirement destination, and it is easy to see why. The weather is warm, the beach is close, and sunshine reigns more days than not.
Those looking to move to a lower-maintenance and lower-stress phase of their life might be considering assisted living. Most assisted living residents have on-site doctors, rehabilitation services, and daily task assistance at their disposal. As far as assisted living goes, picking a facility in a city nicknamed The Sunshine City is a pretty good place to be. Whether you want to relax on the beach or experience a light show, St. Petersburg has plenty to offer. Within a 10-mile radius of downtown St. Petersburg, which includes communities like Sunset Beach and Pasadena, you will find 30 partner A Place For Mom assisted living facilities.
Assisted living offers services that can be a great benefit to seniors, and these communities also provide access to other things that can be a boon for easier living. For starters, you will be surrounded by peers who are largely in the same phase of life. Assisted living facilities also offer group activities and outings so you are getting the best of both on-site living and off-site excursions.
This guide will tell you everything that you need to know about assisted living in St. Petersburg, Florida. You will learn about activities and attractions, how to pay for assisted living in St. Petersburg, the different types of facilities available, and laws and regulations.
On behalf of our family, I want to say a bigger than big "thank you" to all the LSS staff family for the outstanding, "above and beyond the call" service during the last few weeks. From her transition to...
My loved one is currently a resident at The Villas of Casa Celeste and everything has been very good for her at this facility so far. The sales lady, [name removed], is amazing. They have been wonderful to...
I googled the Vineyard Inn to send to another family. I saw you only put three stars, as a physical therapist and now daughter of somebody who is staying there I must stay it rates much higher!.. there are...
They have a game room, books to read, movies to watch, and special events that they do once or twice a week. Very friendly staff! She is allowed to have her dog there, so that is a plus. She is in...
I cannot say enough positive comments about this facility. Having a family member transition is always hard on both the one changing from independent assisted living to memory care assisted living. The staff...
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders St Petersburg community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
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According to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data, the average actual cost of assisted living in St. Petersburg, Florida, is $3,930.[01] This average includes any associated fees and service fee add-ons. This includes a variety of floor plans and services offered, and it’s important to note that there are several variables that determine the cost of assisted living.
The following chart represents a baseline cost for assisted living in St. Petersburg and does not include add-on fees.
This section will tell you everything you need to know about paying for assisted living in St. Petersburg, Florida. Here you will learn about private pay options, VA benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare. This section will help you connect with resources that may be able to help you pay for assisted living in St. Petersburg.
Those looking to find assisted living in St. Petersburg, Florida, can use several different methods of private pay to cover the cost of living. Some popular options include personal savings, retirement funds, pensions, investments, or Social Security benefits. Other forms of private pay that can help cover the cost of living are as follows:
Number of veterans who live in St. Petersburg
About 22% of St. Petersburg veterans are 75+
Veterans who need daily assistance for daily activities, have a significant vision impairment, or already live in a long-term care facility may be eligible for benefits that can pay for the cost of assisted living. The most notable of these benefits is the VA Aid and Attendance benefit. Contacting VA-vetted and -recognized resources is an excellent first step — whether you think you qualify or not — to ensure you can take advantage of all benefits you’re eligible for.
Experienced veterans services officers can help veterans through the application process and gain access to important benefits; this also includes the VA Pension. Pinellas County — of which St. Petersburg is a part — offers a veteran and military resource guide to help veterans access benefits. Assistance can also be found at one of the two local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts or at the following veterans services organizations, which are all located within the St. Petersburg Regional VA Office: Disabled American Veterans (DAV), AMVETS, Paralyzed Veterans of America, VFW, and Vietnam Veterans of America.
Additional resources
St. Petersburg Regional VA Office
9500 Bay Pines Blvd.
St. Petersburg, FL 33744
Phone: 800-827-1000
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Post 39
2599 Central Ave. N
St. Petersburg, FL 33713
Phone: 727-327-8109
Email: vfwpost39+ContactUs@gmail.com
Post 4364
5773 62nd St. N
St. Petersburg, FL 33709-1735
Phone: 727-546-5525
Medicaid can cover the costs of assisted living, but the process and coverage vary from state to state; every state has its own Medicaid system, with Florida’s being called State Medicaid Management Care (SMMC). Florida offers a Medicaid guide to help seniors get started.
Florida assisted living residents can get in-home care through the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver system. Those in Florida looking to apply to SMMC can do so through this website or by calling 866-762-2237. The application process can be a bit tough to navigate, so it is recommended that seniors in Florida use the resources available to make the process easier, such as their local ombudsman.
Florida’s Statewide Medicaid Managed Long-Term Care Managed Care (LTCMC) plans cover the costs of assisted living facility care, chore services, nursing care, and medical equipment and supplies for those who qualify. Within the LTCMC plans are two programs: the Long-Term Care (LTC) Managed Care Program and the Managed Medical Assistance (MMA) Program. To qualify for either, assisted living residents need to meet two standards: financial eligibility and having medical necessity to prevent nursing facility placement.[02]
It is important to note that while assisted living facilities can be covered by Florida’s LTCMC plans, each LTCMC plan contracts with its own providers — meaning not all assisted living facilities are covered under every plan. It is vital that seniors choose the plan that covers the facility they want to enter.
