Sarasota, Florida, is a welcoming city for seniors who need personalized care. An exemplary senior care destination, Sarasota experiences year-round warm temperatures and displays an eclectic opulence all its own.
Sarasota nursing homes are some of the best in the nation. However, the term nursing home can be misleading. Some people use the term nursing home to refer to all senior care facilities, including assisted living and memory care, but nursing homes provide medical care while assisted living and memory care facilities don’t. If you or your loved one doesn’t need round-the-clock medical or rehabilitative care, you may want to consider Sarasota’s assisted living or memory care facilities instead.
A Place for Mom partners with 35 assisted living and memory care facilities within a 10-mile radius of downtown Sarasota, Florida. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about Sarasota’s senior care facilities. We get our information from our 20+ years as a leader in the senior care industry, our proprietary data, and reviews from seniors and families just like you. Read on to learn about the costs, amenities, laws, and more for Sarasota’s senior care facilities.
My mother moved in over a month ago. She’s loving it. Many activities. The food is great. People & staff are wonderful My apt is beautiful. Love walking the grounds. It’s beautiful out back. Lovely trees.
My mom is in good hands with the Brookdale team. They go out of their way to make sure she is engaged and settling in nicely. We couldn’t be happier that we made the right decision with the Crossings...
Once I placed my request through “A Place for Mom.”I was introduced to BrookDale Colonial Park and several other Senior Communities. I was struck by Breanna’s warm informative information and monthly cost....
I joined the Windsor just recently and my experience has been great so far. I have had good rapport with the people who work here and they have been able to make me feel comfortable by answering my...
The company is well staffed. The caregivers are the best. These people are always helping with any resident need help a kind talk the how compose is helpful and kind.
From the management team to the staff this is a very caring and exceptional community. They have fun activities for residents, great food and most importantly take great care of residents. If a loved one...
My husband been a resident for 16 months. He is treated with care and respect. If I have a concern, its addressed in a timely manner. Staff members in all departments take a personal interest.
The management staff is excellent. They listen and take appropriate action. The day time patient care staff are kind and caring. Afternoon and overnight staff seem not as caring. My first contact at...
My brother in law who lives there isn't happy with the dining room service. We know you are short handed in there and we try to explain that to him but at 93 years of age he is impossible sometimes. Other...
I was told many times that something would happen, but that wasn't communicated to the right people and so it didn't. The yard is beautiful, activities are great, staff is very friendly and food is very...
Everyone was very kind and friendly. They were wonderful with the patients very caring and kind. I had dinner in the dining room with my husband a few times and the menu was varied and well.prepared. When...
Deer Creek has been very responsive to my uncle's needs and any requests that we have made. They have really tried hard to protect his dignity and genuinely seem to care about him. I chose Deer Creek...
A wonderful place! The team is so pleasant. They make Sunrise a happy place. Everyone is well cared for and the place is clean and inviting. Remarkable people make a wonderful place.
My Mom moved into Memory Care at HarborChase of Sarasota in June of 2022. I cannot say enough good things about the community, the nursing staff and the aides and all the other staff members. She has...
Love the staff. Like the activities. Very happy with the food. Very nice neighbors. A few issues...electricity went out during storm. I would think the generators would Cover the rooms! Shower way too small!...
Mom has experienced both sides of Elan, She was accepted into the assisted living portion of the facility at first and as her disease has progressed she was moved into the full time memory care. All the...
When my Dad first moved in the staff was very friendly and helpful with getting his apartment ready. The apartments are a great size for a single guy.
This was based on the outside of my apartment . I lived at Woodlands the last time for one year. The entire half off of my front screen was hanging almost to the ground. This was in an apartment facing...
All good except food and wait staff shortage. Clients are leaving the facility because of the lack of food quality and inadequate staffing in the dining room.
I am an RN in the area and I know what good care looks like. I have seen the good, bad, and the ugly of elder care facilities. Liana is the GREAT! This affordable elder care facility offers good meals for...
