Pensacola’s balmy weather and beachside living make it a natural choice for seniors looking for an assisted living facility. Assisted living gives seniors the chance to relax without the daily hassles of chores or meal preparation and with caregivers who provide help with daily activities like bathing and toileting.
This guide lists the best assisted living facilities in Pensacola based on our in-house data and recent reviews from residents and families. You can peruse photos and detailed information, as well as reviews. This guide also has payment tips, local laws and regulations, and more about assisted living in Pensacola.
10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Pensacola, FL
Pensacola’s balmy weather and beachside living make it a natural choice for seniors looking for an assisted living facility. Assisted living gives seniors the chance to relax without the daily hassles of chores or meal preparation and with caregivers who provide help with daily activities like bathing and toileting.Read more
This guide lists the best assisted living facilities in Pensacola based on our in-house data and recent reviews from residents and families. You can peruse photos and detailed information, as well as reviews. This guide also has payment tips, local laws and regulations, and more about assisted living in Pensacola.
Pensacola Assisted Living Facilities | 579 Reviews
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- What families are saying about assisted living in Pensacola
- Costs of assisted living in the Pensacola area
- How people pay for assisted living in Pensacola
- Pensacola laws and regulations for assisted living facilities
- Fast facts about assisted living in Pensacola
- What assisted living is like in Pensacola
- Explore senior care with confidence
- Seniors’ guide to the city of Pensacola
What families are saying about assisted living in Pensacola
Recent reviews for assisted living in Pensacola
Sodalis Pensacola
The Arbors of Gulf Breeze
Sodalis Milton
Costs of assisted living in the Pensacola area
According to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data, the average total monthly cost to live in one of our partner Pensacola assisted living facilities is $4,245.[02] This figure includes all room, board, personal assistance, and other amenities and add-ons to reflect the total price of living in one of our partner Pensacola assisted living facilities.
The following baseline costs show you the cost of assisted living in the Pensacola area but don’t include fees or add-on amenities and services.
Assisted living costs around $4,000 a month on average in Pensacola, according to A Place for Mom’s in-house data.[01] Typically a community will have a baseline fee for rent, meals, weekly housekeeping, and some personal care.
Other things, like fitness classes, transportation services, or personal care services that go above and beyond the community’s basic services may be charged as additional fees each month.
The $4,000 average monthly amount families paid for assisted living in Pensacola reflects the actual amount paid by families, including all additional fees, in the last 12 months.
Cost of living in Pensacola
Pensacola is one of the most cost-effective places to live in Florida. The cost of living is about 11% lower than the rest of the state.[02]
Florida doesn’t tax income, including income from Social Security or pensions, making it an appealing place for seniors with fixed incomes. Florida also doesn’t have an estate or inheritance tax.
The following baseline costs show the price of assisted living in the Pensacola area, but do not include fees or add-on amenities and services.
Average monthly cost of Assisted Living in Pensacola, FL vs. nearby cities
Pensacola, FL
How people pay for assisted living in Pensacola
How seniors and their families pay for assisted living depends on their financial situation. Most use a mix of personal savings and public assistance.
Many seniors have spent their lives building up nest eggs in their retirement accounts, cash savings, and equity in a home or other investments. Seniors can use any of these to help pay for assisted living in Pensacola, but they’re not the only methods. Read the articles below to learn other strategies to use private funds for your assisted living expenses.
Number of veterans who live in Pensacola
About 20% of Pensacola veterans are 75+.
Pensacola is a welcoming city for retired veterans. Its strong military presence is due to the Naval Air Station — the first in the nation — located just west of the city. About 20% of resident veterans are over 75, and Pensacola provides multiple resources for this group.[03]
Using veterans benefits to pay for assisted living in Pensacola
Veterans in Pensacola may be able to pay for some of their assisted living expenses using veterans benefits. Depending on how long you served, your age, and your current health status, you may be eligible for veterans benefits that you can apply toward assisted living costs. We recommend speaking with a veterans benefits counselor in your area to help you find eligible benefits and to help you apply.
