Senior Living Apartments in Cleveland, OH

You can combine several private and public assistance options to help you pay for Cleveland senior living. Taking an appraisal of your own financial position will help you decide the best way to pay for a senior apartment and any additional support services you may need.

If you have a chronic illness, a disability, or another need for personal care services, public assistance like Medicaid and Medicare may help cover the cost of in-home care services in your apartment.

Cleveland senior apartment facilities generally have a minimum age requirement of 55, 62, or 65. Age minimums in senior apartments often don’t apply to every tenant; rather, one person in each apartment household must meet the age requirement. However, it is common for children under the age of 18 to be prohibited from living in an age-restricted community such as a senior apartment, so if you have young children or custody of grandchildren, your senior apartment community options may be a bit limited.

Cleveland senior apartments are subject to the same regulations as any other Ohio apartment. Tenants and landlords each have their own rights and obligations.

Ohio apartment regulations

As a tenant in any Ohio apartment, including senior apartments, you have rights to appropriate and safe living conditions. Landlords of apartments are responsible for ensuring and maintaining standards of maintenance, safety, and cleanliness for their tenants. Landlords’ requirements include the following:

• Ensure that all electrical, plumbing, sanitation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, elevators, and other facilities are in good and safe working order.
• Organize waste removal services.
• Supply heat and running water.
• Make needed repairs to keep the building safe and usable.
• Comply with building codes for health and safety purposes.
• Ensure that shared areas are clean, sanitary, and safe.

Tenants of Ohio apartments are responsible for their share of upholding the facility’s living conditions for themselves and their neighbors. As a resident of a Cleveland senior apartment, your responsibilities will include the following:

• Refrain from disturbing your neighbors with excessive noise.
• Keep the premises clean and safe.
• Use plumbing and electrical equipment appropriately.
• Dispose of waste properly.
• Follow state and municipal drug laws on the premises.
• Follow health and safety codes for housing.

ADA compliance

Senior apartment communities fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This means that, like public and commercial spaces, owners are required to make reasonable accommodations and modifications for individuals with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities are protected from discrimination; thus, owners of housing facilities are prohibited by federal law from denying residency to these individuals.

Reasonable accommodations are changes to rules or policies so residents with disabilities have access to the same activities and benefits as other tenants. The following are some examples of reasonable accommodations:

• Providing convenient parking
• Providing those with disabilities equal access to the property’s communal areas or social activities
• Adjusting rent payment due dates to correspond with tenant’s disability payments

Modifications can include making the space more accessible for individuals with disabilities through construction changes to the apartment building and unit. Modifications may be the adding a wheelchair ramp, building a hands-free entrance, or installing handrails in bathrooms. The costs of these modifications are the property owner’s responsibility, rather than the tenant’s. Find more information on related Ohio tenant-landlord laws below.

• View the Ohio Tenant and Landlord Guide
• View the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging Housing Guide for Seniors and Individuals Who Have a Disabilities

Ohio Department of Health contact information

Ohio Department of Health
246 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-3543

Cleveland Department of Public Health
75 Erieview Plaza
Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: 216-664-2324

COVID-19 regulations for Cleveland senior apartments

As most COVID-19 restrictions in Ohio have been lifted, there are no statewide COVID-19 regulations in place for Ohio senior apartments at this time.

As a resident of a senior apartment in Cleveland, you can enjoy the benefits of independent living at a price that serves your budget. Senior apartments typically have fewer amenities than independent living facilities in order to keep prices low, but still have more to offer than most all-ages apartments. Enjoy a worry-free retirement in a community where you can shed the responsibilities of home ownership like lawn care and maintenance. Senior apartments also offer many social opportunities, as your neighbors will be other retirees.

Cleveland senior apartment private amenities

The following are examples of amenities that most senior apartments offer residents in their individual apartments:

• Private patios or balconies
• High-speed internet
• Wheelchair accessibility
• Fully equipped kitchens

Cleveland senior apartment community-wide amenities

Our senior apartment partners in Cleveland typically offer amenities for the whole community, including communal leisure areas and on-site conveniences like the following:

• Management staff
• Maintenance
• Storage units
• Community swimming pools
• Fitness centers
• Recreational areas
• Planned social activities
• On-site salon services

Cleveland luxury senior apartments

You’ll also find some luxury senior apartment options in Cleveland, which offer even more indulgent amenities. These senior apartments will usually provide the same basic amenities as most senior apartments, plus luxuries such as the following:

• Concierge services
• Dining and meal services
• Housekeeping services
• Fitness classes

Health care for seniors in Cleveland

Cleveland residents have access to several excellent teaching hospitals and medical centers.

Transportation for seniors in Cleveland

Downtown Cleveland has excellent public transportation, and it is quite walkable and bikeable. Further outside of downtown, you will probably want to use a car or your senior apartment community’s transportation services, if available. Of our Cleveland senior apartment partners, 67% offer transportation services, some complimentary and some at-cost, depending on the community’s policies and whether the services are on-demand or scheduled.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority offers several transportation options, with safety, connection, and inclusion kept at the forefront of their mission. You have railway lines, bus routes, a downtown trolley, and paratransit services designed for those with disabilities, all at your fingertips.

Downtown Cleveland is ranked as very walkable by Walkscore.com, which gives it the following transportation ratings out of 100:

Senior activities in Cleveland

There’s always something to do in Cleveland. From nostalgic attractions to annual festivals, Cleveland is a fun and happening city. Did you know that the beloved classic movie, “A Christmas Story,” was filmed in Cleveland? You can even visit the “A Christmas Story” house and pay tribute to a major award. Just be careful not to shoot your eye out! Read more about family attractions, dining, and offerings just for seniors like you.

Cleveland attractions

Cleveland has so many must-see attractions, including museums, wildlife centers, and more. Check out these fun family attractions:

• “A Christmas Story” House
• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
• Greater Cleveland Aquarium
• Children’s Museum of Cleveland
• Cleveland Botanical Garden
• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

You can also enjoy the Cleveland orchestra or catch a Browns, Monsters, or Guardians game.

Cleveland dining and libations

Cleveland is a go-to destination for craft beer. You can pick up an annual Brewery Passport to get discounts on local brews and make sure you don’t miss any of Cleveland’s best craft beers. Like any Midwest metropolis, Cleveland has a smorgasbord of restaurants, from German to Japanese. Careful not to fill up too much on dinner, because you’ll definitely want to check out the many breakfast and brunch options as well.

Cleveland 60+

Why stop learning once you retire? All of Ohio’s state colleges and universities offer free classes to seniors aged 60 and up. Cleveland also offers a number of senior centers designed to offer engagement, enrichment, and social activities. If you want to get out and about but need additional support, or if you want to explore the city but would rather do it with friends, find a senior center near you and stay connected.