Assisted Living in Florida: A Family Guide

Facts checked September 28, 2026 against official Florida sources

What assisted living is called in Florida, what it costs, how Medicaid can help, how to check a community’s license and inspections, and who to call if something goes wrong. Every fact links to the official source.

Licensed by

Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Bureau of Health Facility Regulation, Assisted Living Unit¹

Licensed communities on Lilisity

3,024 assisted living, 828 with memory care

Medicaid help

Limited: Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) Long-Term Care (LTC) program²

Typical cost

$5,610 a month (state median, CareScout 2025)

Long-term care ombudsman

1-888-831-0404³

File a complaint

1-888-419-3456⁴

What assisted living is called in Florida

• Standard licenseThe basic assisted living license, for facilities that provide one or more everyday personal services. These facilities may also use a licensed nurse to give medications.⁵
• Extended congregate care (ECC)A specialty license that lets a facility give more nursing and support so residents can stay as their needs grow, instead of having to move out.⁵
• Limited nursing services (LNS)A specialty license that allows some nursing services beyond what a standard license allows.⁵
• Limited mental health (LMH)A specialty license category for limited mental health care. The cited law names it but does not describe it.⁵
• Memory care services license (new, rules due by June 1, 2027)A new license created by a 2026 law. Once the state's rules take effect, a facility generally must hold it to serve memory care residents or advertise memory care. Facilities licensed before then get 6 months to get it, and there are some exceptions.⁶

Memory care rules

Florida is changing its rules. A 2026 law creates a memory care services license. The state must write the rules by June 1, 2027. After that, facilities that serve memory care residents or advertise memory care generally must hold this license, and the rules will list terms like memory care or dementia care that unlicensed facilities cannot use in ads. Facilities licensed before the rules get 6 months, and some can keep current memory care residents without the license.⁶

Questions to ask memory care about nights.

What assisted living costs in Florida

The median cost of assisted living in Florida is $5,610 a month, below the national median of $6,200 (CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, collected July to November 2025). Prices vary with the apartment, the level of care and the community, so ask each one for its current rate sheet, including care-level fees.

If more care is needed later: nursing home costs in Florida, with CareScout medians and the private-pay rates Florida nursing homes publish.

Plan with our free tools: how long will the money last? and home care or assisted living?

Paying for assisted living in Florida

Medicare does not pay for assisted living. Families pay from savings and income, long-term care insurance, or benefits such as VA Aid and Attendance (estimate it). Who actually pays for long-term care.

Medicaid. Florida Medicaid's Long-Term Care program lists assisted living services as a covered service. There is a wait list, and people are released from it by priority score, not by how long they have waited. Program: Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) Long-Term Care (LTC) program.² Medicaid does not pay rent or meals in assisted living in any state, and not every community accepts it, so ask each one.

How to check a community in Florida

Look up a license. FloridaHealthFinder lets you search licensed health care facilities by facility and location details, or find the ones closest to an address, city, or zip code. Search Florida’s records.⁷

Inspection reports. AHCA says you can view a facility's previous inspection reports on FloridaHealthFinder.⁴

Lilisity shows Florida’s inspection record on each community’s page where the state publishes one: the state’s own records, dated and linked to the official source.

Always visit in person, at a mealtime or in the evening if you can. Bring the tour scorecard and the 8 tour questions.

If something goes wrong

Complaints about care or conditions. AHCA takes complaints about licensed facilities like assisted living, online or by phone on weekdays. The ombudsman program can also help residents with problems. Call 1-888-419-3456 or file online.⁴

Abuse, neglect or exploitation. Call 1-800-962-2873. How to report.⁸ If someone is in danger, call 911.

The long-term care ombudsman is a free advocate for residents of assisted living and nursing homes: they help resolve problems with a community, including move-out notices. Call 1-888-831-0404 or find your local ombudsman.³

Find assisted living in Florida

Assisted living by city

Memory care by city

Every community and county in Florida · 22 with verified resident testimonials

Sources

1. Licensing agency (ahca.myflorida.com)
2. Medicaid (ahca.myflorida.com)
3. Ombudsman (elderaffairs.org)
4. Complaints, inspection reports (apps.ahca.myflorida.com)
5. License types (leg.state.fl.us)
6. License types, memory care rules (leg.state.fl.us)
7. License lookup (quality.healthfinder.fl.gov)
8. Reporting abuse (myflfamilies.com)
9. CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 (state medians)

Facts checked against these official sources on September 28, 2026. Rules and programs change; confirm with the agency before making a decision. General information, not legal or financial advice.