30 Assisted Living Communities in Palm Bay, Florida

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $3,750 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 30 Assisted Living Communities in Palm Bay and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Palm Bay, FL

• Assisted Living: $3,750
• Nursing Home Care: $8,365
• In-home Care: $3,813
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,408

At an average monthly cost of $3,750, the price of assisted living in Palm Bay is $250 above the state average and $250 below the national average as reported in Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study. Prices are slightly lower in nearby Sebastian ($3,524) and further south in Port St. Lucie ($3,620). Statewide, assisted living costs vary from $2,808 per month in Lakeland up to $5,448 in Naples along the Gulf Coast. 

In Palm Bay, the most expensive senior care service is semiprivate nursing home care, which costs an average of $8,365 per month. By comparison, assisted living costs $3,750 per month, while 44 hours of in-home service from a homemaker or home health aide costs $3,813 per month.  When evaluating the various senior care options it’s important to know that assisted living prices include rent, utilities, meals and home maintenance. This all-inclusive pricing makes the overall cost of assisted living significantly lower than using an in-home senior care service while continuing to pay for day-to-day living expenses. 

 

Medicaid is the federally mandated health plan for low-income individuals of all ages. It provides 16% of Florida residents with access to basic health services, including emergency, primary and long-term care, hospital services, X-rays and lab testing, in accordance with federal law. Additional services, such as home and community-based care, may be offered by individual states. 

To enroll in Medicaid, applicants need to meet income and asset (resource) criteria. Florida seniors who already receive Social Security Income benefits are automatically eligible for Medicaid, and they only need to complete additional screening if they’re seeking long-term Medicaid services. 

All other seniors must earn no more than $2,313 per month ($4,626 per married couple) and own no more than $2,000 in countable assets ($3,000 per couple). Some items, such as personal clothing and jewellery, one vehicle and a home owned and occupied by the applicant and/or their spouse valued at no more than $585,000, are exempt from the Medicaid asset limits. 

Spousal Income and Asset Exemptions

When only one spouse needs long-term Medicaid coverage, special rules regarding the income of the non-applicant (community) spouse and the couple’s joint assets apply. 

Under the minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance, the community spouse may collect up to $3,161 per month in income transferred from the applicant to pay for shelter costs, and this amount is deducted from the applicant’s declared income. 

The community spouse can also keep the lesser of half of the couple’s joint assets or $126,420 under the community spouse resource allowance. 

Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Program

In accordance with federal law Florida, seniors who qualify for long-term Medicaid and require the type of care normally provided in a nursing facility must be screened through the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Program before being provided with Medicaid-funded long-term services. 

A designated CARES assessor or registered nurse evaluates the current and projected care needs of each senior to determine the most-appropriate placement and Medicaid services. 

Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program

A CARES assessment may recommend enrollment in the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program, a nursing home diversion program that funds enhanced home and community-based services to let seniors age in place in an assisted living setting. 

SMMC LTC services are administered through a managed health care plan. In Brevard County, the available LTC plans include Aetna, Humana, Sunshine and United. Once participants select an LTC plan, they can change to another available plan within 90 days, after which time participants can switch plans after one year. 

Seniors who are enrolled in the SMMC LTC program are provided with services that are medically-necessary to prevent placement in a nursing home. These services may include: 

• Skilled and intermittent nursing care
• Homemaker services
• Speech therapy
• Medication administration 
• Personal care to assist with bathing, dressing and grooming
• Transportation to medical appointments
• A wearable medical alert device
• Mobility equipment
• Medical supplies
• Adult day health care
• Physical therapy

Participants are also provided with additional benefits that aren’t normally covered under Medicaid, such as over-the-counter medications, dental and vision services, and help transitioning from a nursing facility into an assisted living community. 

For more information about Florida Medicaid and the SMMC LTC, contact the Brevard County Elder Helpline at (407) 514-0019 or ACCESS Florida at (866) 762-2237. 

Optional State Supplementation

Supplemental Security Income recipients aged 65 and older who need to reside in an assisted living facility due to loss of physical and/or cognitive abilities can apply for state-sponsored SSI top-up benefits through the Optional State Supplementation program. 

The OSS program provides a maximum of $78.40 per person ($156.80 per couple) to help seniors pay the room-and-board portion of their assisted living costs. 

To apply for OSS, contact ACCESS Florida, Central Region at 407-317-7000. 

Long-Term Care Insurance

Seniors who have long-term care insurance through a private insurance policy may have benefits that include coverage for assisted living costs. 

In most cases, policies that include long-term care benefits must be purchased before the beneficiary reaches a certain age or requires senior care services. Benefits vary with each policy and most insurance providers require that policyholders complete a needs assessment performed by a designated assessor. 

For more information, seniors can contact their insurance broker or insurance company. 

Veterans and their survivors living in Palm Bay can contact Brevard County Veteran’s Services for help with state and federal veterans benefits. Outpatient health care for veterans, including primary care, dentistry, optometry and radiology, is available at the Viera VA outpatient clinic, a community clinic of the Orlando VA Medical Center. 

Viera VA Outpatient Clinic
2900 Veterans Way, Veira, FL 32940-8007
(321) 637-3788

Brevard County Veteran’s Services
2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, FL 32940
(800) 955-8771

Seniors who need help completing their tax returns, require wheelchair transportation within the community or would like to participate in a local communal dining program can contact Aging Matters in Brevard. This not-for-profit agency provides seniors with information and referrals to a variety of area resources and services, such as a volunteer driver program, the Meals on Wheels program and a short-term homemaking program for seniors who are recovering from illness or injury.  Aging Matters in Brevard
3600 West King Street, Cocoa, FL 32926
(312) 639-8770

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