Find Senior Apartments Communities Near Jacksonville, FL

Most people pay for their senior apartments with private funds, such as income or retirement savings. However, there are other ways to pay for your senior apartment. Read on for a few smart methods to afford the apartment of your choice. We’ll also cover public benefits —  like veterans benefits, Medicaid, Medicare, and public housing — that can offset some of your apartment or care expenses.

Senior apartments are regulated like other apartment complexes. While they’re called senior apartments, they aren’t regulated or licensed like other senior care types, such as assisted living facilities or nursing homes. This is because senior apartments don’t offer personal care or health care services, and if they do, it’s through third-party services.

One difference senior apartments have from other apartment complexes is an age requirement. Most senior apartments in Jacksonville, Florida, have an age restriction of 55+, and some raise the age minimum to 62. That said, younger people can sometimes live in a senior apartment complex if they live with a senior who meets the age requirement.

Residents’ rights in Jacksonville senior apartments

As a resident of a senior apartment in Jacksonville, you’re a tenant and the apartment’s management is your landlord. You have the same rights as other tenants in all apartment complexes in Jacksonville. However, this may be the first time you’ve rented, or the first time in a while, so it’s important to understand your rights.

Florida laws tend to be friendly to tenants. Not all states have a governing body to mediate landlord and tenant disputes, but the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services oversees all tenant and landlord problems. The Department also explains all landlord and tenant standards and expectations.

If the apartment complex doesn’t meet the standards listed below, the resident can break their lease within a week of informing the landlord. Similarly, if the tenant doesn’t meet tenant requirements, the landlord can begin eviction proceedings within a week if the problem isn’t resolved. Before breaking a lease, a resident or a landlord should provide several written notices and give the other party time to respond before taking action. As a tenant, it’s also a good idea to consult with a lawyer or housing association before breaking any lease.

Landlords in Jacksonville are required to follow these standards:

• Keep living areas up to code and in a livable condition
• Supply the residence with running and hot water, gas, and electricity
• Supply heat in the winter
• Offer extermination services
• Handle all repairs and maintenance
• Give tenants locks prior to move-in
• Notify the resident before entering the apartment
• Return the security deposit within 15 days of the tenant leaving or offer an explanation why some or all of the deposit was kept

Tenants in Jacksonville are required to follow these standards:

• Pay rent on time each month
• Don’t overuse water, electricity, or gas
• Don’t knowingly alter the apartment without permission from the landlord
• Keep the apartment in a livable condition
• Adhere to resident community guidelines, like quiet hours and picking up after a pet

Senior apartments for people with disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits any discrimination on the basis of disability. This means that you can’t be barred from renting a senior apartment because of a disability. While apartments themselves don’t have to be ADA compliant, all public areas around the apartment complex do.

Seniors with disabilities can also make reasonable accommodations to their dwelling to make it more accessible with permission from their landlord, according to the Fair Housing Act. Seniors also can’t be rejected from an apartment if they have a service animal, and their service animal should be permitted in all areas of the complex.

COVID-19 regulations for senior apartments in Jacksonville

Senior apartments in Jacksonville follow the COVID-19 guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control, Florida’s COVID-19 Response Team, and the City of Jacksonville. Residents are encouraged to mask if sick and test when exposed.

Jacksonville residents can find a list of COVID-19 testing sites, case updates, and more on the Jacksonville COVID-19 FAQ page.

Because it’s so large, Jacksonville is unofficially split into four quadrants, known locally as the Northside, Westside, Southside, and the Beaches. While each neighborhood has its own distinctive personality, almost all of A Place for Mom’s partnering senior communities in Jacksonville are in the booming Southside and the laid-back Beaches.

Jacksonville is young-at-heart and attracts active seniors looking for an energizing city without the price tag of New York or Chicago. Not only is Jacksonville more affordable than most other cities in Florida, it’s more affordable than most other cities in the entire nation. Despite its affordability, Jacksonville has beautiful beaches, a thriving art scene, and plentiful senior centers.

Senior apartments are often overshadowed by independent living communities in Jacksonville, as they offer more services and amenity options. However, A Place for Mom’s partner senior apartments in Jacksonville are more affordable than independent living communities.

Lifestyle: Jacksonville’s senior apartments

Jacksonville’s senior apartments tend to be larger than senior apartments in other cities. Most have at least two bedrooms for the same price as a one-bedroom in other cities. Even though Jacksonville covers 840 square miles, it has less than 1 million residents. This means it feels more suburban, and apartment complexes tend to be on bigger lots — allowing for larger units.

