7 Assisted Living Communities in Saint Cloud, Florida

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $3,275 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 7 Assisted Living Communities in Saint Cloud and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Saint Cloud, FL

• Assisted Living: $3,275
• Nursing Home Care: $8,106
• In-home Care: $4,004
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,300

Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study examined senior care costs throughout the county. The study shows that at $3,275 per month, the average monthly cost of assisted living in Saint Cloud is below the state ($3,500) and national ($4,000) averages.

Prices are higher in many nearby areas, such as Deltona ($3,850), Palm Bay ($3,750) and The Villages ($5,031), and lower in Lakeland ($2,808), which has the lowest assisted living costs in the state. 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Saint Cloud, so data for the closest city, Orlando, was used. 

In Saint Cloud, senior care costs are based on the type of care provided. At an average of $8,106 per month for a semiprivate room, a nursing home costs more than double what assisted living does. This price difference is based on the fact that nursing facilities provide around-the-clock nursing care to seniors who have complex medical needs.  Seniors who are considering remaining in their home can expect to pay $4,004 per month for a homemaker or home health aide in addition to regular living expenses. By comparison, assisted living costs an average of $3,275 per month and includes room and board. 

 

Established on July 30, 1965 by the federal government, Medicaid is the nationwide health coverage program for individuals with low income, including children, adults with disabilities and the elderly. It provides coverage for essential health services, such as primary physician care, hospitalization, emergency and long-term care. 

Medicaid is administered at the state level, and each state has the option to provide additional, optional benefits through state-specific Medicaid waivers and programs. 

In Florida, seniors aged 65 and older who collect Supplemental Security Income benefits are automatically eligible for SSI-Related Medicaid coverage and only need to complete further screening when requesting long-term care services. 

Qualifying for Florida Medicaid

All other seniors must meet income, asset and residency guidelines as follows: 

• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, permanent resident or legal alien
• Live full-time in Florida
• Earn no more than $2,313 per month when applying as a single, or
• Earn no more than $4,626 per month in joint income when applying with a spouse, and
• Own no more than $2,000 in countable assets as an individual, or
• Own no more than $3,000 in joint countable assets when applying with a spouse

Some assets are not countable under Medicaid rules, such as an irrevocable burial contract, one vehicle and household furnishings. A house, condo or mobile home that is owned and occupied by the applicant and/or their spouse is also not counted as long as it’s assessed value is $585,000 or less. 

If only one spouse needs long-term Medicaid services, the income of the community spouse isn’t counted. The community spouse is also eligible to keep up to $126,420 of the couple’s joint assets. 

Qualified Income Trust

Seniors who are ineligible for Medicaid because their monthly income exceeds Medicaid limits may qualify for enrollment by using a Qualified Income Trust. 

Also known as a Miller Trust, a QIT is an irrevocable trust in which the state is named the beneficiary. Seniors must agree to place all of their income that exceeds Medicaid limits, less money spent on approved medical expenses, into the QIT. Upon death, any money the state has paid towards the seniors’ care costs will be withdrawn from the QIT before any disbursements are made to the estate. 

For more information on Florida Medicaid and the QIT program, visit the Osceola County ACCESS Storefront or phone the ACCESS customer call center at (866) 762-2237. 

Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program

Florida seniors aged 65 and older who qualify for long-term Medicaid and meet the clinical criteria for nursing home placement may be enrolled in the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program. This nursing home diversion program provides enhanced home and community-based services that let frail seniors age in place in an assisted living facility. 

In accordance with federal law, all Medicaid participants who request long-term care services must be assessed by the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services program. It’s performed by a registered nurse or designated assessor to determine the most appropriate, least-intrusive placement for each applicant. 

Seniors referred to the SMMC LTC program are assigned services based on their specific needs, and these services may include: 

• Adult day programming
• Assistance with activities of daily living 
• A medical alert system
• Housekeeping and laundry
• Skilled and intermittent nursing
• Medical supplies and mobility equipment
• Transportation
• Hospice services
• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy
• Case management

For more information on the SMMC LTC or to request a CARES assessment, contact the statewide Elder Helpline at (800) 963-5337.

Optional State Supplementation

Seniors who receive Supplemental Security Income benefits and need to reside in assisted living may qualify for financial assistance through the Optional State Supplementation Program. 

OSS provides cash benefits to help seniors pay the room-and-board portion of their assisted living costs. Individuals may qualify for up to $78.40 per month and couples up to $156.80 in SSI top-up funds through the OSS program.  

For more information on the OSS, contact ACCESS Florida at (866) 762-2237 or the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213.

VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound

Seniors who collect the basic VA pension and need money to pay for assisted living costs may qualify for additional cash benefits through the VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound Allowance. These two enhanced VA pension programs may also be available to applicants who were previously denied the basic VA pension due to excess income since eligibility for these programs is based on a higher income limit than the basic pension. 

For Housebound, applicants must have a permanent disability rated at 100% that confines them to their home.

For Aid and Attendance, seniors must be blind, bedridden, reside in a nursing home, or need help from a caregiver to perform activities of daily living. 

Successful applicants may only collect benefits from one of these two programs. 

For more information and help with the application process, contact Osceola County Veterans Services at (407) 742-8455. 

Veterans, survivors and dependents can contact the Osceola County Veterans’ Services Office for help with local, state and federal benefits and entitlements. The County Veterans Service Officer is available in Saint Cloud every Thursday for walk-in appointments. 

Outpatient primary, internal medicine and geriatric care services are available at the nearby Kissimmee VA Clinic. 

Osceola County Veterans Services Office – Saint Cloud
810 13th St., Saint Cloud, FL 34769
(407) 742-8455

Kissimmee VA Clinic
2285 N. Central Ave., Kissimmee, FL 34741-2342
(407) 518-5004

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