The Best Assisted Living in Jacksonville

Matthew Jones Matthew Jones Writer and Editor

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Florida is one of the most popular retirement destinations for older Americans, and as the most populous city in the state with 971,319 people, Jacksonville is a great place for seniors to call home. As of the latest census data, approximately 140,000 residents over the age of 65 live in the “Bold City.”1 While many older Jacksonville residents live independently, there are thousands that require assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). Fortunately, there are nearly two dozen assisted living communities in the greater Jacksonville area, and we’ve done our research to narrow down the list to the best assisted living in Jacksonville, Florida.

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  • 1. The Windsor at Ortega

    Cheerful senior apartments near the St. Johns River

    STARTING PRICE

    $4,475 per month

    ADDRESS

    5939 Roosevelt Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32244

    Speak to a SeniorLiving advisor:

    (855) 241-1699
    The Windsor at Ortega

    Source Image: The Windsor at Ortega

    Highlights

    • Assisted living and memory care
    • Ample amenities and wellness services
    • Bright, colorful design and furnishings
    • Seven floor plans (with kitchenettes)

    Overview

    The Windsor at Ortega is situated between the Timuquana Country Club and Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park in Southern Jacksonville. Just a few blocks away from the Jacksonville Naval Air Station and St. Johns River, the community is surrounded by natural beauty and modern conveniences. Residents need only step out the front door to enjoy golf, parks, walking paths, shopping, and even fine dining. This location encourages residents to stay active, which is crucial for health and longevity as we age.

    Did You Know?

    Did You Know? Adding 30 minutes of brisk walking per day, five days a week can greatly improve your overall health and quality of life.2

    But there’s so much more to like about The Windsor than its picturesque location. This assisted living community features refurbished interiors with bright, cheerful colors and up to seven unique apartment floor plans to choose from, each with kitchenettes of varying sizes. The Windsor at Ortega also boasts a lot of great on-site amenities and services, including a beautifully landscaped courtyard, a movie theater, a salon, a recreation room, a fitness room, and a spa. If you’re motivated to improve your physical and mental well-being, The Windsor at Ortega also offers a multi-faceted wellness program that includes everything from chair aerobics to personal companionship.

    Types of Care

    The Windsor at Ortega offers assisted living and memory care, which is pretty standard for most assisted living communities in Jacksonville. While it doesn’t offer as many diverse living and care options as Camellia at Deerwood, The Windsor stands out for offering a bevy of programs and events to keep residents engaged. The events calendar is always full of activities so residents have multiple ways to spend their time in an uplifting and social environment. Staying engaged is essential to preventing isolation, which can lead to many health issues for seniors, so we appreciate the wide variety of activities offered!

    » Learn More: What is memory care?

    Feedback and Reviews

    The Windsor at Ortega receives a lot of positive feedback from family members and staff. Many reviews commend the attentive caregivers and specifically mention that it’s a great place for seniors who like to stay active. However, some reviewers have mentioned that the food service is slow due to a lack of staff members working in the kitchens and dining areas. Two reviewers specifically mentioned an incident in which a staff member got into a physical altercation with a resident but remained employed at The Windsor, even after the police were called to do an investigation.

  • 2. Sodalis Jacksonville

    Affordable assisted living in a comfortable, pet-friendly community

    STARTING PRICE

    $3,200 per month

    ADDRESS

    7620 Timberlin Park Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32256

    Speak to a SeniorLiving advisor:

    (855) 241-1699
    Sodalis Jacksonville

    Source Image: Sodalis Jacksonville

    Highlights

    • Assisted living, memory care, and respite care
    • Affordable and transparent pricing
    • Concierge and transportation services
    • Pet-friendly community

    Overview

    Sodalis is located in southeastern Jacksonville, off Interstate 95 near the Deercreek neighborhood. It’s a 15-minute drive from central Jacksonville, but still far enough away from the city for seniors who prefer a quiet, more suburban environment. Seniors who like to get out and enjoy the city have plenty of options, as Sodalis Jacksonville offers a full-time concierge, scheduled transportation, and regular outings and off-site group activities, which is pretty standard for assisted living communities.

    » Learn About: Transportation for seniors

    One thing we really like about Sodalis Jacksonville is that it’s a pet-friendly community. Some assisted living communities in the area don’t allow pets, so this is a bonus for pet owners! The downsides to this are that Sodalis charges $250 per pet, only allows small pets, and requires residents to care for pets on their own. It would be nice to see the community offer more assistance with pet care needs, but at least Sodalis allows residents to bring their furry friends with them. Sodalis Jacksonville is also a great option for budget-conscious seniors, particularly if you choose the standard studio apartment layout.