You can expect your senior apartment in Jacksonville to have a full kitchen, closet space, and access to community amenities. Most communities have a laundry facility instead of in-unit laundry hookups, and many have a gym, community lounges, and outdoor picnic areas. Depending on where the community is located, you could be a short walk from the beach or a museum.

While senior apartments don’t typically have on-staff activity directors like most independent living communities, many have resident-run activities, like walking, birding, and other interest clubs. You can also expect social gatherings, like evening parties. And, if your community doesn’t offer your favorite activity, you can start your own!

Neighborhoods: Jacksonville’s senior apartments

Almost all A Place for Mom’s partnering senior living options in Jacksonville are in the Southside or the Beaches. The Southside, also called South Jacksonville, is a mix of large outdoor shopping centers, hospitals, and apartment complexes. The Southside also benefits from being geographically protected from some of the weather patterns along the coast. You’re less likely to have to evacuate if you live in the Southside.

The Beaches is an area right along the coast. Laid-back and relaxed, this area is made up of multiple independent towns, like Jacksonville Beach, that are part of the Jacksonville area. This is an ideal spot for seniors who love to spend their time sunbathing, fishing, and collecting seashells. This area is distinctly walkable and bike-friendly, and the boardwalk takes you along the water, shopping centers, and restaurants for miles.

Jacksonville’s senior community

Jacksonville has one of the fastest-growing senior populations in the nation. Known as Where Florida Begins or even South Georgia, Jacksonville has a distinctively Southern feel unique in Florida. It may be one of the few places where you can eat soul food on a white sand beach.

Seniors come to Jacksonville for a variety of reasons. Many are from Jax and see no reason to move in their retirement years. Others were stationed in Jacksonville while in the military and decided to move back. Many follow their children, who move to Jacksonville for finance, technology, and health care jobs. Regardless of why they came, most find Jacksonville to be a welcoming place for seniors.

Health care for seniors in Jacksonville

Jacksonville has some of the best health care options in the United States. The world-renowned Mayo Clinic has one of its main campuses in Jacksonville, and the Southside has a high concentration of excellent hospitals.

Transportation for seniors in Jacksonville

Jacksonville’s a driving city, although it does have somewhat reliable public transportation. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (also called the JTAFLA) runs an efficient bus system throughout the city. You can view bus schedules, fares, and routes on the JTAFLA website. It’s affordable, but you may need to wait 30 minutes or more for your ride.

Many seniors in Jacksonville take advantage of affordable and reliable Amtrak fares from Jacksonville to surrounding areas for day or weekend trips. The ride from Jacksonville to Orlando takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes, and it will cost you only $26 each way.

Senior apartments in Jacksonville don’t provide transportation services like many independent living communities, but they do offer on-site parking.

Walkscore.com rates cities for their walkability, bike-ability, and public transit. Each score is out of 100. Jacksonville received the following scores:

Senior activities in Jacksonville

Jacksonville is a city of multitudes. Locals know that each area of Jax has its own personality and popular pastimes. But one thing that doesn’t change regardless of where you find yourself in the Gateway to the South is the weather. Jacksonville’s average high temperature of 82 degrees and low of 57 degrees means this city is pleasant year-round.

There’s no shortage of outdoor and cultural activities in Jacksonville that are perfect for seniors (or anyone). Read on to find your next favorite hobby in the Bold New City of the South.

On-site activities at senior apartments

Your senior apartment in Jacksonville probably doesn’t employ an activities coordinator, but that doesn’t mean your apartment complex won’t have any social events. On the contrary, many residents develop their own social calendar. If you want a birding club, you can start one! And you’ll likely find other seniors who are just as enthusiastic about the roseate spoonbill as you are. Seniors will find plenty of social opportunities to make new friends and develop new interests at Jacksonville senior apartments.

Shop in South Jacksonville

South Jacksonville (or the Southside) is where most of A Place for Mom’s senior living partners reside, and for good reason. South Jacksonville is booming with exceptional health care, luxury apartments, and brand-new shopping centers. The Avenues is one of the largest indoor shopping destinations in the city, with a focus on family, fashion, and the military. You can find major department stores, high fashion, fun trinkets, and tasty treats.

St. Johns Town Center is the area’s premier outdoor mall. You can find anything you need or want in its many stores. Some seniors enjoy using the sidewalks around St. Johns Town Center as a regular walking path and often reward themselves with a new purse or a nice lunch after.

