Tampa, Florida, is one of the best places to find assisted living in the United States. Tampa’s vibrant culture, warm beaches, and affordable cost of living attracts seniors from across the United States. Here, you’ll learn about the best assisted living facilities in Tampa.
We have in-depth information about Tampa’s assisted living facilities, including photos, recent reviews, and service lists. We also cover the average cost of assisted living in Tampa, local laws and regulations, how to pay for senior living, the best hospitals, and senior-friendly activities.
10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Tampa, FL
Tampa, Florida, is one of the best places to find assisted living in the United States. Tampa’s vibrant culture, warm beaches, and affordable cost of living attracts seniors from across the United States. Here, you’ll learn about the best assisted living facilities in Tampa.Read more
We have in-depth information about Tampa’s assisted living facilities, including photos, recent reviews, and service lists. We also cover the average cost of assisted living in Tampa, local laws and regulations, how to pay for senior living, the best hospitals, and senior-friendly activities.
Tampa Assisted Living Facilities | 958 Reviews
My mother lived here for nearly three years and she was the happiest she had been in a long time. It is a beautiful community but what really makes it beautiful are the people who live and work there. A...
I am thankful for this place for my aunt. We live out of town and she has lived there for two years and is so well cared for. They have wonderful activities; she loves the exercise and crafts. They are so...
Excellent facility! Great staff especially [name removed]. She was very helpful in her presentation, tour and getting him into your community. She is truly genuine, friendly, patient, understanding and has a...
I have my Mother here and she is doing wonderful. I love the staff I have a real connection with all of the day shift. The staff go that extra mile to make sure your loved one is being taken care of. I had a...
My parents reside at St Josephs John Knox Village the serving staff the nurses, and staff seem to have been there for quite some time which indicates their turnover rate is low. Michele Caruso goes above and...
I'am satisfied with this community, my father is doing pretty well here.The community looks great, they do a very good job keeping his room and the community neat and tidy. The staff is very good, they have...
No place is perfect but after touring 9 ALFs, this one is the best fit for my Mom. There are some common areas that need new carpeting and furniture but the residents rooms are immaculate from what I've...
My family loves the staff and how they cared for my mother. The compassion in your staff is what I really loved about the place. Make it an environment that staff wants to stay. There were a few that have...
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A few years back as my mom entered her 80’s, her memory began to diminish. At first, it was slow and we, her family, worked had to overlook any imperfections. But by her 81st birthday, her short comings...
My grandmother has lived at Delaney Creek for 5 years and has had the best treatment and experience! She loves it there and wouldn't want to be anywhere else. She gets to play bingo every day if she wants to...
Overall I think it is a great facility!! It's becoming more expensive so my parents will have to move soon. The staff is kind and respectful. If there is a problem they sit and discuss and try to solve. I...
I love living here! The staff is great! Lots of things to do. Food is good. Building is 18 months old.
Meals were home cooked but different from he was used to, with few hand held foods, so he had to be fed most of the time. The only activity was having the TV on & magazines on the table they can look at,...
All the staff members truly care and treat your loved ones like family with their special attention from bathing, meds, laundry & cleaning as well as assisting in transporting and eating. The horrors you...
Although there are many reasons to be concerned once your parent or close relative is admitted to an ALF you always hope that your loved ones are well taken care of. My mom entered the ALF in [date removed]...
- What families are saying about assisted living in Tampa
- Costs of assisted living in Tampa, Florida
- How families pay for assisted living in Tampa, Florida
- Tampa laws and regulations for assisted living facilities
- Fast facts about assisted living in Tampa, Florida
- What assisted living is like in Tampa, Florida
- Explore senior care with confidence
- Seniors’ guide to the city of Tampa
What families are saying about assisted living in Tampa
Recent reviews for assisted living in Tampa
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Costs of assisted living in Tampa, Florida
Assisted living in Tampa costs about $4,200 a month on average, based on A Place for Mom’s in-house data. This number includes housing, meals, care fees, and all additional service fees.
Although the cost of living in Florida is increasing, the cost of assisted living in Tampa is still below other top destinations for retirees, like Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Dallas. Plus, with no state income tax or capital gains tax, Tampa remains a good option for seniors looking to retire somewhere warm and affordable.
