10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in St Petersburg, FL

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.

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 contact information

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.

COVID-19 regulations for St. Petersburg assisted living facilities

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.

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.

Setups with high access and low stress

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.

Opportunities to build a strong social network

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.

Options for every level of care and stage of life

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.

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.