Enjoy the arts in downtown Jacksonville

Downtown Jacksonville is the artistic heartbeat of the city. The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens is the largest fine art museum in the Northeast region of Florida. Marvel at contemporary American artists and ancient paintings as you ramble through the expansive building. Tours are available for a $20 fee. You can also add a lunch option to your tour for only $40. If you’re looking for some intrigue, participate in the museum’s Mildred Thompson Escape Room! Make sure to spend some time outside the museum exploring the beautiful gardens.

The Florida Theater was established in 1927 and has been entertaining legions of Jaxsons ever since. With a different performance almost every night, you can enjoy anything from an ABBA tribute band to theatrical renditions of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad to symphony orchestras. The theater is also wheelchair accessible.

The Riverside Arts Market is a weekly vendor market in downtown Jacksonville. You can find artisan goods, fresh produce, and art by local artists every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A 20-minute walk from The Riverside Arts Market will take you to the Southbank Riverwalk, which is one of the best ways to experience Jacksonville’s downtown skyline.

Find exotic adventure in North Jacksonville

Catty Shack Ranch is a big cat sanctuary north of Jacksonville. It’s a nonprofit organization that rehabilitates big cats, and it provides a safe haven for many different endangered species. It’s an ethical sanctuary as it doesn’t sell, breed, or trade any of the resident animals. You can safely see tigers, lions, panthers, and more. Day tours are only $15 per person.

Fort Caroline National Memorial was originally a French colonial settlement from 1564. Its storied history includes Spanish conflicts, native Timucua people, and a free black population. Visitors can hike throughout the ecological preserve and watch historical reenactments.

Relax at the Beaches

The Beaches is the second most popular location for seniors living in Jacksonville. More laid back than South Jacksonville, the Beaches offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of commerce. Jacksonville Beach is the main beach in the area and is technically its own resort city with a population of about 24,000. The city sits on a wide sandy beach with a golf course, a fishing pier, and surfing spots. You can regularly see dolphins in the morning and evening hours.

Atlantic Beach is another popular destination for Jacksonville seniors. Also its own city, Atlantic Beach has miles of clean, sandy beaches. Neptune Beach is situated between Jacksonville Beach and Atlantic Beach. It has an upscale neighborhood community and plenty of palm-lined walking paths right on the water.

Huguenot Memorial Park marks the spot where the French Huguenots landed in 1562. Now, you can camp, picnic, or enjoy a leisurely beach day. Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park is an excellent place to kayak amongst hundreds of acres of rare coastal hammock groves. You need to pay a small fee for a day pass or you can buy a yearly pass for a discount.

Golfing in Jacksonville

Unsurprisingly, Jacksonville is a golf-lover’s paradise. Its year-round amenable weather means you’re able to hit the greens in June and February. If you crave the heady competition of a golf tournament — or simply want to meet new people — you can join the North East Florida Senior Golf Association. Senior members 50 and over congregate at the best golf courses around Jacksonville and the surrounding areas. To join, fill out the application on their website.

Sports

Jacksonville is loud and proud of its local sports teams: Jacksonville Jaguars football, Jumbo Shrimp baseball, the Armada soccer, Axemen rugby, Iceman hockey, Giants basketball, and Sharks arena football. Everbank Field is the home to the Jaguars, and while seniors may not always enjoy the loud crowds of an NFL game, Jacksonville’s other teams offer a great sporting atmosphere in smaller settings.

Day trips from Jacksonville

Jacksonville is conveniently located close to top-notch day trips. Sitting 17 miles northeast of Jacksonville is Little Talbot Island State Park, which boasts delightful sand dunes, open and clean beaches, and a barrier reef. On its sister island, Big Talbot Island State Park, you can camp and bird watch. In fact, Big Talbot Island State Park is one of the best bird-watching locations in the nation. You can walk through Boneyard Beach on your way to Spoonbill Pond to spy one of the eponymous birds in the water. Best of all, you can drive to both islands.

Two hours from Jacksonville is Blue Springs State Park, which has crystal clear water and a local manatee population. Ichetucknee Springs is another great option for swimming or playing in the water, and it’s also only about two hours away from the city.

Seniors in Jacksonville are known to use Amtrak to take day or weekend trips throughout the State. One popular trip is to take the train from Jacksonville to Orlando, which takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Local guides

Jacksonville’s local visitor’s guide outlines up-to-date information about events and activities. You can also find helpful tips about some of the best restaurants in the area and where to stay, from campsites to hotels.