The figures below reflect the average starting costs for assisted living in the Tampa area before additional fees for care or services. They compare the starting cost of assisted living in Tampa with nearby areas.
Average monthly cost of Assisted Living in Tampa, FL vs. nearby cities
Tampa, FL
How families pay for assisted living in Tampa, Florida
This section explains how to pay for your ideal assisted living community in Tampa.
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 — or public sources, like Medicaid.
The private resources seniors use to pay for assisted living often include more than just a retirement account. For example, some seniors have long-term care insurance that may cover necessary care services offered by assisted living communities. However, your policy may not cover the costs of room and board. If not, it might be possible to cash out your policy and use those funds for your total assisted living costs. Whether or not this is possible is entirely dependent on your individual plan, so be sure to ask your insurance provider directly.
Read on for some other common ways people pay for their assisted living costs:
Number of veterans living in Tampa, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
Percent of veterans living in Tampa who are 75+, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
Eligible veterans can use the VA pension and the Aid and Attendance benefit to pay for assisted living expenses. To receive the Aid and Attendance benefit, a veteran must already receive a VA pension, be enrolled in VA health care, and be considered disabled. The Aid and Attendance can be used to pay for anything that improves the veteran’s quality of life, including room, board, and care at an assisted living community.
The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) is a resource for veterans in Tampa who need benefits counseling. The department has now made virtual benefits counseling available to better assist veterans and their families. Veterans can also find benefits counseling through local veterans service organizations, or VSOs. VSOs are VA-vetted experts who can help you apply for veterans benefits.
There are five reputable VSOs in Hillsborough County. All five of these locations offer veterans benefits counseling to veterans and their families at no cost. You can find all five listed with locations and directions on the Hillsborough County website.
Florida has the third highest number of veterans of any state in the country, and in Tampa, many of these veterans are at retirement age. In fact, 39% of veterans in Tampa are over 65 years of age, and 15% are over 75.[02]
Additional resources for Tampa, Florida, veterans
Florida Benefits & Assistance Division
9500 Bay Pines Blvd., #214
St. Petersburg, FL 33708
Phone: 727-319-7440
Email: VSO@fsva.state.fl.us
Phone: 727-319-7408
Email: VSO@fdva.state.fl.us
Hillsborough County Veterans Resource Center
3602 US Highway 301 N.
Tampa, FL 33619
Phone: 813-272-5002
Email: stromf@hcflgov.net
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Hillsborough County’s Veterans Service Offices
Phone: 813-635-8316
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Para obtener informaciĂłn y ayuda sobre beneficios de veteranos, contactar Dennys Massanet.
Teléfono: 407-205-5773
Email: Massanetd@fdva.state.fl.us
Medicaid is a state-run health insurance program for low-income or disabled people. Florida Medicaid is run by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). Low-income seniors may be able to use Medicaid to cover some of their health care costs in an assisted living facility in Florida.
Can I pay for my assisted living with Medicaid?
Florida Medicaid’s Long-Term Care program can help medically qualifying seniors pay for their senior care services, either at home or at an assisted living community. Seniors approved for Florida Medicaid are enrolled in a long-term care health insurance plan associated with their location. In Tampa, the available long-term care plan is Florida Community Care. You’ll need to get a free needs assessment from the AHCA before enrolling in Medicaid. You can get this assessment from your home.
According to Florida Medicaid’s coverage policies, a senior must be “medically eligible” before they can cover long-term care with Medicaid. A senior’s medical need must be approved by the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services (CARES) program as “nursing-facility level.” Nursing-facility levels of need, as defined by the CARES program, can include the personal assistive care that’s found in an assisted living setting.
After a senior is approved for long-term care through Florida Medicaid, they may qualify for a home and community-based services waiver (HCBS waivers) to pay for their care services from approved providers. Care funded by the HCBS waiver program may be received at the residential setting of the senior’s choice and may cover the following types of care services:
- Personal care (bathing, dressing, eating, hygiene)
- Occupational, physical, respiratory, and speech therapy
- Medication administration
- Home-delivered meals
- Homemaker services
While Florida’s Medicaid program will cover long-term care services in assisted living, it will not cover room and board in the assisted living facility. In Florida Medicaid’s policies booklet, you can find a list of what is covered under the Long-Term Care plan under section 4.0. And a comprehensive list of services not covered by the Long-Term Care plan is in section 5.0.
