Senior Living Apartments in Fort Myers, FL

Senior apartments are generally not considered care facilities because they do not provide the specialized care that an assisted living or memory care facility would. This means that long-term insurance and plans like Medicare and Medicaid do not cover the rent portion of senior apartment living. Fortunately, there is help available for other related costs.

Most seniors pay for their senior apartments with a combination of personal income, investments, housing assistance, Social Security, and other benefits. In this section, you can find information about private pay, housing assistance, and VA benefits, as well as Medicare and Medicaid resources.

Typically, because senior apartments are not considered care facilities with unique requirements such as dementia-friendly layouts or extra security, they do not need special licenses. However, senior apartments are subject to standard rental and housing laws, which exist to protect tenants and property owners alike. For this reason, all residential buildings must earn a Certificate of Occupancy or a Certificate of Completion from the city of Fort Myers when they’re built.

Officers of the city’s Code Enforcement Division are responsible for conducting inspections in response both to reported and observed code violations. It’s expected that landlords quickly address these violations and make every effort to prevent them from happening. Fort Myers has created a searchable database of address-specific code violations that anyone can access.

One of the laws that applies to senior apartments is the Fair Housing Act. This set of laws dictates that anyone in Florida should be able to receive equal access to housing and not be discriminated against or denied dwelling. Senior apartments must also comply with laws established by the  Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These laws require landlords to make reasonable accommodations for tenants with additional needs. For example, if a senior in a senior apartment occasionally uses a wheelchair, the landlord must not penalize that senior for the extra wear and tear that may occur as a result.

Some senior apartment communities may have additional requirements for tenancy, but most will only require an age minimum. Florida has an online guide that provides more details about the Landlord/Tenant Law.

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 Fort Myers senior apartments communities

While there are currently no legally mandated COVID-19 regulations in Fort Myers, the state of Florida continues to follow and recommend CDC guidelines. These include vaccination advice and recommendations for social distancing and reducing transmission. It also sets out responses for different eventualities, such as rising community infection levels.

Senior apartments tend to be treated like any other rental property, but some communities and complexes may provide additional guidance like masking in public areas to help keep vulnerable residents safe.

Senior apartments in Fort Myers and surrounding areas are great places for seniors to spend their golden years. Here are some of the most significant benefits of these communities:

Culture and nature

Senior apartments in Fort Myers offer a range of living styles in an environment known for its tranquility and friendliness. With warm weather, beaches, nature reserves, golf courses, shopping centers, and museums, it truly represents a meeting point of culture and nature. Lee County is the peak of Florida living.

Communities for every interest

Whether you’re searching on a budget or attempting to find a luxury residence, there are many local senior apartment options to choose from. Some complexes pride themselves on hosting neighborhood activities that encourage residents to make new friendships and connections. Other communities offer a quieter, more solitary experience. You get to decide your preferred level of community that fits your unique needs and interests.

Amenities and other perks

Amenities and services are included in or additional features of some properties. For example, some senior apartments and independent living communities have outdoor common areas, on-site beauty salons and art classes, and even movie and theater rooms. Make a note of your must-have and nice-to-have amenities so you can find an apartment that makes you feel safe, secure, and fulfilled.

Health care for seniors in Fort Myers

Transportation for seniors in Fort Myers

While Fort Myers isn’t the most highway-heavy, bustling metropolis on the planet, it does help to have a car here. The Lee Island Coast offers drivers a sunny, windswept journey along the Florida shore. For recreational rides, traveling by boat is a delightful way to see the landscape from a new perspective. There are 20 public-access marinas in the Fort Myers area.

According to Walk Score, Fort Myers does provide some cycleways and bike route options. Walking, on the other hand, probably won’t be your chosen mode of transportation unless you’re exploring the more accessible areas of Lincoln Park, Winkler Safe Neighborhood, and Bowling Green. The overall walk (35) and bike (48) scores are based on a scale of 1-100 to rate how easy it is to get around on a bike or on foot.^[07]

For seniors wishing or needing to take public transport, LeeTran is the main operator in the area. By bus and trolley service, LeeTran can transport you across the region to beaches, airports, and most landmarks. The Fort Myers Beach Trolley, which runs the length of Fort Myers Beach, is especially popular. LeeTran offers ID cards for seniors with a ride discount. Other organizations, such as the subsidized, door-to-door, excursion-assisting Cape Coral Mini-Bus, also offer senior-friendly transport options.

Senior activities in Fort Myers

With a climate so sunny and sociable, Fort Myers always has something for residents and visitors to do. Shopping, sightseeing, beach visits, and off-the-beaten-path excursions are just some of the countless ways to spend a day here. Seniors will have no trouble filling out their date cards quickly.

Sports fans will love the Fort Myers Country Golf Club and the Racquet Club of Fort Myers, a historic tennis club with a vibrant and active community. They can also take a dip at the public pool, which has a convenient view of the golf course for those who want to keep an eye on their competitors. Fort Myers is also home to JetBlue Park, the spring training grounds for the Boston Red Sox, so baseball fans will feel safe at home here.

For lovers of culture, the Florida Repertory Theater hosts regular events and plays, including new works by local playwrights and accessible events for seniors with extra mobility needs. The city and county also host cultural events like the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest throughout the year. What’s more, the IMAG History & Science Center offers a great interactive museum experience that’s perfect for visiting family. Grandkids will love the aquarium!

One lovely way to experience Fort Myers as a senior resident is to visit a recreational or community center. Estero Park and Recreation Center, Lehigh Acres Senior Citizen Center, and Boca Grande Park and Community Center all offer games, sports, arts and crafts, clubs, and social time. Whether you’re a bird watcher or a scrap-booker, you’ll find your community in no time.

There’s no shortage of nature activities for Fort Myers residents. Besides swimming in the ocean, beachfront activities include ecotours, parasailing, and kayaking. If you’re interested in seeing the local wildlife, there’s even a service that lets you paddle alongside manatees on the Orange River. The Everglades Day Safari, which offers full- and half-day airboat tours of the 1.5-million-acre Everglades National Park, is also an excellent way to view Florida’s unique fauna.

History buffs will want to go on the River District History Tour, which educates participants about the origin and development of Fort Myers by taking them to historically significant parts of the city. The Southwest Florida Museum of History offers a more conventional educational experience. Train enthusiasts won’t want to miss out on the Lakes Park Railroad Museum, an exhibit dedicated to the railroad industry and its role in growing Southwest Florida. Fun fact: The former estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, who both regularly wintered in Fort Myers with their families, still stand and are open to the public for tours.

Fort Myers won’t disappoint seniors who like to shop and dine out. For starters, the Gulf Coast Town Center is an outdoor mall that has just about everything you could want, whether that be art, ice cream, or fishing equipment. There’s also Bell Tower, another outdoor mall that contains restaurants, a movie theater, and dozens of boutiques. If you’re looking for a more down-to-earth shopping experience, Fleamaster’s Fleamarket is probably right up your alley.