Best Assisted Living Facilities in Jacksonville, FL

Our Methodology: 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. Any costs listed come from community websites or conversations with staff members.
• 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 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 $5,511 per month in 2024. That’s the same as the national median 

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!

>> Related Article: Best Assisted Living in Naples, Florida