My father was at this Arden Courts for about 4 months. I am so glad we had him here. The caring was so deep that I will always be grateful. My father can be a difficult guy. He had been baker acted many...
I could not allow another day to pass without sharing the wonderful experience that my mom had in respite care! The Windsor is a combiation of a resort and a grand loving home! Working with the Sales...
As we helped our mom find a place she liked when she could no longer live at home alone, we visited a lot of facilities and she liked the Fountains of Hope Fountains of Hope is a very clean and...
While it was a stressful situation we could not do it without the help, resource's and guidance provided by A Place for Moms. Summerfield also stepped up and offered the best professional experience. We...
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Sarasota 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
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
Skilled nursing care from a nursing home is the most expensive senior care option in Sarasota. This is true across the United States, because skilled nursing care requires specialized training and 24-hour supervision.
Sarasota’s assisted living and memory care facilities often cost half as much as nursing homes. You may find that you or your loved one don’t require the type of medical care reserved for a nursing home. If this is you, you can learn more about Sarasota’s assisted living facilities or memory care facilities.
According to Genworth’s Cost of Care survey in 2021, the median monthly cost of a private room in a Sarasota nursing home was $10,615, and a semi-private room was $9,034.[02] The costs of a nursing home stay vary depending on location, floor plan, and the types of health care services provided.
Nursing home costs generally include the following:
The average cost of assisted living in Sarasota in 2022 was $4,500 a month. Sarasota’s memory care facilities cost an average of $4,497 a month.[01] Assisted living and memory care facilities in Sarasota tend to offer the same amenities and services as nursing homes, with the exception of round-the-clock medical care.
Skilled nursing care is not only reserved for traditional nursing homes. In fact, about 81% of A Place for Mom’s partnering assisted living and memory care facilities in Sarasota offer skilled nursing services on-site.[01]
Seniors or their families typically pay for this skilled nursing care in addition to their monthly assisted living or memory care fees. The cost of skilled nursing care in these skilled nursing wings is often comparable to traditional nursing homes.
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) offer seniors the chance to offset the costs of their future skilled nursing care by paying a large admissions fee. These fees can be as low as $50,000 or as high as $500,000. CCRCs have multiple senior care offerings: independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing care. Because of the high admissions fee, a resident’s monthly fees stay roughly the same even if they begin to need skilled nursing care.
Senior care is expensive, but with careful planning, most families can keep the right senior care facility within reach. Thankfully, there’s more than one way to pay for long-term senior care. Many families use a combination of personal savings and state or federal programs to help cover the cost.
Learn how you can use your personal funds or programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and veterans benefits to pay for your or your loved one’s senior care.
Most people have a retirement account, but that’s not the only way to leverage your private funds to afford senior care. Whether you choose to use a retirement account in addition to investments, pensions, or the sale of a house, you have options. Explore these articles to learn how to use these private funds to pay for your or your loved one’s senior care services.
Most veterans in Sarasota are over 65, so senior veterans will find a built-in community and plenty of resources. The Sarasota County Department for Veterans Services is an excellent starting point for local veterans interested in finding benefits counseling or getting involved in their local community.
You may be able to pay for some of your loved one’s skilled nursing care with veterans benefits. The VA offers a variety of benefits, and some can be used to pay for anything that improves the veteran’s quality of life.
Some benefits, such as the Aid and Attendance benefit, can be used to pay for all aspects of skilled nursing care, including rent and meals. Other benefits, such as the Housebound allowance, can only be used to pay for specific care services in the veteran’s home. If you’re unsure which benefits your loved one is eligible for, consider reaching out to a benefits counselor.
You may be able to cover some or all of the costs of assisted living or memory care using veterans benefits. The Aid and Attendance benefit is one option for veterans who want to use their benefits to cover any aspect of their senior care, including rent and meals. You may want to talk with a benefits counselor to understand what each benefit covers and your loved one’s eligibility.
