10 Best Nursing Homes in Jacksonville, FL

Most families try to pay for as much of their loved one’s skilled nursing care with public funds as they can before supplementing with private savings or income. While it differs for each individual, you may find that you can pay for more than you expect of your loved one’s skilled nursing care in Jacksonville using Medicaid, Medicare, or veterans benefits. However, you’ll likely need to use some personal savings or income as well.

We know that paying for your loved one’s senior care is one of the most important considerations you face. To help, we’ve compiled these resources that can light a path for you to pay for your loved one’s senior care in Jacksonville.

Florida nursing homes provide some of the best skilled nursing care in the nation. According to a 2018 Kaiser Family Foundation report, Florida is one of only five states that exceed the ideal number of nurses on staff at nursing facilities. In addition, Florida also requires more hours per day of care for each resident in nursing homes than any other state.

This explains why Florida nursing homes tend to be more expensive than the national average. It also explains why Florida nursing home residents see better health outcomes than in most other states. According to a study by U.S. News and World Report, nursing home residents in Florida experience more positive health results, are less likely to be given antipsychotics, and have fewer rehospitalizations and falls than residents of nursing homes in other states.^[04]

Florida state regulations for nursing homes

Florida’s nursing homes are regulated and licensed by the AHCA’s Long Term Care Services Unit. The AHCA conducts unannounced evaluations of nursing homes every 15 months.

You can find a list of every nursing home in Florida with their contact information at FloridaHealthFinder.gov. Select “Locate a Facility of Provider” to find a list of skilled nursing, assisted living, and memory care facilities. Each listing has information about the facility’s capacity, license, history, location, and past violations.

According to the AHCA’s Bureau of Health Facility Regulations, nursing homes in Jacksonville must meet these requirements:

• Guard resident rights to dignity, personal decisions, and communication.
• Allow residents to communicate with people or organizations outside of the community.
• Protect residents’ rights to choose their own physician and health care services.
• Allow residents to maintain their privacy.

Florida nursing homes also need to meet minimum hourly care requirements for each resident, including the following:

• Each resident must receive an average of at least 3.6 hours of care each day.
• A minimum of two of these hours must be from a nursing assistant.
• A minimum of one of these hours must be from a licensed nurse.

Florida’s regulations for other senior care facilities

Other senior care facilities, like assisted living and memory care communities, are also licensed by the AHCA’s Long Term Care Services Unit. These communities keep their licensure by following these guidelines, among others:

• Assisted living and memory care facilities can only accept residents who don’t require 24-hour medical care.
• Facilities must be kept in a clean and livable condition.
• Residents must be given regular meals that accommodate their dietary restrictions.
• If a couple lives in the same community, they should be allowed to live together.
• Families and guardians must be contacted at least every 30 days for updates.

Employees of assisted living and memory care communities need to follow these guidelines:

• All employees of Florida’s assisted living communities receive a background check.
• Site administrators should complete 26 hours of initial training and 12 hours of continuing education every two years about senior care.
• Caregiving staff must complete a care needs training within a month of their hire date.

Federal regulations for nursing homes

Many skilled nursing services can be funded by the federal government through Medicaid and Medicare, so the federal government does have some specific requirements for nursing homes. You can find public report cards for every skilled nursing home or rehabilitation facility in the U.S. on the Medicare provider search tool.

According to the Code of Federal Regulations, nursing homes or skilled nursing units are required to follow these standards:

• Respect residents’ rights to privacy, freedom, and dignity
• Provide a care plan for each resident
• Maintain the quality of life for each resident to the best of their ability

Florida Department of Health contact information

Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) — Long Term Care Services Unit
Brian O. Smith, Manager of Long Term Care Services Unit
2727 Mahan Drive, MS#33
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 805-412-4303
Email: LTCStaff@ahca.myflorida.com

COVID-19 regulations for Jacksonville nursing homes

Florida doesn’t mandate any COVID-19 procedures in Jacksonville nursing homes. However, Florida does set guidelines for all skilled nursing facilities, including a recommendation to mask and quarantine in case of an outbreak. Facilities are able to ask visitors to mask if they’ve chosen that policy themselves, but masking is not mandated by the state. Visitors are allowed to visit at any time, regardless of whether or not they’re vaccinated.

Jacksonville publishes case maps and testing sites on the Jacksonville COVID-19 FAQ page.

