10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Jacksonville, FL

Paying for your loved one’s assisted living can be complex. Most families use a mix of private savings and public assistance to pay for their loved one’s assisted living care. Assisted living offers personal care, which means some of your loved one’s expenses may be eligible to be covered by public assistance, such as Medicaid, Medicare, or veterans benefits.

You can rest assured that assisted living facilities in Jacksonville, Florida, are held to high standards and offer safe, secure, and compassionate care. In Florida, all assisted living facilities are licensed and regulated by the Bureau of Health Facilities Regulation. Because there are different kinds of assisted living facilities, the Bureau offers a few different types of licenses under the assisted living umbrella.

For example, small residential group homes with a live-in caregiver receive an Adult Foster Care license. Assisted living communities that also offer skilled nursing receive an Extended Congregate Care license. Traditional assisted living facilities receive the Assisted Living Facility license.

What are the requirements for assisted living facilities in Florida?

In Florida, all assisted living facilities must adhere to the following standards in order to keep their license:

• Facilities must be clean and secure.
• Residents should receive regular nutritious meals.
• Residents should be allowed to keep their personal belongings in their own room.
• If spouses live in the same facility, they should be permitted to reside together.
• Assisted living facilities should contact family members or guardians at least every 30 days.

Employees are held to high standards and need to meet the following requirements in order to work at a Florida assisted living facility:

• Employees must pass a background check.
• Within 30 days of their employment, all caregiving staff should complete a 4-hour training on limiting the spread of disease and senior care needs.
• Administrative staff must complete an initial 26 hours of training and 12 hours of continuing education every two years.

Assisted living facilities in Florida go through regular inspections. You can find the inspection results for every facility in Florida on the Agency for Health Care Administration website. To find the inspection results, go through the following steps:

• Go to the Agency for Health Care Administration website.
• Click on the “Statement of Deficiencies” tab.
• In the drop down menu for “Provider type,” select “Assisted living facility.”
• To search for individual facilities, type the name of the facility. Or, you can choose to see all facilities in Duval County.

Florida Department of Health contact information

Duval County Administrative Office
921 N. Davis St.
Jacksonville, FL 32209
Phone: 904-253-1000
Email: Chd16_dchd_contact@flhealth.gov

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800
Phone: 800-435-7352

COVID-19 regulations for Jacksonville assisted living facilities

Florida doesn’t have any vaccination, masking, or quarantine requirements for assisted living facilities. Instead, it provides a COVID-19 preparedness checklist for all long-term care facilities; some items are included below. The City of Jacksonville publishes case updates and a list of COVID-19 testing sites on their Jacksonville COVID-19 FAQ page.

Jacksonville is an increasingly popular place for seniors looking for assisted living options. And since Jacksonville is spread out over 840 square miles, there are plenty of assisted living options. Many seniors prefer assisted living facilities near their families, and with a booming economy, many seniors follow their children who move to Jacksonville for work. Other seniors were stationed in Jacksonville during their time in the military and decided to return for their golden years.

Jacksonville has everything you’d expect from a Florida city: beaches, commerce, and a young-at-heart culture. However, Jax — as it’s also called — is considerably more affordable than most other major cities in Florida. It’s a logical choice for seniors in assisted living who want that Floridian lifestyle without the price tag.

As the largest city by land mass in the United States, there really is something for everyone in Jacksonville. Many seniors are surprised by Jax’s many beautiful, safe, and lively neighborhoods. A Place for Mom partners with 14 assisted living facilities in Jacksonville, Florida. Most of these assisted living facilities are in the laid-back Beaches and the bustling and affluent South Jacksonville neighborhood.

Assisted living in South Jacksonville: Large facilities in an affluent setting

Jacksonville is split into four quadrants: South Jacksonville, Northside, Westside, and The Beaches. South Jacksonville is where the majority of A Place for Mom’s partnering assisted living facilities are. In part, this is because South Jacksonville is geographically protected from coastal weather patterns — unlike The Beaches — and isn’t near the swamplands of Northside.

South Jacksonville is an affluent, booming neighborhood. Massive state-of-the-art shopping centers sit next to luxury apartments, groomed parks, and beautiful public libraries. Health care facilities are also concentrated in South Jacksonville. And while it may be luxurious, South Jacksonville is not expensive. In fact, assisted living facilities in South Jacksonville are among the most affordable in the nation.

Almost all of A Place for Mom’s partnering assisted living facilities in South Jacksonville include independent living, assisted living, and memory care. These are ideal for seniors who know they’ll want to stay in the same facility as their care needs progress. Living units tend to be larger in Jacksonville than in other cities and often include a kitchenette, large windows, and covered patios.

Assisted living facilities in South Jacksonville are often very large with hundreds of residents on large plots. Many have their own walking trail system, gyms, and craft rooms. Seniors in Jacksonville’s assisted living facilities can expect to receive compassionate help with their personal needs, housekeeping, and restaurant-style dining.

Assisted living in The Beaches: Laid-back luxury with beach-front access

Where South Jacksonville’s assisted living facilities are large and splashy, The Beaches’ assisted living facilities tend to be smaller and more exclusive. Real estate is somewhat more expensive in this area, so these assisted living facilities are costlier, sometimes up to 30% more expensive than what you can get in South Jacksonville. However, many are right on the beach and have walking trails that lead directly to the water.

The Beaches is an area in Jacksonville made up of a few beach-front towns, and the largest of these is Jacksonville Beach. These communities are resort-like, and many people use them as regular vacation destinations. However, The Beaches are much quieter than most other spots in the Jacksonville area, making them a great option for seniors who like to kick back and relax.

Seniors can expect the same exceptional level of care and attention from assisted living facilities on The Beaches. Facilities tend to be smaller and somewhat older than options in South Jacksonville, but they have beautiful views of the water and a more intimate setting.

Health care for seniors in Jacksonville

Jacksonville has an exceptional health care system, in part because it’s home to one of the Mayo Clinic’s main campuses. South Jacksonville, home to most of A Place for Mom’s partnering assisted living facilities, has a high concentration of hospitals and health care options. This means accessing high-quality health care in Jacksonville is convenient for local seniors.

Transportation for seniors in Jacksonville

Seniors living in Jacksonville’s assisted living facilities won’t need to worry about transportation, as almost all of A Place for Mom’s partnering assisted living facilities offer complimentary transportation. That said, family members and friends should be aware that most people in Jacksonville use a car as the primary means of transportation.

Jacksonville does have a public transportation system called the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (also known as JTAFLA). The bus system runs throughout the city, and you can find bus schedules, fares, and routes on the JTAFLA website. It’s very affordable, and seniors can ride for free. However, wait times can exceed 30 minutes, and it’s not recommended for most seniors to ride alone.

Walkscore.com rates cities for walkability, bikeability, and public transportation options. Each score is out of 100. Jacksonville received the following scores: