Senior Living Apartments in Miami, FL

Most seniors use their income or savings to pay for a senior apartment. Unlike assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing care, senior apartments don’t offer care services and can’t be paid for using Medicaid or Medicare. However, some seniors can use veterans benefits to pay for their senior apartment, or pay for care in their residence with Medicaid and Medicare.

Read on to learn how to pay for a senior apartment in Miami and how to use veterans benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare to your advantage.

Senior apartments in Florida follow the same laws and regulations as other apartment complexes. In general, senior apartments don’t need to follow any special regulations the way assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing facilities do.

The one difference between senior apartments and other apartment complexes is that senior apartments often have age restrictions. In Miami, the age restriction is typically around 55. Some senior apartments may still allow younger residents, as long as they live with a resident who meets the age requirement.

You enter into a tenant-landlord relationship in a senior apartment

When you live in one of Miami’s senior apartments, you are a tenant and the apartment complex is your landlord. Residents need to follow the same guidelines and regulations as other tenants, such as the following:

• Keep all living areas clean and tidy
• Don’t knowingly alter the dwelling without permission from the landlord
• Pay rent on time
• Follow community guidelines, such as quiet hours and picking up after a pet

Senior apartments follow basic quality of life laws

Senior apartment complexes in Miami are required by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to do the following:

• Keep all living areas up to safety codes and in a clean condition
• Provide hot water, gas, and electricity
• Offer heat in the winter
• Provide extermination services
• Complete all repairs and maintenance
• Give residents locks and keys prior to move-in
• Return the resident’s security deposit within 15 days of the resident vacating

Disputes between a senior and their senior apartment complex in Miami

The state of Florida mediates all tenant and landlord disputes through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. If residents feel that a senior apartment complex has violated their quality of life or treated them unfairly, seniors should give the complex a written notice and give the landlord time to respond before taking any legal action. If the problem is serious, residents should consider speaking with a lawyer familiar with local tenant-landlord law or a housing association.

Living in a Miami senior apartment with a disability

Many seniors with a disability choose to live independently in a senior apartment instead of in an assisted living facility. Senior apartments don’t offer care services, but they must follow the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA prevents any senior apartment from barring a resident due to a disability. Individual apartments don’t need to be ADA compliant, but all public areas of the apartment complex, such as pools and lobbies, need to be accessible to people with disabilities.

Seniors with disabilities are also allowed to alter the apartment to make it more accessible, according to the Fair Housing Act. Service animals are permitted in all public areas of senior apartment complexes.

COVID-19 regulations for Miami senior apartments

Miami-Dade County remains dedicated to stopping the spread of COVID-19 amongst senior residents. Senior apartments in Miami don’t follow any special regulations to prevent COVID-19 because they don’t offer health or personal care services.

Miami-Dade County provides free COVID-19 testing and vaccinations for all county residents. These are available either through at-home testing kits or in pharmacies and health care centers throughout the county. You can find press releases and updated case and vaccine data on Miami-Dade County’s Coronavirus webpage.

Miami’s swanky charm has long called to seniors looking for a retirement destination. While Miami is no longer the low-cost-of-living haven it once was, there’s still a long list of reasons why seniors choose Miami over other, less expensive cities. Gorgeous weather and white sand beaches aside, Miami’s cultural riches are another big draw.

Stunning art deco architecture, strong Latin culture, and the sense of being in the heart of it all make Miami a mainstay for active seniors. Many seniors also appreciate Florida’s lack of income tax and generous state Medicaid plan.

Senior apartments or independent living communities in Miami

Active seniors in Miami can choose between living in a home, a senior apartment, or an independent living community. A Place for Mom partners with more independent living communities than senior apartments in Miami, and in general, independent living communities are more popular. Unlike senior apartments, independent living communities offer meal plans, daily activities, classes, and housekeeping services. They also tend to lump all monthly fees, including utilities, into one monthly payment.

If you’re looking for a hassle-free, resort-like retirement community that allows you to keep your autonomy, consider Miami’s independent living communities. If you’re looking for a simple apartment without the added amenity or housekeeping expenses, Miami’s senior apartments may be a better fit.

Senior apartments in Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, and Highland Beach

In general, the cities north of Miami tend to have a lower cost of living. Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, and Highland Beach all offer senior apartments at lower prices than in Miami. Highland Beach is a one hour drive from Miami, and about 76% of the town’s population is over 55.

Health care for seniors in Miami

Seniors in Miami can access some of the best health care in the world. Renowned medical centers like the Cleveland Clinic Weston and the University of Miami Hospital and Clinic make Miami an excellent choice for seniors concerned about the quality of their health care.

Transportation for seniors in Miami

It’s possible to get almost anywhere in Miami with public transportation. Miami-Dade County provides train systems — the Metrorail and Metromover — as well as the Metrobus. Downtown Miami also has trolleys. Residents and visitors can use taxis or other ride sharing services throughout the city.

Seniors in Miami can ride all public transportation for free using a Golden Passport EASY Card. You can apply for one of these cards in person at the Miami-Dade Transit Golden Passport Office or by calling 311. Miami can have heavy traffic, so be sure to keep that in mind when scheduling appointments or outings.

Walk Score rates cities on their transportation systems and navigability. Miami received the following scores, each out of 100:

Senior activities in Miami

Miami has enough culture, food, and natural beauty to keep even the most discerning travelers and residents entertained. Whether your perfect day involves snoozing on the beach, trying a cafecito, exploring the Everglades, or delving into history, Miami’s got it all.

Senior centers in Miami

• Miami-Dade Parks’ Active Older Adults program. Miami-Dade County puts on regular fitness classes and field trips and provides meals for older adults across the county. Find schedules and registration information on their website.
• Golden Ticket Arts Guide. Seniors can register with the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs to get a Golden Ticket, which gives them free access to cultural events throughout the city. You can find a list of current events on the website.

Senior-friendly outdoor activities in Miami

• The Everglades. Miami is a natural jumping-off point for Everglades expeditions. Head to the Homestead entrance of the park about 90 minutes south of Miami. Be sure to book an airboat tour as a non-invasive and exciting method to explore the park.
• Sunny Isles Beach. Between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Sunny Isles Beach is quiet and close to excellent restaurants.
• Crandon Park Beach. Quieter than most other beaches in Miami, Crandon Park Beach has tennis courts, a golf course, and cabanas for showering.

Senior-friendly cultural activities in Miami

• Little Havana.On Calle Oche (Southwest Eighth St.), Little Havana is the heartbeat of Miami’s Cuban culture. You’ll find Latin restaurants and lounges, murals, and music venues.
• Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. The former home of businessman James Deering, the Vizcaya Museums and Gardens offer Renaissance-style gardens and an extensive art collection.
• Wynwood Walls. Wynwood Walls is Miami’s street art museum. You can visit at any time, but you do need to reserve tickets in advance.