Even the most prepared veterans and their families may need some help when navigating the VA system. We’ve compiled a list of reliable veterans benefits counselors in Sarasota who can help you with the following:
The Florida state government and Sarasota County both offer veterans benefits counseling to local veterans and their families. You can reach out to any of these organizations to set up an appointment with a benefits counselor. All of these organizations offer benefits counseling at no cost to you.
Benefits counseling isn’t the only kind of counseling available to veterans. The Sarasota Vet Center offers mental health counseling, including care for PTSD, substance abuse, and more. The center offers sessions for free to veterans and their families.
These veterans benefits counselors are local to Sarasota or Florida:
Resources for Sarasota veterans
Sarasota Vet Center
4801 Swift Road
Sarasota, FL 34231
Phone: 941-927-8285
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
Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs
9500 Bay Pines Blvd., #214
St. Petersburg, FL 33708
Phone: 727-316-7440
Virtual benefits counseling
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
Medicaid is a state-run health insurance program for low-income individuals. You or your loved one may be eligible for Medicaid, and it may cover some or all of your senior care. Seniors enrolled in Florida Medicaid can participate in one of these two plans:
The SMMC LTC plan covers the entire cost of a nursing home stay, as long as these requirements are met:
While the SMMC LTC plan does cover the cost of senior care for eligible seniors residing in assisted living and memory care facilities, it may not cover rent or meals. This coverage is usually reserved for traditional, Medicaid-approved nursing homes. However, some seniors can be placed on a waitlist to receive this additional Medicaid coverage for their assisted living or memory care facility.
If you want Florida Medicaid to cover the entire cost of your loved one’s assisted living or memory care facility, you may want to speak with a Medicaid patient advocate or an elder law attorney.
Even if you’re unsure whether your loved one is eligible for the SMMC LTC plan, you should still apply. Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for Florida Medicaid SMMC LTC plan:
Most people need assistance when applying for Medicaid, especially if they intend to use Medicaid to pay for senior care. Consider using the resources below to understand your or your loved one’s benefits.
Sarasota resident Medicaid resources
Florida Medicaid
2727 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 866-762-2237
Apply for Florida Medicaid, MMA plan
SSA office — Sarasota
2001 Siesta Drive
Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: 800-772-1213
Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, Inc.
2830 Winkler Ave., Ste. 112
Fort Myers, FL 33816
Phone: 239-762-6900
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that covers certain medical expenses for seniors. Most seniors over 65 are eligible if they’ve paid their Medicare taxes or are married to someone who has.
Medicare may cover short-term stays in a skilled nursing facility or nursing home. In general, Medicare covers short-term and medically necessary costs. Short-term typically means stays in a hospital or rehabilitation facility that are under 20 days. This label also includes some recurring expenses, like medications or dialysis.
Medically necessary costs differ between each person. A physician and Medicare need to agree that the procedure, test, or item is medically necessary before Medicare will cover it. Because most seniors use skilled nursing facilities or rehabilitation facilities for a short period of time after a procedure, Medicare can cover some of these expenses.
As long as the stay in the skilled nursing facility is under 20 days and is medically necessary, Medicare may cover the entire bill. This includes the following:
Because assisted living and memory care facilities are long-term senior care options, Medicare won’t cover expenses such as room and board. However, if your loved one lives in an assisted living or memory care facility and needs a procedure, medication, test, or item, Medicare may cover it.
The Medicare Savings Program can help seniors pay their Medicare premiums. Information about this program is detailed on the Federal Medicare website. You can find application information on the same site. You can also call the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) for questions. Eligibility is based on income, and seniors should make under $1,153 a month to be qualified.
