3 Assisted Living Communities in Martin County, Florida

The average cost of assisted living in the county is $3,620 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the county, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 3 Assisted Living Communities in Martin County and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Martin County, FL

• Assisted Living: $3,620
• Nursing Home Care: $7,756
• In-Home Care: $3,480
• Adult Day Health Service: $1,517

Data from Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study shows that the average monthly cost for Martin County assisted living is slightly above the state average of $3,500 and below the national average of $4,000. Costs here are comparable to nearby Sebastian ($3,524) and Palm Bay ($3,750), while assisted living prices are lower in Sebring ($3,038) and Lakeland ($2,808). 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Martin County, so data for Port St. Lucie, a city adjacent to Martin County, was used.

Costs vary between senior care services because each option provides a different type of support, ranging from nonmedical care in an assisted living facility to 24/7 skilled nursing care in a nursing home. For homemaker and home health care aide services, the cost data in the Genworth study is based on 44 hours per week.  As with most other areas throughout the state, the cost of nursing home care in Martin County is more than twice the fee of assisted living, and both services include room and board. In-home care costs are similar to assisted living but these costs are in addition to regular, ongoing fees for maintaining a home, such as property taxes, repairs, utilities and meals. 

Medicaid is a national health coverage program that provides access to basic health care services and long-term care for low-income Americans including 16% of Florida residents. Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal and state governments, and 64% of Medicaid expenditures in Florida are used to support the elderly and disabled. 

In Florida, seniors who receive Social Security Income benefits are automatically eligible for Medicaid. SSI-qualified seniors only need to complete eligibility screening if requesting long-term care services, such as nursing home placement, through Medicaid. 

Low-income Florida seniors who require long-term services provided through a Medicaid wavier or Institutional Medicaid, must meet specific income and asset limits to qualify for coverage. The current maximum allowable monthly income for a single senior is $2,313, while couples can earn up to $4,626. 

Income from all sources is counted, including wages, alimony payments and all pensions. Asset limits of $2,000 per individual and $3,000 per couple also apply, although personal effects, such as clothing, household furnishings, one vehicle and a primary residence owned by the applicant valued at no more than $585,000, are exempt from the Medicaid asset limits. 

As an income-cap state, Medicaid applicants with income in excess of the Medicaid limits cannot spend down to achieve Medicaid eligibility. 

By federal law, Florida seniors who qualify for Medicaid and need the level of care normally provided in a nursing home must be screened through the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Program. A registered nurse or qualified assessor reviews the current and future care needs of the senior and makes recommendations on the least intrusive, most appropriate long-term care placement. 

Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program

Following a CARES assessment, seniors may be referred to the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program, which reduces nursing home placement by providing additional services and supports within an assisted living setting along with ongoing case management. 

Seniors approved for the SMMC LTC may be provided with one or more of the following services: 

• Skilled and intermittent nursing care
• Medication administration and management
• Attendant care and personal care
• Transportation to medical appointments
• A wearable emergency call device
• Adult day health 

For more information about Florida Medicaid and the SMMC LTC, contact the Martin County Elder Helpline at (866) 684-5885 or ACCESS Florida at (866) 762-2237. 

Optional State Supplementation

Seniors 65 and older who are unable to live independently as a result of a disability or age-related deterioration and receive Social Security Income benefits can apply for SSI top-up benefits through the Optional State Supplementation program. 

OSS pays up to $78.40 for an individual and up to $156.80 for a couple to use towards the room-and-board portion of assisted living costs. 

To apply for OSS, contact the Southeast Region office of ACCESS Florida at (561) 837-5078. 

Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance

Veterans and survivors receiving regular VA pension benefits and are either housebound or require daily assistance from another person due to a disability, may qualify for a VA pension top up. 

The Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance are two cash-based benefits that can be used towards the cost of assisted living. 

To qualify for Aid and Attendance, one or more of the following criteria must be met by applicants:

• Be bedridden 

• Live in a nursing home to receive care for physical and/or mental disabilities

• Have severe visual impairment caused by concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 or fewer degrees

• Have corrected vision in both eyes that tests at 5/200 or below

• Require help daily from another person to perform one or more tasks of daily living, such as eating, bathing, grooming, dressing and/or managing a prosthetic device

The Aid and Attendance Benefit can bring the total monthly VA pension payment up to $1,881 for a single veteran, $2,230 for a veteran with one dependent or $1,211 for an eligible survivor.

To qualify for the Housebound Allowance, applicants must have a VA-assessed disability rating of 100% and be mostly limited to their own home, which can include an assisted living facility, as a result of their disability. 

The Housebound Allowance provides a maximum total VA monthly pension payment of $1,378 for a single veteran, $1,728 for a veteran with a spouse/dependent or $925 for a surviving spouse. 

For both of these pension top-up programs, qualifying disabilities do not need to be related to military service. 

Note: Aid and Attendance cannot be combined with Housebound Benefits, and veterans who currently receive a VA disability pension are excluded from this program. 

For more information and application assistance, contact the Martin County Veterans Service Office at (772) 288-5448. 

Seniors who need information about senior care resources, access to Medicaid assistance or senior-friendly primary medical care can contact the Kane Center, a multiservice center operated by the Council on Aging of Martin County.  The newly-constructed Kane Center also serves as an elder-friendly hurricane shelter that’s equipped with barrier-free restrooms and showers, on-site medical staff, a dementia care space and a designated emergency pet shelter.  Kane Center – Council on Aging of Martin County
900 SE Salerno Road, Stuart, FL, 34997
(772) 223-7800

Veterans and their survivors can contact the Martin County Veterans Services office for information on VA benefits, including the VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound Allowance. Outpatient VA health care services are available at the Stuart CBOC, which is affiliated with the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center. There are also a number of active veterans service clubs in the area including Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts. 

Stuart CBOC
3501 Southeast Willoughby Boulevard, Stuart, FL 34997
(772) 288-0304

Martin County Veterans Services
435 SE Flagler Avenue, Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 288-5448

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