Why Select Assisted Living in Jacksonville, FL?
Sitting along Florida’s beautiful St. Johns River in the state’s First Coast region is one of the country’s largest cities – Jacksonville. This expansive city is home to more than 1.6 million people, approximately 124,601 of whom are seniors.
Originally inhabited by the Timucua people, in 1564 the area became home to one of the earliest European settlements in what is now the continental United States – the French colony of Fort Caroline. In 1821, the town officially became property of the United States after the Florida territory was ceded by Spain through the Adams–Onís Treaty. It was renamed Jacksonville after Andrew Jackson, who at the time was the military governor of the Florida territory.
In the late 19th century, Jacksonville became home to a major military and civilian port which would wind up making it the third largest seaport in the state and home to the third largest military presence in the country. By the start of the 20th century, Jacksonville became known as one of the leading banking and insurance centers in the country, but World War II would eventually take a tremendous toll on its economy and community that would in all respects last into the 1990s.
In 1991, Jacksonville’s newly elected mayor, Ed Austin, made dramatic changes to the city that still impact its quality of life today. From the River City Renaissance program to the restoration of the city’s historic downtown neighborhoods, Jacksonville underwent a transformation that totally rejuvenated the region and turned it into one of the best places to live in the country.
Today, Jacksonville is one of the most-visited cities in the southeast, attracting more than 22 million tourists every year thanks to its pristine beaches, extensive parks system, eclectic museums, delicious coastal cuisine, and innovative arts scene.
Besides its abundance of attractions and senior-friendly services, Jacksonville’s pleasant weather is one of its top draws for those looking for senior assisted living facilities in Northeast Florida. Over the course of the year, the temperature in Jacksonville typically varies from 46°F to 90°F and rarely dips below 32°F or climbs above 95°F.
Assisted Living in Jacksonville, FL: What You Need to Know
If you’re looking to learn more about assisted living in Jacksonville, FL, then Senioridy is here to help. Just click on the topics below to learn more about assisted living in Jacksonville, FL.
- Senior Population and Assisted Living Volume
- Criteria for Admittance
- Typical Costs of Assisted Living in Jacksonville, FL
- Benefits of Assisted Living in Jacksonville, FL
- Senior-Friendly Attractions in Jacksonville, FL
- Senior Centers in the Jacksonville Area
- Transportation Services in Jacksonville, FL
- How to Find Assisted Living in Jacksonville Using Senioridy
Senior Population and Assisted Living Volume
Seniors aged 65 and older make up about 13.8% of Jacksonville’s population, with roughly 27,000 of those being veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Jacksonville is a highly attractive city for seniors for many reasons, from its attractions to its climate, but one thing that is very beneficial to older adults is that Florida is one of the most tax-friendly states for seniors to live in. Not only are seniors not taxed for money received from their Social Security benefits, pensions, IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement income, but there is also no inheritance tax or real estate taxes for families of seniors living in long-term care facilities.
As for cost of living, with the average cost of living in the US scoring 100, Jacksonville’s cost of living comes in at 93.5. As a result, it is more affordable for seniors to live here than in most other major American cities. With all the above factors, it should come as no surprise that there can sometimes be a waiting list to get into some of the best assisted living facilities in Jacksonville.
Criteria for Admittance
To be admitted to an assisted living facility in Florida, residents need to meet the following criteria:
- Must be capable of performing ADLs with supervision or assistance
- Must not require 24-hour nursing supervision
- Must be free of Stage II, III, or IV pressure sores
- Must be able to participate in social and leisure activities
- Must be ambulatory
- Must not display violent behavior or be a danger to self or others
- Must have a medical examination from a physician or advanced RN practitioner 60 days before or 30 days after admission
Typical Costs of Assisted Living in Jacksonville, FL
The average monthly cost for assisted living in Jacksonville is $4,660. This is $160 more than the national average and $660 more than the state average. But unlike in many states, Florida Medicaid can pay a fixed daily rate to help cover certain assisted living costs such as a resident’s room, meals, staff care, and medical supplies, but certain restrictions apply.
However, it is always important to remember that most assisted living communities offer a variety of amenities to their residents, and these can affect their costs. Things that can affect the total cost of assisted living can include:
- Restaurant-style dining
- Private and shared apartments with full kitchens
- Housekeeping and linen service
- Scheduled transportation
- Social, cultural, and recreational activities
- Emergency response system
- On-call medical staff
Most assisted living facilities offer apartments available either furnished or unfurnished. Most also typically feature large social rooms for attending community activities, full-featured fitness centers, libraries, and media rooms.
Benefits of Assisted Living in Jacksonville, FL
Assisted living facilities in Jacksonville are recognized for their ability to deliver their residents with a positive overall quality of life and high personal satisfaction. While each facility is unique in the programs and services it offers, most provide a standard set of services that allow residents to enjoy certain freedoms and experiences, such as:
Personalized Care
Assisted living facilities offer customized solutions that are designed to satisfy a resident’s unique health needs and personal preferences. Personalized care can include anything from 24/7 nursing care and medication administration to comprehensive monitoring for mood and behavioral issues. Assisted living staff are experts at providing every resident with an optimum environment that is conducive for living their best life.
Hands-On Assistance with Daily Living Tasks
In an assisted living facility, one resident may require more support than another. For instance, some can live somewhat independently, while others may need extra help with ADLs like housekeeping, transportation, bathing, dressing, hygiene, and laundry. The facility’s staff provides respectful, hands-on assistance that protects the resident’s dignity regardless of how much, or little, support they require.