The VA Pension is the most common veterans benefit, which can be used to pay for assisted living. The Aid and Attendance benefit is additional money added to the VA Pension. Eligible veterans can use these funds to pay for anything that improves their quality of life, including assisted living fees.
Because you must qualify for specific eligibility standards for the VA Pension and the Aid and Attendance benefit, do your homework before submitting any paperwork. A dedicated veterans service officer (VSO) should be able to help you apply and find other eligible veterans benefits.
Veterans benefits counselors in Pensacola
The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs has veteran services offers (VSOs) to help you understand your benefits and the application process. Plus, any veteran living in Florida can receive virtual benefits counseling too. You can sign up for your first session by calling the number listed on their website. The Escambia County Veterans Service Office also offers benefits counseling services to Pensacola locals.
National organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans also offer local benefits counseling. While these are not affiliated with the VA, they do provide objective, third-party advice about veterans benefits.
Resources for Pensacola veterans
Florida Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Services
Office phone: 727-319-7440
Virtual appointment requests: 727-319-7408
Email: FDVA.VSO@FDVA.FL.GOV
9500 Bay Pines Blvd.
Bay Pines, FL 33744
Phone: 800-698-2411
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Escambia County Veterans Services Office
221 Palafox Place
Pensacola, FL 32502
Phone: 850-595-2409
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Contact: Martin Merillat, Escambia County Veterans Services Officer
Phone: 850-595-1479
Email: mrmerillat@myescambia.com
VFW Post 706
5000 W. Lillian Highway
Pensacola, FL 32506
Phone: 850-455-0026
Email: vfwpost39+ContactUs@gmail.com
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Office
4504 Twin Oaks Drive
Pensacola, FL 32506
Phone: 727-319-7444
Seniors in Pensacola may be able to pay for some of their assisted living costs using Medicaid. Florida Medicaid is a state health insurance program for people under a certain income and people with disabilities. The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) runs the Medicaid program.
Florida Medicaid offers a Long-Term Care Program, which helps some seniors pay for senior care services. According to Florida Medicaid’s coverage policies, a senior must need a “nursing-facility level” of care, which is determined by the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services (CARES) program.
While it uses the term “nursing-facility level” of care, some of the medical needs included in the CARES program are personal care services provided in assisted living. This means that if you reside in an assisted living facility, you may still be able to pay for some of your assisted living services with Florida Medicaid’s Long-Term Care Program.
The Long-Term Care Program only covers some care services at senior living facilities, including assisted living. It won’t cover rent, meals, or any other expenses at an assisted living facility. You can find a list of what’s covered and not covered under the Long-Term Care Plan in sections 4.0 and 5.0 of the Florida Medicaid policies booklet.
Help applying to Florida Medicaid
For help applying to Florida Medicaid, you may want to contact someone at the HHS Region 4 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)/Health and Human Services (HHS) Regional Office. You can also contact the Northwest Florida Area Agency On Aging, Inc., or set up an appointment with a long-term care ombudsman.
Pensacola resident Medicaid resources
Northwest Florida Area Agency On Aging, Inc.
5090 Commerce Park Circle
Pensacola, FL 32505
Phone: 850-494-7101
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
160 W. Government St., Suite 514
Pensacola, Florida 32502
Phone: 850- 595-0469
Fax: 850- 916-6722
Medicare is a federal insurance plan specifically for people over 65 and those with disabilities. Medicare doesn’t cover any assisted living costs, like rent, meals, or personal care fees. Instead, it covers medically necessary and short-term health care expenses, like an appendectomy, some prescription medications, or a one-week stay at a rehabilitation center after surgery.