If you have more questions after reviewing your Medicare benefits, you can reach out to these resources:
Sarasota resident Medicare resources
SSA office — Sarasota
2001 Siesta Drive
Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: 800-772-1213
Sarasota nursing homes meet high expectations. Across Florida, seniors receive some of the best skilled nursing care in the nation. According to a 2018 Kaiser Family Foundation report, Florida is one of five states that exceeds the required number of nurses on staff at all nursing facilities. Florida also mandates more hours of care per day for each senior than any other state. While standards in Florida are high, standards tend to be even higher in Sarasota.
Seniors in Sarasota’s nursing homes tend to have better health outcomes than seniors elsewhere. According to a study by U.S. News and World Report, Florida nursing home residents experience fewer hospitalizations and falls, and they are less likely to be given antipsychotics than seniors in other states. Due to the exceptional care they provide, the average cost of Sarasota nursing homes is more expensive than the national average.
The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) licenses and regulates Florida nursing homes through the Long Term Care Services Unit.
Here’s what you need to know about how Florida regulates nursing homes in Sarasota:
All other senior care facilities, including assisted living and memory care facilities, are also regulated by the AHCA’s Long Term Care Services Unit.
Here’s what you need to know about how Florida regulates assisted living and memory care facilities:
The federal government also regulates nursing homes because most skilled nursing services can be covered with Medicaid or Medicare.
Here’s what you need to know about how the federal government regulates nursing homes:
You can find inspection results for Sarasota nursing homes in two different places:
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) — Long Term Care Services Unit
2727 Mahan Drive, MS#33
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 805-412-4303
Email: LTCStaff@ahca.myflorida.com
While Florida doesn’t enforce any COVID-19 protocols for senior care facilities, it does set guidelines for skilled nursing facilities. You can find vaccination sites, testing centers, and up-to-date information on the Sarasota COVID-19 FAQ page.
Residents and staff members should mask in the event of an outbreak.
High-use areas should be regularly disinfected.
All visitors are allowed in Florida nursing homes regardless of vaccination status.
Standards are high for senior care in Florida, and in Sarasota, they’re even higher. Seniors in Florida nursing homes receive more hours of care a day than their counterparts elsewhere. This leads to better health outcomes, fewer falls, and fewer rehospitalizations.
While many seniors choose to move to Sarasota during their active years, the fastest-growing senior care types are assisted living and memory care, with nursing homes just behind them. Nursing homes provide specialized medical care for seniors who need round-the-clock attention. Seniors needing extra help getting around or remembering to take their medication may find assisted living or memory care to be a better fit than a nursing home.
While many seniors may be a better fit for assisted living or memory care, seniors in Sarasota may not have to pick. Most assisted living and memory care facilities are part of larger campuses with multiple levels of care. These campuses often have the whole scope of senior living, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing wings. While skilled nursing is often available at these communities, these wings are usually meant as short-term rehabilitation and recovery facilities, and not as long-term options.
Sarasota does have excellent nursing homes that offer long-term and short-term options. These may be affiliated with local hospitals or the VA system, and most are Medicaid approved. A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with these Medicaid-approved nursing homes. However, we do partner with multilevel care facilities with skilled nursing.
Sarasota’s senior living facilities cater to a fashionable crowd. While not all facilities are brand new, you’ll still find the latest security technology, beautiful dining rooms, and comfortable living arrangements. Most take their activities seriously and employ an activities coordinator. Sarasota’s natural beauty and long-standing reputation for excellence have caused housing costs to be about 22% more expensive than in the rest of Florida.[04] The cost of senior care facilities buck this trend and remain at about the national average.
Because about 37% of Sarasota’s population is 65 or over, the city caters to seniors. Communities are evenly spread throughout the city, and many are near the water. Visiting family members and friends will be happy to note that nowhere in Sarasota is over 45 minutes away from Siesta Key Beach.
Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch are more affordable nearby options. Lakewood Ranch is inland of Sarasota, about 30 minutes east. It’s primarily made up of seniors, young professionals, and families. The monthly cost of senior living is about $500 lower in Lakewood Ranch than in Sarasota.
Bradenton is north of Sarasota and is booming with seniors. It’s only 15 miles away from Sarasota’s city center but remains considerably cheaper.