Tampa Medicaid resources
2727 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 850-412-4000
Feedback and question form
Fran Lima, Field Office Manager
15500 Lightwave Drive, Suite 100
Clearwater, Florida 33760
Phone: 727-552-2000
Medicare is a federal program that may cover health care costs for seniors over 65 who have paid Medicare taxes or are married to someone who paid Medicare taxes. Like Medicaid, Medicare won’t cover the total cost of assisted living, but it may cover medically-necessary services like prescription medications and inpatient hospital stays.
The general rule is that Medicare may pay for short-term and medically-necessary services, items, or procedures. This means that Medicare will most likely cover rehab after a procedure or an illness, a walker, and certain medications. But Medicare won’t cover assisted living room and board costs.
To learn more about what Medicare covers, you can visit the Federal Medicare website, dial 2-1-1, or contact your local Social Security office.
Tampa Medicare resources
3415 E. Frontage Road, Suite A
Tampa, FL 33607
Phone: 800-772-1213
3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS 49
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: 850-245-2118
Email: Public.Services@FloridaDEP.gov
Tampa laws and regulations for assisted living facilities
In Florida, the Bureau of Health Facilities Regulation licenses and regulates assisted living facilities. The bureau offers a few different licenses for different kinds of assisted living facilities. 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 need to apply for an Extended Congregate Care license. Facilities that offer only assisted living in an institutional setting are licensed as “standard” assisted living facilities.[04]
To be eligible for assisted living in Tampa, Florida, a senior should not require 24-hour nursing care. The senior should be able to go about their daily activities with caregiver assistance. The following are the other regulations for Tampa’s assisted living facilities:
- 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.
- Caregivers should communicate with family members or guardians at least every 30 days.
Employee training
All employees are required to pass a background check. Within 30 days of starting their employment, caregiving staff must complete one hour of training about infectious diseases and three hours of training on senior residents’ needs. The administrative staff of assisted living facilities need to complete an initial 26 hours of training and 12 hours of continuing education every two years.[04]
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.
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COVID-19 regulations for Tampa assisted living communities
Florida has no 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:
Masking. Communities need a system to identify and manage ill residents and prevent visitors from spreading COVID-19 in the community. Communities may be able to ask visitors to mask, but can’t bar visitors who choose not to.
Facility cleanliness. Proper hygiene like washing hands and regularly disinfecting frequently used areas should be followed by all staff members.
Staff safety. A written COVID-19 plan should be available to the staff, and ongoing education about virus prevention should be available for the staff, residents, and families.
Visitors. Visitors are allowed in Tampa’s assisted living facilities regardless of vaccination status.
Fast facts about assisted living in Tampa, Florida
What assisted living is like in Tampa, Florida
Assisted living communities in Tampa offer personal care and a hassle-free lifestyle. Daily chores, like laundry and cooking, are managed by the community to allow seniors the chance to engage in their hobbies. Caregivers are on staff to help seniors continue to do what they love safely.
Caregivers help with the following:
- Mobility
- Medication management
- Scheduling and remembering appointments
- Finding activities
- Communicating with family members
Other senior living options in Tampa
Seniors who don’t want personal care but do want entertainment and housekeeping may find their perfect niche in Tampa’s independent living communities. Seniors with dementia, however, should consider Tampa’s memory care facilities.
Loved ones who need round-the-clock medical supervision or seniors who are no longer independently mobile are likely best suited for Tampa’s nursing homes. These seniors may not be eligible for assisted living or memory care communities.
Diverse demographics
Since the 1960s, seniors across the United States have flocked to Tampa, Florida, as a retirement haven. Pristine beaches, strong diversity, and no state income tax create 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.
Tampa is a 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 diversity to its wide range of household income and ages of its residents, Tampa is home to a variety of people.
The largest age group in Tampa is between the ages of 25 and 39, making up around 26% of the population. People 65+ make up 14% of the total population.[03] 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 most places in Tampa are near excellent hospitals, 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.[01]
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 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. Therefore, 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 of the oceanfront assisted living facilities. 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.[04]
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.