Florida’s State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), a Medicare program run by local Medicaid, is called Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE) and offers one-on-one consultations to seniors who need help connecting to resources. The local Area Agency on Aging and long-term care ombudsman can also help seniors get connected with useful benefits.
St. Petersburg resident Medicaid resources
Medicaid Office – St. Petersburg
525 Mirror Lake Drive N, Suite 510
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: 727-552-1900 or 800-299-4844
Fax: 727-552-1216
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Local Area Agency on Aging
9549 Koger Blvd. N
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
Phone: 727-570-9696
Helpline: 800-963-5337
Out-of-area callers: 727-217-8111
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Florida Ombudsman Program
4040 Esplanade Way, Suite 270
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Toll-Free: 800-963-5337
TTD/TTY: 800-955-8770
Email: information@elderaffairs.org
SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders)
4040 Esplanade Way, Suite 270
Tallahassee, FL 32399-7000
Toll-Free: 800-96-ELDER (800-963-5337)
TTD/TTY: 800-955-8770
Fax: 850-414-2150
Email: information@elderaffairs.org
Medicare is a federally run long-term health insurance plan for seniors. While it does not cover assisted living costs in Florida, such as rent, it can help pay for some of the expenses that come with in-home medical care or other medical needs. To apply for Medicare, Floridians will want to go through the Florida ACCESS system or visit their local Department of Children and Families Center.
Medicare Savings Programs in Florida can help qualified seniors cover some Medicare costs like copayments and deductibles, while the Drug Assistance Program can help cut medication costs.
Another Medicare program to utilize is the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP). This program is run through Florida’s Medicaid program but is administered through Medicare. The name of this program in Florida is Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE). The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program can help with costs of medical or holistic care.
Applications for these benefits can be complex, so it’s good to have someone on your side. Your local ombudsman will have plenty of experience going through this process and can help connect you with benefits. You can also connect with your local Social Security office or local Area Agency on Aging for further assistance.
St. Petersburg resident Medicare resources
Florida Department of Children and Families
2415 N. Monroe St., Suite 400
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Phone: 850-487-1111
Customer call center phone: 850-300-4323
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Area Agency On Aging of Pasco-Pinellas
9549 Koger Blvd.
Saint Petersburg, FL 33702
Helpline: 800-963-5337
Office phone: 727-570-9696
Email: info@aaapp.org
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
SHINE
4040 Esplanade Way, Suite 270
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: 800-963-5337
Email: information@elderaffairs.org
St. Petersburg Social Security Office
30 Dr. MLK St. S
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: 800-772-1213
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Prescription Health Program
5501 Fourth St. N
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: 727-327-0333
Hours: Appointment only; please call to schedule
Suncoast PACE (Pinellas County)
6774 102nd Ave.
North Pinellas Park, FL 33782
Phone: 727-289-0062
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Florida’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
4040 Esplanade Way, Suite 380
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: 850-414-2323
Email: LTCOPInformer@elderaffairs.org
Florida Medicare Savings Program
North Pinellas Service Center (Pinellas County)
11351 Ulmerton Road, Suite 130
Largo, FL 33778
Phone: 866-762-2237
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Assisted living facilities in Florida are considered a vital part of long-term care, and because of this, they are required to be licensed by the Bureau of Health Facility Regulation; relicensing occurs every two years.[03] In addition to standard licensure, specialty licenses such as limited nursing services, extended congregate care, and limited mental health services can be acquired by facilities offering specialized care plans.
To become licensed, assisted living facilities must meet standards when it comes to staffing and staff training; for example, the regulations require minimum staff hours per week for different numbers of residents to ensure adequate coverage for residents’ needs. Inspections occur at the time of licensing and also any time that the licensing agency deems an inspection necessary. Inspections assess food safety, physical safety, and biomedical waste. You can find inspections via the Agency for Health Care Administration’s public records.
Assisted living facilities are required to be properly staffed at all times. It is required that at least one staff member with certification in First Aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation be on the premises 24 hours a day.[03] The kitchen staff must also provide meals that meet the nutritional needs of residents, including therapeutic diets ordered by medical providers.
As for residents, there are eligibility restrictions as well. Those who wish to live in assisted living need to be able to perform many of the activities of daily living, cannot need 24-hour assistance, and are able to participate in social or leisure activities. New residents in all Florida assisted living facilities are examined by a licensed nurse within 60 days of moving in. Residents will then be examined monthly thereafter.[03]
Florida Department of Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: 850-245-4444
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
There are currently no regulations for COVID-19 in the state of Florida or in St. Petersburg; however, the city recommends following these Centers for Disease Control guidelines.
Frequent and thorough washing of the hands can help stop the spread of COVID-19. While sneezing or coughing, it is best to cover your sneeze or cough with your arm.
Vaccinations are recommended for seniors in assisted living.
If feeling ill, masks are recommended while indoors.