Social Activities
Every assisted living facility offers a variety of social activities that can help you or your loved one stay as active and engaged as possible despite certain limitations. From dance classes, book clubs, and pottery to gardening and travel excursions, every facility’s list of activities is unique. But the most important thing is to participate in these activities because being social within the community helps prevent depression and feelings of isolation and greatly improves every resident’s quality of life.
Safety and Security
Assisted living facilities are equipped with advanced safety and security measures that not only put the minds of family members at ease, but that also reduce the risk of something happening to their residents. When someone reaches the point in their lives where they require help with their ADLs, there is nowhere safer for them to be than in an assisted living facility.
Access to Quality Healthcare
Assisted living facilities in Jacksonville offer their residents easy access to high quality healthcare both on-site and when necessary, at local hospitals and other types of healthcare facilities. And Jacksonville is home to quite a few nationally ranked healthcare providers, like the Mayo Clinic, UF Health Jacksonville, Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, and others. The health and well-being of assisted living residents is always Jacksonville’s highest priority.
Quality Nutrition and Dining Options
Assisted living facilities in Jacksonville, FL take their residents’ dietary needs seriously because after all, good health starts with proper nutrition. As a result, most facilities offer a wide range of dining options, including flexible mealtimes, greater meal variety, diet-specific meals, and more.
Comfortable, Home-Like Setting
In Jacksonville, assisted living residents can usually decorate their accommodations as they wish, and this is an important component because it allows a senior to make their new living space feel more like home. Of course, the only difference here is that they no longer have to worry about all the responsibilities that come with traditional homeownership, like doing lawn work, making repairs, maintaining the home, cooking and cleaning, and performing other tedious tasks. In assisted living, all those menial tasks are handled by professionals.
Senior-Friendly Attractions in Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville has plenty of things for seniors to see and do, making for yet another reason why so many choose to retire here and move into the city’s assisted living facilities. Home to the largest urban park system in the country, Jacksonville has more than 80,000 designated acres, including the 46,000-acre Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, making it the ideal destination for seniors who love the great outdoors. Plus, the beaches here are second to none.
Jacksonville is also a mecca for history, culture, and the arts. The city plays host to several festivals throughout the year, like the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, as well as dozens of street fairs and craft markets. There are also more than a dozen incredible museums peppered across Jacksonville, including the Beaches Museum, Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, and many others.
Meanwhile, the restaurants in Jacksonville are a food lover’s delight. With a local cuisine specializing in fresh-off-the-boat seafood, there’s no shortage of elegant bistros, fine dining restaurants, fish camps, and innovative eateries to choose from when you’re spending a day out.
Senior Centers in the Jacksonville Area
With such a large senior population, Jacksonville has plenty of senior centers throughout the city where older adults can get access to a wide variety of programs and services. The following is a list of senior centers in the area:
- Frances Padgett Arlington Senior Center
- Bennie Furlong Beaches Senior Center
- Carvill Park Senior Center
- Charlie T. Joseph Senior Center
- Clanzel T. Brown Senior Center
- Hammond Senior Center
- S. Johnson Senior Center
- Jim Fortuna Senior Center
- Lane Wiley Senior Center
- Leroy D. Clemons Senior Center
- Lincoln Villa Senior Center
- Longbranch Senior Center
- Louis Dinah Senior Center
- Mandarin Senior Center
- Mary L. Singleton Senior Center
- Maxville Senior Center
- Oceanway Senior Center
- Riverview Senior Center
- Wallace Small Senior Center
Transportation Services in Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville has one of the best public transportation systems in the state, if not the entire country. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) offers public transportation in the form of buses, a trolley system, and the Skyway.
JTA passengers who are age 65 and older are eligible to receive a Senior ID STAR Card. This card allows seniors to ride for free and must be presented upon boarding. To get a Senior ID STAR Card, seniors must bring with them a government-issued photo ID showing their date of birth to one of the following locations:
- Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center at LaVilla (JRTC), 100 LaVilla Center Drive, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- JTA Operations Campus, 100 N. Myrtle Avenue, Building 2, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Armsdale Park-n-Ride, 191 Armsdale Road, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Avenues Walk Park-n-Ride Center, 10508 Avenues Walk Boulevard, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The JTA also offers Connexion, a paratransit service for eligible ADA and transportation disadvantaged (TD) riders.
How to Find Assisted Living Facilities in Jacksonville, FL
Whether you are looking for an assisted living facility for yourself or a loved one, there are a few options available to you that can help you find the right one for your needs in Jacksonville and the surrounding area. One option is to do it the old-fashioned way by looking in the phone book or inquiring about assisted living from your friends and relatives.
Another is to contact a placement agency. Senior placement agencies help seniors find the right assisted living facility for them by working with the senior and their family to find the best possible fit for their needs. These types of services typically charge a referral fee to the Assisted Living community since they are bringing in revenue to that facility, so they don’t usually charge seniors or their families. It is important to note that since agents can only get paid by assisted living facilities that they have contracts with, you may not be shown all the assisted living facilities that are available to you.
Another option is to do use an online directory of assisted living facilities in Jacksonville, Florida from a site like Senioridy.com. Senioridy's search tools are comprehensive, so they can provide you with the best possible results. Just follow these steps:
- Go to Find Senior Living > Assisted Living by clicking here
- On the left Search Filters and in the Located Near field type in “Jacksonville”
- Adjust the slider to 60 mi
- Click the arrow next to the field
Once you do this simple search, you will be presented with many top-rated facilities to compare.