Much of Jacksonville’s population growth in the past decade has been from people over 65. Whether they’re following children who moved to Jacksonville for work, were stationed in Jacksonville during their time in the military and wanted to return, or were simply looking for an affordable place in the sun, more and more seniors are calling Jacksonville home.

Most of these seniors end up looking for senior living options, whether in an assisted living facility, memory care community, or nursing home. While A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with traditional nursing homes, your loved one may be a better fit for assisted living or memory care. Nursing homes offer a level of care just below that of a hospital, and most seniors only spend time in a nursing home while recovering from a procedure or an illness. Typically, only people who need round-the-clock medical assistance reside in traditional nursing homes.

That said, A Place for Mom does partner with 18 assisted living and memory care facilities that have skilled nursing wings to serve residents who need extra support.^[01] Of these 18 communities, most are multilevel care communities, while fewer are continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). Both come with different opportunities for senior residents. Learn which type of senior care facility is the best fit for your loved one in Jacksonville, Florida.

Skilled nursing in multilevel care senior living facilities in Jacksonville, FL

The majority of Jacksonville’s skilled nursing wings are in multilevel care facilities, often with assisted living, memory care, and independent living. These are large structures with multiple buildings on sprawling grounds. Skilled nursing wings at these facilities provide the same type of care as traditional stand-alone nursing homes. Nurses and nursing assistants offer wound care and administer injections and IVs. Visiting physical and occupational therapists make sure your loved one is well on their way to recovery. Typically, rooms in these facilities are shared, but you may be able to get a private room for an extra fee.

Skilled nursing care is expensive, and it’s not typically included in your normal fees for assisted living or memory care. Expect to pay a considerable extra amount towards your loved one’s skilled nursing care at these multilevel care facilities if their care isn’t covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or veterans benefits.

Skilled nursing continuing care retirement communities in Jacksonville, FL

Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) look almost identical to other multilevel care senior living facilities. They tend to have a full range of senior living options on one campus, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. The main difference lies in their payment structure.

While in other multilevel care facilities, families pay considerably higher fees for skilled nursing care on top of their other fees for assisted living or memory care, in CCRCs, skilled nursing costs are subsidized by an initial admissions fee. When moving into a CCRC, a resident must pay a large fee, usually between $50,000 and $500,000. This fee covers all future care costs, including very expensive skilled nursing care. Many seniors use the sale of a home to pay their admissions fees.

Assisted living and memory care in Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville’s assisted living and memory care communities are almost entirely in South Jacksonville, away from the busy downtown area and protected from coastal weather patterns. These facilities are designed to make your loved one’s life larger, not smaller. Amenities like pools, language classes, craft rooms, and daily social activities can keep your loved one engaged and happier than ever. Most memory care communities in Jacksonville follow specific, accredited memory care curricula, such as the Montessori Method.

Because Jacksonville is so large — the city sprawls over 840 square miles — its senior living facilities tend to be larger than in other cities. Seniors can expect rooms with plenty of natural light, kitchenettes, and access to beautiful outdoor areas. All of A Place for Mom’s partnering facilities also offer complimentary transportation within 15 miles of the community, so your loved one will be able to get to all of their appointments. Dining is almost always restaurant-style in communal dining rooms, and communities are required to accommodate their residents’ dietary needs.

Health care for seniors in Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville is home to main campuses for both the Mayo Clinic and the Baptist Medical Group. Seniors can expect most health care options to be conveniently located in South Jacksonville, where the majority of our partnering senior living options are located. While nursing home residents will receive their health care from their senior living facility, for serious procedures or other health care needs, exceptional hospital systems and geriatric providers are never far away.

Transportation for seniors in Jacksonville, FL

All of A Place for Mom’s partnering assisted living and memory care facilities offer transportation services, either at no cost or for a small fee. Residents won’t need to worry about driving themselves or taking public transportation to make an appointment. However, some communities do limit the radius they’ll drive to 15 miles, so make sure your loved one’s health care provider is within a reasonable distance from their facility.

Jacksonville spreads out over 840 square miles, so it’s no surprise that this is primarily a driving city. The area isn’t overly congested, but traffic can get backed up at peak hours. Jacksonville does have a public transportation system, called the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTAFLA), which runs a city-wide bus system, and seniors ride for free. However, it’s not recommended that any senior with memory impairment or physical limitations ride public transportation alone.