You can search for specific items, tests, or services to see if they’re covered on the Medicare coverage search tool. You can also dial 2-1-1 to connect with a Social Security officer or contact your local Social Security office with your questions. The SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) program also offers free Medicare benefits counseling to seniors. You can direct complaints and concerns to the long-term care ombudsman.
Pensacola resident Medicare resources
Social Security Administration Office
411 W. Garden St.
Pensacola, FL 32502
Phone: 800-772-1213
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Florida Department of Elder Affairs (SHINE) program
4040 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: 850-494-7100; 800-414-2000
Email: information@elderaffairs.org
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
2727 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 888-419-3456
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
160 W. Government St., Suite 514
Pensacola, Florida 32502
Phone: 850-595-0469
Pensacola laws and regulations for assisted living facilities
Assisted living facilities in Pensacola must be licensed and regulated by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration’s Bureau of Health Facility Regulation. Facilities can be licensed as either standard or specialty, depending upon the services they offer to their residents.
According to federal and state regulations, all assisted living facilities must meet these standards:
- Preserve the personal dignity of all residents
- Allow residents or their power of attorney to make their own health care decisions
- Allow residents to make complaints without punishment
- Allow residents to move rooms at their request
- Meet staff-to-resident ratios
- Give residents a healthy and safe living environment
- Communicate with families of residents at least once every 30 days
The Bureau performs routine annual inspections, and you can find all inspection results on the facility finder site. The AHCA also provides a full list of any facilities that have been noted as deficient in some areas. After you, or your relative, move to an assisted living community, you can always make a report online to share any concerns or observations with the AHCA.
The most important thing to remember is that all licensed assisted living facilities must meet or exceed set standards. From staff training and nutritional programming to compliance with Escambia County zoning requirements, each facility is mandated to take residents’ care, comfort, and concerns seriously.
Florida Department of Health contact information
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: 850-245-4444
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
COVID-19 regulations for Pensacola assisted living facilities
Assisted living facilities in Pensacola don’t have to follow specific COVID-19 guidelines. Nevertheless, the facilities and their residents do follow CDC guidelines to slow the spread of infectious diseases.
Florida makes it easy for anyone healthy enough to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine to register for it online. If you’re homebound and unable to leave an assisted living facility to travel to get your COVID-19 vaccine or booster, contact HomeboundVaccine@em.myflorida.com, a program that will come to people’s homes to give COVID-19 shots.
Vaccinations. Florida offers free COVID-19 vaccines to any state resident, but no one is required to receive a vaccine.
Masking. Masks are not a requirement in Pensacola.
Facility cleanliness. Pensacola assisted living facilities have to maintain sanitary conditions to meet state requirements.
Fast facts about assisted living in Pensacola
Approximate number of people we referred to our assisted living partner communities in Pensacola in 2023
Average age of residents referred to our assisted living partner communities in Pensacola in 2023
Gender split: 61% female
What assisted living is like in Pensacola
Pensacola is the most Northwestern city in the Florida Panhandle, located right on the Gulf of Mexico. Residents enjoy temperate weather year round and withstand some exposure to hurricanes.
The majority of our partner assisted living facilities in Pensacola aren’t stand-alone, traditional assisted living facilities. Instead, they’re combined communities that include other types of living arrangements. For instance, an assisted living facility in Pensacola may be connected with a memory care unit or an independent living community.
Assisted living facilities in Pensacola offer personal care services, like help with grooming, bathing, eating, and mobility. Many assisted living facilities have memory care units, which offer health care services for residents with dementia. However, you and your loved one do have options. If you specifically want skilled nursing or memory care in one building, consider one of Pensacola’s excellent nursing homes or memory care facilities.
Apartments designed for autonomy and safety
Each assisted living facility in Pensacola will offer slightly different living arrangements. In general, you can expect to find studio or one-bedroom apartments. In Pensacola, these are often private, but shared rooms are sometimes available for a lower price.