    Types of Care

    Residents at Sodalis Jacksonville can move into assisted living or memory care. It also offers short-term respite care when caregivers need time to relax and avoid burnout. This gives Sodalis a leg up on The Windsor at Ortega, especially since the price structure is very transparent for all forms of care. For example, the starting cost for Sodalis memory care is $5,400 per month, but there are additional fees that can apply based on the type of care you need, such as Memory Care Plus ($600 per month). If you require respite care at Sodalis, the fees start at $175 per day, which is a bit higher than you might find at other communities.

    » Related Reading: Respite care costs

    Feedback and Reviews

    Sodalis Jacksonville receives high praise for the positive environment fostered by administrators, directors, caregivers, and other on-site staff. Many reviewers mention the “family” atmosphere, where each resident is made to feel like an important part of the Sodalis community. However, a few family members have noted a negative change in the environment since a new Executive Director took over in 2022. In one instance, a family member had to find out from her bank that her mother had passed, and there was no record of what had happened to her mother’s possessions that had been left at Sodalis.

  • 3. Camellia at Deerwood

    High-end accommodations and amenities for independent and semi-independent seniors

    STARTING PRICE

    $3,800 per month

    ADDRESS

    10061 Sweetwater Pkwy, Jacksonville, FL 32256

    Speak to a SeniorLiving advisor:

    (855) 241-1699
    Camellia at Deerwood

    Source Image: Camellia at Deerwood

    Highlights

    • Independent living, assisted living, memory care, and short-term stays
    • Seven large room layouts (with kitchenettes)
    • Concierge and transportation services
    • Close to shopping and family parks

    Overview

    Camellia at Deerwood is another community located in southeastern Jacksonville. It still has easy access to the city via I-95, but it’s surrounded by nature, beautiful neighborhoods, small convenience shopping centers, and public parks like Fort Family Park. Much like Sodalis Jacksonville, Camellia at Deerwood offers concierge and scheduled transportation, so residents can enjoy everything Jacksonville has to offer.

    Pro Tip:

    Pro Tip: Unsure what living option is right for you? Check out our guide on assisted living vs. memory care to learn more!

    What stands out to us is the size and diversity of room options at Camellia at Deerwood. Assisted living residents have seven apartment layouts to choose from (each with a large kitchenette), ranging from 491-square-foot studios to 1,164-square-foot two-bedroom apartments. Camellia at Deerwood is also a great option for seniors who want a good balance between cost and luxury, as the property offers a lot of high-end amenities like a library, movie theater, bistro, and beauty salon.

    » Additional resources: Senior housing options

    Types of Care

    Camellia at Deerwood offers the most types of care on this list – far more than The Windsor at Ortega and The Palms of Ponte Vedra. The community offers traditional housing for seniors, assisted living, memory care, and even short-term stays.

    » Compare Your Options: Assisted Living vs. Independent Living

    This makes it a great option for independent seniors, semi-independent seniors, and older adults who just need temporary help after surgery or during an illness. If you’re unsure what kind of care you need now (or in the future), Camellia at Deerwood makes it easier to age in place, even as your personal needs change. We love this continuum of care because you won’t have to move if new care needs arise as you age.

    Feedback and Reviews

    Most reviews for Camellia at Deerwood are very positive, with many praising the quality of the memory care team, the beautiful apartments, and the high-end amenities. A few reviews specifically call out the great wellness programs, excellent dining, and fun activities. However, there are various reviews that claim that Camellia at Deerwood sometimes makes promises that it can’t keep. For instance, a family member was told that a nurse technician would respond to the call button in 10 to 15 minutes, but it ended up taking more than 40 minutes.

  • 4. HarborChase of Jacksonville

    Luxury assisted living just minutes from the beach

    STARTING PRICE

    $3,995 per month

    ADDRESS

    3455 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL 32224

    Speak to a SeniorLiving advisor:

    (855) 241-1699
    HarborChase of Jacksonville

    Source Image: HarborChase of Jacksonville

    Highlights

    • Assisted living, memory care, and short-term stays
    • Less than 10 minutes from Jacksonville Beach
    • Luxury dining and amenities
    • Pet-friendly community

    Overview

    HarborChase of Jacksonville is located in the Isle of Palms neighborhood, surrounded by marinas and just minutes from Jacksonville Beach. This makes it the perfect assisted living for seniors who want to live a luxury lifestyle with easy access to beach living. Like Sodalis Jacksonville, HarborChase is pet-friendly, so you can bring your furry friend to come live with you (for a fee).

    FYI:

    FYI: Curious about living a luxurious lifestyle once you retire? Check out our guide on luxury retirement and senior living!

