Find Assisted Living Communities Near Tampa, FL

Because assisted living provides both residential housing and personal care, most families and seniors pay for their assisted living with a mix of private means — like personal savings and investments — and public sources, like Medicaid. This section includes information on how to afford your ideal assisted living community in Tampa, Florida.

In Florida, the Bureau of Health Facilities Regulation licenses and regulates assisted living facilities. Depending on the care setting, the licenses and regulations may be slightly different. For example, residential group homes with a live-in caregiver need an additional license for Adult Foster Care. Assisted living communities that offer both independent living and skilled nursing units on-site need to apply for an Extended Congregate Care license. To be eligible for assisted living in Tampa, Florida, a senior should not require 24-hour nursing care. The senior should be able to successfully complete their activities of daily living with caregiver assistance. The following are some other regulations that Tampa assisted living communities must adhere to:

• Facilities must be kept clean and hygienic.
• Regular meals should be provided.
• Residents are allowed to keep their own clothing and possessions in their room.
• Spouses should be allowed to share the same room if they are both residents of the community.
• Communication from the assisted living community with family members or guardians must happen at least every 30 days.

Employee training

All employees of assisted living communities are required to pass a background check. Within 30 days of starting their employment, caregiving staff must complete 1 hour of training on mitigating infectious diseases and 3 hours of training on senior residents’ needs. Administrative staff of assisted living facilities need to complete an initial 26 hours of training and 12 hours of continuing education every two years.

Inspection reports

After an initial inspection, assisted living communities in Tampa go through inspections every two years. Inspection results are available to the public on the Agency for Health Care Administration website. To find an inspection report, click the “Statement of Deficiencies” tab, and in the drop down menu for “Provider type” select “Assisted Living Facility.” To search for individual facilities, write the name of the facility under “Provider name,” or simply select “Hillsborough County” to see the inspection results for every assisted living community in Tampa.

Florida Department of Health contact information

Agency for Health Care Administration – Assisted Living Facility Unit
Chequita Byrd, MSW
Manager, Assisted Living Unit

Bureau of Health Facility Regulation
2727 Mahan Drive, MS #30
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 850-412-4304
Email: assistedliving@ahca.myflorida.com

Florida’s Compendium of Residential Care and Assisted Living Regulations and Policy, 2015

COVID-19 regulations for Tampa assisted living communities

Florida does not have any mandatory COVID-19 regulations for assisted living facilities, but it does use a preparedness checklist for nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care facilities. Some of the recommendations for assisted living communities to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 include the following:

Since the 1960s, seniors from across the United States have flocked to Tampa, Florida, as a retirement haven. Pristine beaches, strong diversity, and no state income tax make up a large part of Tampa’s appeal. A growing local economy in the Tampa Bay area is also bringing in highly paid workers followed by aging parents. This persistent demand for senior living translates to a wide variety of assisted living options for Florida seniors.

Diverse demographics

Tampa is a very diverse city. Many assisted living communities in Tampa reflect this diversity by offering Spanish-speaking services and international cuisine options. From its racial and ethnic heterogeneity to its wide range in household income and ages of its residents, Tampa is called home by a huge variety of people. The largest age group in Tampa is between the ages of 25 and 39, making up 25.8% of the population. People 65+ make up 14.2% of the total population. In surrounding Tampa Bay areas, like Clearwater, however, people 65+ make up the largest age group.

Traditional assisted living with top-tier medical care

Though Tampa itself lends quick access to excellent health care in the area, over 60% of our partner Tampa assisted living communities have an on-site medical director who is either a board-certified physician or a nurse practitioner. On top of quick access to medical care, most assisted living communities in Tampa are traditional residential facilities offering daily meals, comfortable private or semi-private rooms, dedicated staff members to aid residents with daily activities, and some on-site amenities. The more luxurious assisted living communities, with expansive pools and more activities and amenities, tend to be in neighboring cities in the Tampa Bay area, like Clearwater and Wesley Chapel.

Assisted living in the greater Tampa Bay communities

Tampa and Tampa Bay are often referred to interchangeably, but Tampa Bay is the larger geographic area that includes cities like Tampa, Clearwater, and Wesley Chapel. We decided to expand on Clearwater and Wesley Chapel as important hubs for senior living in the Tampa Bay area.

Clearwater

Clearwater has a higher concentration of assisted living options than the city of Tampa. Some seniors enjoy Clearwater because many of the assisted living communities are oceanfront, with beautiful views over the water and closer proximity to the beach. There are also more luxury assisted living communities in Clearwater than in Tampa. And almost 23% of the population in Clearwater is over 65 years of age.

Wesley Chapel

Wesley Chapel is an affluent northern suburb of Tampa. Due to its high growth in the last 10 years, the assisted living communities in Wesley Chapel tend to be newer and have more suburban amenities, like on-site dog parks, walking paths, and putting greens. Despite having more amenities than assisted living in Tampa, assisted living communities in Wesley Chapel tend to be the same price as those in Tampa. Meaning, you can get more bang for your buck in Wesley Chapel.

Health care for seniors in Tampa

Tampa has a well-established health care system. And many hospitals are nationally ranked for a number of specialties, most specifically cancer and geriatrics.

Transportation for seniors in Tampa, Florida

Tampa is best explored by car, which is why 78% of our partnering assisted living communities in Tampa offer complimentary transportation. However, traffic in downtown Tampa can be fierce, and a drive across Tampa at peak traffic hours can take more than an hour.

For seniors who do not have access to transportation services, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) runs the local bus system, which is an affordable, moderately reliable mode of transportation for locals.

The Sunshine Line is Tampa’s door-to-door transportation option for the elderly or disabled. Seniors can enroll in the program by calling their enrollment number, 813-272-7272.