Rooms typically include a bedroom, a bathroom, and a kitchenette. All have extra-wide doorways and safety features like handrails and emergency call buttons. You can expect a staff member to be awake on the premises at any time, day or night.
Activities and social lives
Besides the care services and daily help, residents enjoy a robust social life in assisted living facilities. In Pensacola, activities tend to center around devotional activities, beach-going, and game nights.[01] As of 2024, all of our partner communities employ an activity director who takes resident interests into account when designing activity schedules.
Cuisine with a chef-inspired flair
Even if you have a kitchenette, you may want to taste some on-site meals prepared at your assisted living community. Since assisted living facilities offer residents at least three meals per day, they tend to rotate their menu with plenty of tempting choices. You can indulge in tasty dishes in multiple ways, such as ordering room service or eating in the dining room.
The majority of assisted living facilities we partner with are happy to design meals around residents’ preferred dietary needs. For example, you can ask for low-sodium, vegetarian, or vegan meals. Ultimately, the goal is for you or your relatives to be able to leave every breakfast, lunch, and dinner feeling satisfied.
Pensacola for seniors
Pensacola has a small-town feel compared to other Floridian cities like Tampa, Orlando, or Miami. Unlike other small beach-front towns, however, Pensacola is much more cost-effective, especially for senior living.
Compared to Sarasota, which has about the same population and is also near excellent beaches, assisted living in Pensacola is about $500 less a month.[01] You’re also less likely to experience large crowds of spring breakers and snowbirds in Pensacola. The closest mid-sized city to Pensacola is Mobile, Alabama.
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Seniors’ guide to the city of Pensacola
Approximate number of seniors over the age of 65 currently living in Pensacola
Percentage of seniors 65 and older within the Pensacola population
Median annual income for Pensacola seniors 65 and older
Best hospitals for seniors in Pensacola
Baptist Hospital has a long-standing reputation for being one of the best nonprofit health care options in Pensacola. Baptist Hospital offers a full range of inpatient and outpatient care, including primary care services, geriatrics, and cardiovascular surgery. In 2023, it opened with extensive renovations.
Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola Hospital
Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola Hospital offers more than 550 beds and is a world-class facility. If you’re looking for cancer treatment, need cardiovascular care, or require diabetes treatment, consider making an appointment.
HCA Florida West Hospital offers primary and specialty care and also includes an emergency room. It provides care across the spectrum, from birth to death. It also has an in-house rehabilitation center for patients after a procedure or severe illness. It’s received multiple awards and first-in-the-region accreditations for various specialties.
Transportation for seniors in Pensacola
Most residents get around the city or head to the waterfront by using their private vehicles, taking advantage of public transportation, or hiring rideshare companies. Since most of the assisted living facilities in Pensacola offer free or low-cost transportation, you or your loved one may be able to get automatic rides to the beach, shops, and interesting landmarks. In fact, transportation is free at 89% of our partner facilities, and 78% provide certain rides at cost.
Getting on the ECAT
Do you prefer to take advantage of public transportation whenever possible? The Escambia County Area Transit system offers the ECAT bus line. This line covers Pensacola and operates seven days a week, although not all buses run on the weekends. You’ll find that all ECAT buses are accessible. They also have bike racks. But if regular ECAT buses aren’t comfortable based on your needs, you may want to try the curb-to-curb ECAT ADA option available to those with disabilities living in the area.
Specialty Rides in Pensacola
Do you need to get to a medical appointment? Your physician may be able to give you a voucher so you can use the ECMS Foundation’s Go Seniors! Transportation Program. It’s meant only for health care visits and costs $20. You may also be able to get a ride through the free ECCT Paratransit Services program. Just be advised that you’ll need to call a day in advance to use ECCT services, and transportation availability isn’t guaranteed.
Freedom To Go is an additional private transportation service that seniors can use to get around Pensacola. Their drivers will escort you to doctor appointments, the grocery store, or even brunch with friends Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Prices often change due to gas price fluctuations.