Regular cleaning of surfaces can help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
There is a wide variety of assisted living options in St. Petersburg, Florida — from sprawling vistas to homelike settings, you can find something that will suit your needs with A Place For Mom’s assisted living partners. These facilities are made to suit you; you will receive the care you need while surrounded by your peers, and many offer everything ranging from arts and crafts to secured premises. Throw in a little sun and close access to a beach, and the setting just gets more appealing.
Assisted living facilities are designed with those who need a little extra help in mind. This means that floor plans look at accessibility as a premium. Wheelchair accessibility can be found at these facilities, alongside elevators, guard rails, and wide doorways. All partner facilities offer 24-hour-awake staff; most offer on-call medical care from doctors, medication management, and visiting medical professionals, including nurses; physical, occupational, and speech therapists; and podiatrists.
Beyond medical care, A Place For Mom’s partner assisted living facilities offer plenty in the way of socializing and activity. Most partner assisted living facilities have an activity director, art classes, day trips and outings, happy hours, live music, and other fun activities. You can go out to eat in downtown St. Petersburg or enjoy a meal right where you stay. A Place For Mom partnered assisted living facilities are designed not only for ease of life, but to provide options as well.
The idea of “aging in place” is a popular concept, and one which A Place For Mom supports across its 30 partner assisted living communities. Five of the partnered A Place For Mom properties in St. Petersburg are standalone assisted living facilities, while there are 11 facilities offering a combination of assisted living and memory care. Five are considered a combination of assisted living and independent living, while six offer care that includes assisted living, independent living, and memory care. This progressive approach is appealing to those seeking care for all stages of life, empowering residents to shift from one type of care to another without having to pack up and move. Three of the partner facilities are considered assisted living/adult day care/memory care. The wide variety of options available in St. Petersburg makes it a good setting for all seniors.
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Number of seniors over the age of 65 currently living in St. Petersburg
Median annual income for St. Petersburg seniors 65 and older
St. Petersburg is a city where you don’t necessarily need to have a car, but it certainly helps to have one. There are walkable areas in the city, but if you are going to need to run errands, you will need some form of transportation. With that being said, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PTSA) can get seniors where they need to be; plus, it offers discounts for people over the age of 65. The PTSA also offers the Disabled Citizen Program, which offers rides at a reduced fare.
Walk Score has assessed St. Petersburg at a walkability score of 43 out of 100, meaning vehicular travel is needed.[05] To get this number, Walk Score takes into account walking routes, public density, biking routes, and public transit. It is important to note that 87% of A Place for Mom’s partner assisted living facilities are located close to public transportation; the same percentage offers complimentary transportation, too.
St. Petersburg, known as “The Sunshine City,” signals that most residents ought to have some fun in the sun while living there. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for outdoorsy folks and cultural aficionados alike.
If you want to get a feel for the nature around you, guided kayak tours at the Shell Key Preserve can be a relaxing day out on the water while seeing splendid flora and fauna. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve offers wonderful camping and hiking, plus it is home to the Lake Maggiore Environmental Education Center, which offers interesting programs. Sawgrass Lake Park is for the birds — no, really! It is the perfect place to go if you are into bird-watching, as thousands of birds migrate there through the fall and the spring.
The Island Sunset and Skywalk light show is a perfect way to end your day as the Skyway Bridge is turned into a large conduit for an impressive light show. Cruises are available for those who prefer the waterway, where dolphin sightings are commonly reported.
Of course, there is plenty to do indoors as well, especially for the artistically minded. Salvador Dalí fans are in for a treat at the Dalí Museum that spans the artist’s entire life and career. If you are into glasswork, the Duncan McClellan Gallery is sure to excite with both outdoor and indoor exhibits — not only that, it’s free. The Morean Arts Center is another free museum that also offers classes to visitors. It’s never too late to become the next Picasso! You can also try your hand at pottery or hone your craft at Charlie Parker Pottery.
The Sunshine Center is another fun place to make some new friends, take fitness classes, or satiate your everlong desire to learn! A senior center hosted by St. Petersburg’s Parks & Recreation Department, it also offers volunteer opportunities and support groups.
Consuelo's Assisted Living Facility, Dorothy Cares ALF, LLC. and Inspired Living at Tampa are the top-rated Assisted Living facilities near St Petersburg, FL. These Assisted Living facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Assisted Living in St Petersburg is $3,751 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
A Place For Mom. (2023.) A Place For Mom proprietary data.
State of Florida | Department of Elder Affairs. {March 2023.) Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program. Elderaffairs.org.
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. (2023). Assisted Living Facility.
U.S. News & World Report. (2022). Bayfront Health St. Petersburg.
Walk Score. (2023). Living in St. Petersburg.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
A Place For Mom. (2023.) A Place For Mom proprietary data.
State of Florida | Department of Elder Affairs. {March 2023.) Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program. Elderaffairs.org.
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. (2023). Assisted Living Facility.
U.S. News & World Report. (2022). Bayfront Health St. Petersburg.
Walk Score. (2023). Living in St. Petersburg.