    HarborChase of Jacksonville offers everything you would expect from a high-end assisted living community. There’s round-the-clock attention from highly-trained staff, chef-prepared snacks and meals, a full-service bar, and daily activities and off-site excursions. It’s truly a place where seniors can get the help they need while still living the high life!

    Types of Care

    HarborChase doesn’t offer as many care options as Camellia at Deerwood (no independent living here), but it does offer assisted living, memory care, and short-term stays. This makes it a good choice for seniors with a wide range of short- and long-term needs. The community also goes above and beyond to provide therapeutic and medical services from third-party providers. This includes services like physician visits, support groups, dermatology, psychology, podiatry, and even Durable Medical Equipment (DME) repair. We appreciate these extra services that allow for very well-rounded care.

    Feedback and Reviews

    HarborChase generally receives positive reviews for its services. Many of the top reviews praise the newly-remodeled facility and caring staff. Reviewers also mention that every time they visit, residents seem really happy and have smiles on their faces. However, some negative reviews mention that they seem understaffed and take long periods to help residents who have fallen. At SeniorLiving.org, our tech experts have tested dozens of medical alert systems over the years and understand the dangers of falls for seniors, so these negative reviews are important to consider.

    » Further Reading: Best medical alert systems

  • 5. The Palms at Ponte Vedra

    High-security assisted living with beach access

    STARTING PRICE

    $4,000 per month

    ADDRESS

    405 Solana Rd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

    Speak to a SeniorLiving advisor:

    (855) 241-1699
    The Palms at Ponte Vedra

    Source Image: The Palms at Ponte Vedra

    Highlights

    • Assisted living and memory care
    • Nine room layouts (with kitchenettes)
    • Resort-style beach living
    • Enhanced security systems

    Overview

    While The Palms at Ponte Vedra is technically located in Ponte Vedra Beach, it’s close enough to Jacksonville that you could drive to the city center in less than 30 minutes. Plus, it’s one of the best assisted living communities in the area. Just a few blocks from the beach, The Palms has a relaxed, resort-style atmosphere that will appeal to older adults who want to enjoy the security of assisted living with the amenities of a high-end retirement community.

    Speaking of security, The Palms goes the extra mile to make residents feel safe and give family members greater peace of mind. Every entrance and exit is monitored 24/7, and the facility routinely runs fire drills and preventative maintenance tests. Each room is also fitted with modern emergency call systems, and memory care doors have alarms to help keep staff notified. The community may look and feel like a resort, but it also takes the safety and security of its residents very seriously. This is great for those with memory loss who are prone to wandering or residents who just want additional security measures.

    Types of Care

    The Palms offers assisted living and memory care. While both forms of care are managed by highly-trained staff, it would have been nice to see additional types of care, like those offered at Camellia at Deerwood. Nonetheless, The Palms at Ponte Vedra has a reputation for providing excellent care, including plenty of mental and physical wellness activities for residents. Maintaining mental and physical health is essential for our wellbeing as we get older, so we like this variety of wellness activities!

    Feedback and Reviews

    The Palms at Ponte Vedra gets a lot of positive feedback for its beautiful property and professional staff. Most of the praise is given to the assisted living team in particular, as residents tend to be very happy with their care. Many reviews mention Executive Director Barbara Matteson by name as the driving force behind the quality of life at The Palms. However, some detractors have criticized the lack of training among the memory unit staff, and even made claims that residents have been over-medicated to make them easier to care for. While you should take all reviews (both positive and negative) with a grain of salt, they are still important to note.

  • The Windsor at Ortega
  • Sodalis Jacksonville
  • Camellia at Deerwood
  • HarborChase of Jacksonville
  • The Palms at Ponte Vedra

How We Chose the Best Assisted Living in Jacksonville

Jacksonville is a big city with nearly a million residents. In such a big city, there are many assisted living communities to choose from. To help narrow down the list, we focused on a few important factors in particular.

  • Cost: The cost of assisted living in Jacksonville is a bit high when compared to the national average. For this reason, we focused on the communities that offered varied pricing for seniors with different budgets.
  • Available care: Every community on this list offers assisted living and memory care at a minimum. We also found multiple communities that offer additional care options, like independent living and respite care.
  • Reviews: We read through hundreds of reviews to get a feel for what life is like in each assisted living community. While we can’t quote every review in this guide, we give an overview and cover common themes that are frequently mentioned.
  • Amenities: Amenities are what make assisted living a fun place for older adults to live while receiving care. All the communities on this list offer a variety of on-site amenities, programs and activities to keep seniors engaged and happy.
  • Location: Many of the assisted living communities in Jacksonville are located in the southern and eastern parts of the city. We tried to find ones that were close to things like shopping, public parks, beaches, or other local attractions.
  • Staff size: We highlighted assisted living communities that offer high staff-to-resident ratios, often with a maximum of eight residents per caregiver.

