10 Best Independent Living Communities in Fort Myers, FL

If you’re thinking about independent living in Fort Myers and exploring costs, you’re probably wondering about payment options and strategies.

Independent living communities do not provide care, so the rental portion of your costs is not covered by long-term care insurance or programs like Medicaid or Medicare. However, these resources may help you cover necessary medical costs that you incur during your time in an independent living community and offset things like pharmaceuticals and hospital visits.

Social Security benefits and VA benefits can also help. Many seniors find that they’re able to combine these with private pay options to make their lifestyle work.

Here you will find information and resources about private pay, VA benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare for seniors.

Because independent living communities in Florida don’t have regular, on-site care, they don’t have to be licensed as care facilities. Instead, they are regulated according to general housing and rental laws. A guide to tenant and landlord laws can be found on the state website. Most independent living facilities only require an age minimum for residents wishing to join the community (generally 55 years of age).

However, about half of the facilities in our independent living network combine independent living with assisted living facilities and/or memory care, which provide housing, meals, and assistance with activities of daily living.

These communities will require licensing by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration’s Bureau of Health Facility Regulation. State rules and regulations will also apply, and the facilities will have to undergo inspections every two years for health, safety, and security. You can see the outcome of inspections by using this Facility/Provider Locator to search for a specific facility or a type of facility.

Florida Department of Health contact information

Florida Department of Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: 850-245-4444
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

COVID-19 regulations for Fort Myers independent living communities

There are no specific COVID-19 regulations in Fort Myers for independent living communities. However, the state of Florida follows the guidance and recommendations of the CDC and other government agencies.

Fort Myers is an enviable location. Residents here can enjoy warm weather, beaches, boats, city life, and all the other Florida must-haves. This could mean, for example, relaxing among the palm trees, shopping with friends, or enjoying a round of golf. Fort Myers residents can enjoy all of this year-round.

Life, your way

Independent living communities in Fort Myers are homes — rooms, suites, apartments, and houses — that are usually designed for people who are at least 55 years old. The facilities in our network offer a range of property types, from beach-front hideaways to resort-style communities. They all come with amenities and features that will suit different personalities and interests. Most of A Place for Mom’s partner facilities, for example, offer games rooms, fitness centers, and even beauty salons.

Affordability and luxury

Fort Myers is an area known for being affordable, with high-quality care options, living spaces, and life-enhancing features at a relatively low cost. Luxury here is very possible. This is Florida, after all — sleek design, tropical landscaping, and poolside dining are not unusual. In addition, many of our partner communities pride themselves on their luxury services, whether that be expert nutrition care or elegant courtyards.

A level of care that suits you

Independent living facilities are designed for seniors who still want to have an active life and belong to a community of like-minded people. While they are built with independence in mind, many of our in-network partner facilities offer independent living alongside other arrangements. If your needs change, or if you or a loved one requires extra nursing care, dementia care, or daily assistance, you can find a facility that works for you.

Health care for seniors in Fort Myers

Transportation for seniors in Fort Myers

Driving is the preferred way for most people to explore Fort Myers. With long coastal roads and beach fronts, and a metropolis buzzing between the Caloosahatchee River and the Gulf of Mexico, seniors and their families can enjoy road-tripping the area together. Some spots are more walkable than others — Lincoln Park, Winkler Safe Neighborhood, and Bowling Green in particular — but traffic and patchy pedestrian-friendly routes mean that driving and public transport (and cycling if you’re feeling brave) are your best bets.

The beach is about 20 miles from the downtown area, ideal for a drive but also well-serviced by the city’s public transportation. LeeTran is the main operator in Fort Myers, and it provides buses and shuttles around the city and surrounding area. This includes Southwest Florida International Airport. The LeeTran trolley service provides regular trips to Fort Myers Beach and charges a fare of 50 cents per passenger.

While LeeTran offers ride discounts for seniors as well as accessible options, there are also senior-specific transport options in Fort Myers that you might want to have on speed dial, such as the Cape Coral Mini-Bus and the Faith in Action Senior Transportation Program. These services go door to door and serve seniors specifically.

The Walk Scores below provide a sense of how people get around Fort Myers. They are based on a 100-point scale. Fort Myers’ bike score, for example, falls into the “somewhat bikeable” category.

Senior activities in Fort Myers

Because the Fort Myers landscape is a mix of natural and urban environments, and there are tons of things to get involved in, whether you’re a beach lover, park explorer, or city dweller.

The beach is likely to be a fixture in your Fort Myers life. Public beaches wind along the coastline, meeting the banks of the Caloosahatchee River. With so much space for water activities, you can take a boat ride with loved ones or explore the Great Calusa Blueway, a paddling trail from Pine Island Sound to Estero Bay. For more outdoor activities, consider heading to the public lap pool (with water slides for courageous grandkids) or Fort Myers Country Golf Club.

Get your steps in and enjoy your natural surroundings at the same time with a walk along the boardwalks of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, a 3,500-acre wildlife and wetland reserve. Fort Myers’ close proximity to Everglades National Park, a 1.5-million-acre preserve that serves as the habitat of hundreds of unique plants and animals, is another unmissable excursion for nature enthusiasts. For a less physically demanding outdoor experience, head to the River District to enjoy shopping and dining al fresco.

Sports fans will find kindred spirits at Hammond Stadium and JetBlue Park, the spring training ground for the Boston Red Sox. But that doesn’t mean art lovers have to be disappointed — the city of Fort Myers is full of cultural happenings. Take in a show at the Florida Repertory Theater or explore the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, old haunts of inventors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. For a literal stroll through history, sign up for a River District History Tour.

Fort Myers also hosts numerous events throughout the year. These include theater festivals, art fairs, and musical farmers markets.