Getting around on foot
There are some parts of Pensacola that are walkable. However, Pensacola only gets 36 out of 100 for its walkability score. The rating is based on Walk Score, which measures how walkable cities are in comparison with each other.[06]
Walk Score
Bike Score
Transit Score
Things to do in Pensacola for seniors and their families
Because of its smaller-town feel and warm, clear northern shores on the Gulf of Mexico, Pensacola is an excellent place for seniors looking for their new home. Pensacola is set to become a retirement magnet because it’s also more cost-effective than other coastal cities.
It’s not surprising that you’ll find many of Pensacola’s top things to do have outdoor components. After all, the area offers a temperate climate year round. When it gets humid and hot, you can move your festivities and excursions indoors to explore the area’s museums, shops, and restaurants.
A city of surf, sand, and pristine beaches
If the idea of being close to countless white, sandy beaches appeals to you, Pensacola is your town. Some of the most popular public surfside spots are Langdon Beach, Dog Beach, Park West, Quietwater Beach, Opal Beach, and Casino Beach. However, you’ll want to make sure that you start your beach excursions at Pensacola Beach.
Pensacola Beach boasts a 1,500-foot pier. From dawn until dusk, you’ll find people fishing, strolling, and taking pictures of the scenic view. Pensacola Beach has about five Mobi-mats to make the area wheelchair accessible.
As long as you have transportation, you might want to set aside a day to head to the Gulf Island National Seashore. Both Perdido Key Beach and Johnson Beach attract visitors year round. However, only the latter has an on-duty lifeguard.
Museums, sightseeing, and attractions
One of the most well-known museums is the Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum. Situated on the Naval Air Station, the museum features exhibits about the Maritime traditions of the area. The first floor is wheelchair accessible.
Another nod to military members and operations is The National Naval Aviation Museum. With its free general admission, it’s always a big draw. Plus, you may be able to see the famous Blue Angels practice while you’re there.
The Historic Pensacola Village is designed to give you a taste of the bygone lifestyles of the people who built the region. Those ages 65 and older get discounted ticket rates.
For those new to Pensacola, taking a Pensacola Bay City Ferry ride can be an excellent way to get a fast overview of the city. Throughout the year, you can get on a regular or themed ferry cruise.
After cruising, you might want to do a little “landlubbing” touring courtesy of Go Retro. This tour involves being driven on an updated 1930s Ford transit bus throughout Pensacola. An expert tour guide will be sure you don’t miss any of the notable statues, buildings, or stories that make the city a one-of-a-kind site to live and visit.
Golfing, exercising, and staying healthy
Not surprisingly, Pensacola — with its large retirement population — is a great place to maintain your physical fitness level. Golfing is one pleasure that many seniors rarely pass up, especially because there’s an abundance of well-maintained greens across the city.
Those interested in pickleball can either bring a partner to play at one of the area parks or racket sports facilities. If you’re interested in finding a pickleball tournament or partner, head to the Pensacola Panhandle Pickleball Facebook group. Alternatively, you may want to become a member of the Bear Levin Studer Family YMCA. When you do, you’ll have access not just to pickleball courts but also to the YMCA’s other amenities, like cardio classes and aquatics programming.
After fueling your inner athlete, you can always support others at the Blue Wahoos Ballpark along Pensacola Bay. During baseball season, the park is home to the area’s minor-league baseball team.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Waterford at Carpenter's Creek, Sodalis Milton and Sodalis Cantonment are the top-rated Assisted Living facilities near Pensacola, FL. These Assisted Living facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Assisted Living in Pensacola is 3877.34 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
References
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
RentCafe. (2023). Cost of Living in Pensacola, FL.
United States Census Bureau. (2022). Veteran Status (S2101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2022). Age and Sex (S0101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2022). Median Income in the Past 12 Months (S1903). [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
Walk Score. (2023). Living in Pensacola.
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