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Number of seniors over the age of 65 currently living in Sarasota
Total population in Sarasota, Florida[05]
In Sarasota, local seniors can choose between multiple robust health care facilities. Sarasota is only about 24 square miles, so most seniors can access any health care facility regardless of location. Whether your loved one needs a dedicated geriatrics physician or a neurology clinic, they’ll find options. Read on to learn about a few of the top health care facilities in Sarasota.
The Sarasota Memorial Health Care System operates this 895-bed hospital. This large hospital also has its own Cancer Institute and offers expert care in geriatrics and neurology. The hospital operates six campuses, but the main campus is in Sarasota.
1700 S. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL, 34239
Phone: 941-917-9000
Find a provider
This award-winning acute care hospital offers emergency medicine, burn care, stroke care, heart health, trauma services, and orthopedics. Though located in Bradenton, the HCA Florida Blake Hospital serves all of Sarasota County.
2020 59th St. W
Bradenton, FL 34209
Phone: 941-792-6611
Find a provider
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota
The Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota is one of the region’s largest rehabilitation facilities. Offering skilled nursing care, this hospital specializes in rehabilitation for strokes, fractures, and spinal cord injuries. It also provides support groups for amputees, cancer patients, cardiac patients, and MS patients.
6400 Edgelake Drive
Sarasota, FL 34240
Phone: 941-921-8600
What to expect
A research institute, the Roskamp Neurology Clinic specializes in memory disorders, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other kinds of dementia. The institute engages in research about the causes of dementia with the intention of finding a cure. The clinic also offers exams and cutting-edge treatments for people with memory loss disorders.
2040 Whitfield Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34243
Phone: 941-256-8019
Find a provider
Most individuals living in Sarasota’s senior care facilities won’t need to worry about making appointments on time or attending events, as 96% of A Place for Mom’s partnering assisted living facilities offer complimentary transportation to and from appointments.[01] Visiting family and friends are also free to take their loved one on day trips or vacations.
Visitors should be aware that most people get around Sarasota by car. However, the county does offer public transportation in the form of Breeze (formerly known as The Sarasota County Transit System, or SCAT). Breeze provides bus transportation throughout Sarasota County. It also provides pickup and drop-off services through OnDemand. You can find routes, fees, and instructions on the Breeze website.
A truly exceptional senior living destination, Sarasota offers pristine Gulf Coast beaches plus a posh culture that draws more than a few well-known names. Among those who call Sarasota home are Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones, Brian Johnson of AC/DC, and author Stephen King. Ernest Hemingway and Jimmy Buffet also enjoyed spending winters along the white sands of Siesta Key.
Sarasota residents have easy access to some of the state’s best senior-friendly outdoor activities and cultural amenities. Visitors, too, will find no shortage of fun in the sun. Sarasota is pleasant all year, but the peak season typically runs from about November to March.
Almost all of Sarasota’s local nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and memory care facilities employ an activities coordinator. Daily games, social events, workouts, and trips keep residents busy and happy. You can expect to attend daily social hours, bridge tournaments, or chair yoga classes, all within one community.
That’s not to say communities don’t plan outings to local attractions. Most seniors in Sarasota’s senior living facilities will get at least one outing a month to the beach, museums, or performances.
Brookdale Colonial Park, Bayshore Guest Home and Gardens and Grand Villa of Sarasota are the top-rated Nursing Homes facilities near Sarasota, FL. These Nursing Homes facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Nursing Homes in Sarasota is $4,547 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
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A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Genworth. (2022). Cost of care survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101): Sarasota city [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Rentcafe.com. (2022). Cost of living in Sarasota, FL.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and sex (S0101): Sarasota city [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Genworth. (2022). Cost of care survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101): Sarasota city [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Rentcafe.com. (2022). Cost of living in Sarasota, FL.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and sex (S0101): Sarasota city [Data set]. American Community Survey.