DEV | TEST h1 template (view-level fallback) Assisted Living

This section explains how to pay for your ideal assisted living community in Tampa.

Because assisted living provides both residential housing and personal care, most families and seniors pay for their assisted living with a mix of private means — like personal savings and investments — or public sources, like Medicaid.

In Florida, the Bureau of Health Facilities Regulation licenses and regulates assisted living facilities. The bureau offers a few different licenses for different kinds of assisted living facilities. For example, residential group homes with a live-in caregiver need an additional license for Adult Foster Care. Assisted living communities that offer both independent living and skilled nursing units need to apply for an Extended Congregate Care license. Facilities that offer only assisted living in an institutional setting are licensed as “standard” assisted living facilities.

To be eligible for assisted living in Tampa, Florida, a senior should not require 24-hour nursing care. The senior should be able to go about their daily activities with caregiver assistance. The following are the other regulations for Tampa’s assisted living facilities:

• Facilities must be kept clean and hygienic.
• Regular meals should be provided.
• Residents are allowed to keep their own clothing and possessions in their room.
• Spouses should be allowed to share the same room if they are both residents of the community.
• Caregivers should communicate with family members or guardians at least every 30 days.

Employee training

All employees are required to pass a background check. Within 30 days of starting their employment, caregiving staff must complete one hour of training about infectious diseases and three hours of training on senior residents’ needs. The administrative staff of assisted living facilities need to complete an initial 26 hours of training and 12 hours of continuing education every two years.

Inspection reports

After an initial inspection, assisted living communities in Tampa go through inspections every two years. Inspection results are available to the public on the Agency for Health Care Administration website. To find an inspection report, click the “Statement of Deficiencies” tab, and in the drop-down menu for “Provider Type” select “Assisted Living Facility.”

To search for individual facilities, write the name of the facility under “Provider Name,” or simply select “Hillsborough County” to see the inspection results for every assisted living community in Tampa.

COVID-19 regulations for Tampa assisted living communities

Florida has no COVID-19 regulations for assisted living facilities, but it does use a preparedness checklist for nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care facilities. Some of the recommendations for assisted living communities to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 include the following:

Assisted living communities in Tampa offer personal care and a hassle-free lifestyle. Daily chores, like laundry and cooking, are managed by the community to allow seniors the chance to engage in their hobbies. Caregivers are on staff to help seniors continue to do what they love safely.

Caregivers help with the following:

• Mobility
• Medication management
• Scheduling and remembering appointments
• Finding activities
• Communicating with family members

Other senior living options in Tampa

Seniors who don’t want personal care but do want entertainment and housekeeping may find their perfect niche in Tampa’s independent living communities. Seniors with dementia, however, should consider Tampa’s memory care facilities.

Loved ones who need round-the-clock medical supervision or seniors who are no longer independently mobile are likely best suited for Tampa’s nursing homes. These seniors may not be eligible for assisted living or memory care communities.

Diverse demographics

Since the 1960s, seniors across the United States have flocked to Tampa, Florida, as a retirement haven. Pristine beaches, strong diversity, and no state income tax create Tampa’s appeal. A growing local economy in the Tampa Bay area is also bringing in highly paid workers followed by aging parents. This persistent demand for senior living translates to a wide variety of assisted living options for Florida seniors.

Tampa is a diverse city. Many assisted living communities in Tampa reflect this diversity by offering Spanish-speaking services and international cuisine options. From its racial and ethnic diversity to its wide range of household income and ages of its residents, Tampa is home to a variety of people.

The largest age group in Tampa is between the ages of 25 and 39, making up around 26% of the population. People 65+ make up 14% of the total population. In surrounding Tampa Bay areas, like Clearwater, however, people 65+ make up the largest age group.

Traditional assisted living with top-tier medical care

Though most places in Tampa are near excellent hospitals, over 60% of our partner Tampa assisted living communities have an on-site medical director who is either a board-certified physician or a nurse practitioner.

Most assisted living communities in Tampa are traditional residential facilities, offering daily meals, comfortable private or semi-private rooms, dedicated staff members to aid residents with daily activities, and some on-site amenities. The more luxurious assisted living communities, with expansive pools and more amenities, tend to be in neighboring cities in the Tampa Bay area, like Clearwater and Wesley Chapel.

Assisted living in the greater Tampa Bay communities

Tampa and Tampa Bay are often referred to interchangeably, but Tampa Bay is the larger geographic area that includes cities like Tampa, Clearwater, and Wesley Chapel. Therefore, we decided to expand on Clearwater and Wesley Chapel as important hubs for senior living in the Tampa Bay area.

Clearwater

Clearwater has a higher concentration of assisted living options than the city of Tampa. Some seniors enjoy Clearwater because of the oceanfront assisted living facilities. There are also more luxury assisted living communities in Clearwater than in Tampa. And almost 23% of the population in Clearwater is over 65 years of age.

Wesley Chapel

Wesley Chapel is an affluent northern suburb of Tampa. Due to its high growth in the last 10 years, the assisted living communities in Wesley Chapel tend to be newer and have more suburban amenities, like on-site dog parks, walking paths, and putting greens. Despite having more amenities than assisted living in Tampa, assisted living communities in Wesley Chapel tend to be the same price as those in Tampa. Meaning, you can get more bang for your buck in Wesley Chapel.

Best hospitals for seniors in Tampa

Tampa has a well-established health care system. Many hospitals here are nationally known for a number of specialties, especially cancer and geriatrics.

Transportation for seniors in Tampa, Florida

Tampa is best explored by car, which is why 78% of our partnering assisted living communities in Tampa offer complimentary transportation. However, traffic in downtown Tampa can be fierce, and a drive across Tampa at peak traffic hours can take more than an hour.

For seniors who don’t have access to transportation services, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) runs the local bus system, which is an affordable and moderately reliable mode of transportation for locals.

The Sunshine Line is Tampa’s door-to-door transportation option for the elderly or disabled. Seniors can enroll in the program by calling their enrollment number at 813-272-7272.