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Seniors’ guide to the city of Tampa
About 14% of Tampa’s population is 65+, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Seniors age 75+ make up 5% of the population in Tampa, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
In Clearwater, Florida, 23% of the population is 65+, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
About 25% of the population in Tampa is Hispanic or Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Best hospitals for seniors in Tampa
Tampa has a well-established health care system. Many hospitals here are nationally known for a number of specialties, especially cancer and geriatrics.
Tampa General Hospital
The Tampa General Hospital is a general medical and teaching hospital. It’s well-regarded for its geriatrics care, and is known as a national leader for ear, nose, and throat procedures.
 H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center and Research Institute
H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center and Research Institute is a national leader for cancer treatment. It provides all general internal medicine and most specialties, including geriatrics, gastroenterology and GI surgery, and urology.
 Morton Plant Hospital
The Morton Plant Hospital, located in Clearwater, Florida, is ranked one of the best hospitals in Florida. It’s particularly high-performing with cardiac procedures.
St. Joseph’s Hospital — Tampa
St. Joseph’s Hospital — Tampa is a regionally ranked general hospital and surgery center in Tampa, Florida. It performs highly for lung and colon cancer procedures.
3001 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33607-6387
Phone: 813-870-4000
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.[01] 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 don’t have access to transportation services, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) runs the local bus system, which is an affordable and 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 at 813-272-7272.
Things to do in Tampa for seniors and their families
For a lot of retirees, living in Tampa is like a never-ending vacation. Most assisted living residents in Tampa get plenty of activities and entertainment from their community, and many groups often have outings. For example, local assisted living residents may go to restaurants, malls, and casinos.
 Other well-loved group activities in our partnering assisted living communities include visits to nearby beaches and birding expeditions. Walking clubs are one of the most popular activities in Tampa’s assisted living communities. With the year-round sunshine, it’s not hard to see why.
 Tampa makes senior activities accessible
 Tampa’s Parks and Recreation Department has a robust senior activities program. These are a good option for seniors who are looking for some variety in their social calendar, or whose community doesn’t offer these types of activities. Water aerobics, quilting, and bridge are just a few of the weekly activities free to seniors in Tampa. However, seniors need to sign up on the Parks and Recreation website. The department also hosts regular formal dinners and dances for seniors, like the annual Silver Night Out Dance.
 Tampa seniors can also attend concerts from acts like the Beach Boys, Elvis impersonators, Cher, and the Irish Tenors through the Adults at Leisure series at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Coordinators at Ruth Eckerd Hall also send musical acts directly to assisted living communities, so seniors can enjoy a show from the comfort of their community.
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Tampa’s rich history means fun for history buffs
While visiting family members enjoy the classic Floridian theme park experience in Tampa, the older adults in the family may enjoy some of the more low-key options, like local historical sites. One of Tampa’s lesser-known charms is the Ybor City neighborhood, which is the only neighborhood in the South designated as a National Historic Landmark District. Visitors can stroll down palm tree-lined streets influenced by Spanish and Cuban architecture and learn how Ybor City made Tampa the cigar capital of the United States.
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Getting outside in Tampa is easy
Natural areas and wildlife viewing is never far away in Tampa. Some of the most popular nature parks in the Tampa Bay area are Lettuce Lake Park and Weeden Island Preserve in St. Petersburg. Anywhere you go in the Tampa Bay area, you’re likely to see plenty of shorebirds and perhaps even an alligator. The Tampa Audubon Society is open to the public with advanced registration on its website, and it does a good job of listing the length and difficulty level of their birding outings. Some birding routes, like the Circle B Bar Reserve, are wheelchair accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Consuelo's Assisted Living Facility, Dorothy Cares ALF, LLC. and Inspired Living at Tampa are the top-rated Assisted Living facilities near Tampa, 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 Tampa is 3591.4 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
References
A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101): Tampa City [Data set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and sex (S0101): Tampa city [Data set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population estimates (V2021): Clearwater city [Data set]. QuickFacts.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population estimates (V2021): Tampa city [Data set]. QuickFacts.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Demographic and housing estimates (DP05): Tampa city [Data set]. American Community Survey.
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