9 Assisted Living Communities in Gainesville, Florida

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $3,775 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the city, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 9 Assisted Living Communities in Gainesville and several in surrounding areas.

• Assisted living: $3,775
• Nursing home semi-private room: $8,060
• In-home care: $3,813
• Adult day health services: $1,387

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, assisted living costs in Gainesville are slightly lower than the national average of $4,000, and $275 higher than the state average of $3,500. Costs for assisted living in Gainesville are comparable to Deltona ($3,850) and the North Port Area ($3,874), while assisted living in both Naples ($5,448) and The Villages ($5,031) is more costly than Gainesville. 

Costs for senior care vary based on the location, level of care and type of service. In Gainesville, nursing home care in a semiprivate room is more than double the cost of assisted living. In-home health aide and homemaker services cost about the same as assisted living. When comparing the true cost of residential services with nonresidential care options, it’s important to consider daily living expenses such as property taxes, utilities, maintenance and food that are usually included with residential care services for seniors.   Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $3,775

• Homemaker services: $3,813

• Home health aide: $3,813

• Adult day health: $1,387

• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $8,060

 

Medicaid is a nationwide health coverage program that provides low-income, low-asset children, adults and seniors with a range of preventative health services such as screening for chronic diseases. Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that most states opt to administer through a branch of the state government, although some states contract out Medicaid administration to a private insurance company. 

The services provided through Medicaid vary from state to state, and some states offer extended coverage that includes funding for assisted living. 

Florida residents age 65 and older may qualify for Medicaid if both their income and assets fall within the maximum limits of the Medicaid program. Single applicants can earn no more than $2,313 per month, and their total countable assets must not exceed $2,000 in value, while married couples applying for Medicaid together cannot have a monthly income greater than $4,626 and own countable assets valued at more than $3,000. 

Seniors who meet the income and asset qualifications for Medicaid in Florida are eligible for enrollment in the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care program administered by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.  

The Long-Term Care Managed Care Program provides seniors with access to a wide range of long-term care services including assisted living facility services. 

For more information about Medicaid in Florida, contact the Department of Elder Affairs at (850) 414-2000. 

To apply to the SMMC program, contact Elder Options in Gainesville at (800) 963-5337. 

Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension Supplement

Veterans who have been honorably discharged and their surviving spouses may be eligible for a VA pension top-up benefit if they have a disability that impacts their ability to care for themselves. 

Known as the VA Aid and Attendance benefit, this pension top-up is open to veterans who are already receiving a regular VA pension. Note that this program excludes veterans who receive a VA disability pension.

To qualify for these benefits, applicants must have at least one of the following conditions: 

 

 

• Be bedridden for a significant portion of the day due to permanent disability or illness
• Require assistance from a caregiver to complete daily living tasks such as bathing, toileting, dressing, feeding and managing a prosthetic device
• Have corrected vision in both eyes that tests at 5/200 or worse
• Suffer from concentric contraction of the visual field measuring 5 or fewer degrees
• Currently reside in a nursing home or skilled nursing facility as a result of decreased mental or physical abilities




• VA Housebound Pension Top-Up 
  
  Veterans and their surviving spouses who are restricted to their primary residence the majority of the time as a result of a permanent disability may qualify for the VA Housebound pension top-up benefit. 
  
  Note that this benefit is available for applicants who have been assessed at 100 percent disabled according to VA guidelines, and the disability does not need to be service-related. 
  
  Qualified applicants may apply to both the VA Aid and Attendance and the Housebound Benefits program; however, they can collect benefits from only one program at a time. 
  
  To learn more about these pension top-up programs for veterans, contact the Gainesville Vet Center at (352) 331-1408. 

 

 

A number of local government and not-for-profit agencies and church groups offer support to seniors, including assistance with transportation to medical appointments, help securing medical coverage and low-cost meal programs.  ElderCare of Alachua County, Inc. 
5701 N.W. 34th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32653
(352) 265-9040

Gainesville is home to many services and organizations geared toward veterans, including the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, which provides a complete range of primary and specialty care services. There is also a local Vet Center, an active American Legion Post and a Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. 

Gainesville Vet Center
105 NW 75th Street, Suite #2, Gainesville, FL 32607
(352) 331-1408

Malcom Randall VA Medical Center
1601 Southwest Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608-1135
(352) 376-1611

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.