Independent living is for seniors looking to maintain their independence, living in dignity. It is a housing arrangement meant specially for older adults, those aged 55 years and more. It offers the freedom to maintain a recreational and social lifestyle, convenient with housekeeping, transportation, and prepared meals.  Independent living arrangements differ widely, from single-family detached houses to apartment-style flats.

Aging makes independent living difficult, that’s why independent living support, such as home wellness solutions and home-delivered meals are offered to help seniors maintain independence in their homes.

Housing is designed to be friendly to seniors, but often compact, easy to navigate, and with minimal maintenance to worry about. It is for seniors to live independently, in a community offering amenities, services, and activities.

Seniors can be physically challenged, and barriers in their current communities severely limit their choices in living. These barriers include a lack of ramped entrances for those who use wheelchairs, lack of hearing aids, lack of braille, etc.

Independent Living Regulations For Florida

Florida is a great choice for seniors looking for independent living communities because of its white, sandy beaches, beautiful weather, relaxed lifestyle, great healthcare, and relatively low cost of living. Thus, it has earned the nickname ‘The Sunshine State.’

Florida is one of the pioneer states in legislating independent living. Among the regulations is a law that says an independent living facility shall not tend to a resident bedridden for longer than seven consecutive days.

Independent living fl regulation requires facilities to offer seniors supervision during their daily living activities as needed. However, they are encouraged to perform daily activities as independently as possible. Residents are offered communication services like telephone and internet access to facilitate their rights to private and unrestricted communication.

The law encourages residents to participate in social, recreational, educational, and other community activities. These activities should be provided no less than 12 hours and at least six days a week.

Meals provided should meet nutritional needs as established by the Food and Nutrition board based on age, sex, and activity level. Special therapeutic diets should be served as ordered by the resident’s physician.

The surrounding environment in the living community should be safe and clean, free from hazards. Building structures including electrical units, architectural, and mechanical units must be properly maintained to be always in good working order.

Cost of Independent Living in Florida

Cost depends on the area you live in and the specific community. An expensive arrangement is a community offering ample amenities and adds the cost of meals in monthly pricing, compared to basic senior apartment care. Independent living is the least expensive type of care for seniors compared to assisted living, as it does not offer health services and personal care assistance. Typically cost of independent living care is 30 to 50% less per month than assisted living.

The cost of independent living in the state of Florida is $2,220 monthly average and $26,640 annual average.

Demographic of Florida

The population of seniors living in Florida is as many as there are in countries like Switzerland, Paraguay, and Israel. Four in 10 people in Florida are aged 50 years and above. Florida is home to more than 850 independent living communities. Apartment living is the most popular form of independent living. These apartments are designed specifically for adults aging 55 and older.

Apartment living offers seniors great amenities like walking trails, workout rooms, dog parks, and more. Community living for seniors in Florida also offers basic services for comfortable living, including meals and transport services.

Cooper City, Cape Coral, Naples, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Palm Valley, and Osprey are Florida cities most convenient for independent living. They offer more activities to participate in and access to quality healthcare.

Florida Weather and Climate

Florida is a preferred independent living destination because of its attractive weather and climate. The climate is ideal year-round for comfortable living. You can enjoy consistent warm weather every month. Jacksonville is a lively city offering beautiful beaches, nature, and seasonal weather, where it can dive into the 50s during winter.

Areas We Service In Florida

We service multiple locations across the state for the best independent living in florida, offering one of the highest selections of communities in Florida.

Jacksonville has a wide variety of fl senior living options including the best beach life. Tampa has crystal clear waters and offers hospitality and warm weather. Orlando is a city of ultimate entertainment.

Conclusion

Whether you plan on caregiving for the rest of your senior’s life or only for a short while, it’s never too early to look into finding a senior community. Our senior advisors are eager to help you find the perfect senior community!