How to Find the Right Assisted Living Community for You

So, you’ve read through our list and now you want to do some research for yourself; that’s great! We encourage you to take a deep dive into the assisted living communities that seem like a good fit on paper. Here are a few things to consider when comparing communities:

  • Identify your needs: As you can see from this list, not every community offers the same types of care. Even the levels of care vary from one community to the next. For example, some communities are better for “active” seniors who just need a little help, while others are better suited for seniors who need substantial assistance with two or more ADLs. This is why it’s important to identify your needs and look for communities that can care for you properly.
  • Review your budget: Assisted living in Jacksonville can get expensive, and the prices tend to go up each year. For this reason, look over your budget and really understand how much each community charges for the services you need. While analyzing your budget, remember Medicare doesn’t cover assisted living in most cases and many seniors depend on Social Security benefits, retirement savings, and long-term care insurance to cover costs.
  • Read reviews: Going through reviews on Google or other third-party websites can help you see the potential highs and lows of living in each community. You shouldn’t blindly trust communities that get all five-star ratings, and you should certainly reconsider a community that constantly gets poor feedback.
  • Visit communities: Reading reviews is a quick and easy way to see what’s good (and bad) about an assisted living community, but visiting the community in person can give you a much clearer picture. You can see for yourself if the reviews were correct. You can also ask residents and staff members lots of questions!
  • Check licensing and certifications: While researching a community, check that it has up-to-date licensing and certifications to operate in Florida.
  • Trust your gut: If you’re not sure how to choose between two or more great communities, trust your gut! Listen to your intuition to figure out which community would be best for you.

What Is Living in Jacksonville Like for Seniors?

Jacksonville is a popular city for seniors, and for good reason. It’s got beautiful riverside views, easy access to the beach, and warm weather year-round. Below is a quick look at what life is like for older adults in Jacksonville.

  • Climate: Jacksonville has a humid subtropical climate, which means short, mild winters, and long, hot, humid summers. Like most of Florida, Jacksonville also gets a lot of rainfall, and it frequently gets hit by heavy storms during the hurricane season.
  • Health care: Jacksonville generally has very high-quality health care, with dozens of hospitals, clinics, and specialists located throughout the city. The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville is frequently praised and has received awards for its quality care.
  • Cost of living: Jacksonville has a cost of living that is quite low for its size. Despite being a major city, the cost of living is approximately 6% lower than the national average.
  • Walkability: Unfortunately, Jacksonville is not a walkable city. It is very spread out and has various bridges over the St. Johns River. It is best to use public transportation or a ride-sharing service if you’re unable to drive.
  • Activities: Jacksonville has a lot of fun things to do for seniors, including museums, gardens, public parks, ghost tours, and beaches. If you’re a sports fan, it is home to the Jacksonville Jaguars and college football events.
  • Safety: Jacksonville has a high crime rate, but crime is most common in certain neighborhoods. For seniors, it is best to avoid walking around at night in an unfamiliar area. However, like most major cities, Jacksonville has plenty of very safe neighborhoods.
  • Tax structure: Florida does not have a state income tax, inheritance tax, or estate tax, making it a “tax haven” for many retirees.3 This could have a positive impact on your estate planning.

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in Jacksonville, Florida?

According to Genworth, the projected median cost of an assisted living community in Jacksonville is $5,092 per month in 2024. That’s nearly $200 per month higher than the national median of $4,917.4

Assisted living in Jacksonville is surprisingly high given the low cost of living in the city and much of Florida. However, there are plenty of communities with lower prices. The costs also vary based on your specific circumstances (like having a pet) or the type of care you require. For example, memory care tends to be much more expensive than assisted living care. Fortunately, you can shop around and find communities with starting prices well below average for the city, including many on this list!

Citations
  1. U.S. Census Bureau. (2022). Quick Facts — Jacksonville city, Florida.

  2. Centers for Disease Control. (2023). How much physical activity do older adults need?

  3. Tax Foundation. (2023). Taxes In Florida.

  4. Genworth. (2021). Cost of Care Survey.

Written By:
Matthew Jones
Writer and Editor
Read About Our Panel of Experts
Matthew is a freelance writer who has written on a wide range of topics, from personal finance to nutrition. Over the past three years, Matthew has worked extensively on articles and guides for seniors related to Medicare, insurance, and finance…. Learn More About Matthew Jones
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