Senior Living Cost Comparison

The Average Cost of Senior Living

As you begin researching senior housing options, one of the most common questions that arise is: “How much do senior living communities cost?” The general rule of thumb is that the sooner you start planning financially for your future, the better. This means before making any decisions about your future housing, it’s important to know the costs associated with each type of senior living option, regardless of whether you’re ready to downsize your current home, are seeking in-home assistance with daily health care tasks and personal care, or need a community that offers higher levels of care for you to truly thrive.

Different Levels of Senior Care and the Associated Costs

While aging in place in the home is often appealing to many older adults, it’s certainly not the only option available. In fact, studies show that seniors who move to an independent living community while they are still independent and healthy are more likely to stay that way. Plus, many senior living communities offer a continuum of care, which means if your health needs change, the level of care provided will change, too, and those services are provided all on the same campus. This means you wouldn’t be forced to make any quick decisions about your housing situation should an injury or illness occur. If the time comes when you need a change in your lifestyle or can no longer take care of yourself in your home, it’s good to know what other options are available, as well as the senior living costs involved with each option. The below chart offers a quick breakdown of the average cost of senior living and senior care services:

Type of Care	Services Included	Costs*
Independent Living Community	Private homes or apartments – own or rent Access to community amenities and social activities Daily meals	Varies by housing type (home, townhouse, apartment), floorplan, and health care or continuing care services available
Assisted Living Community	Private or semi-private apartments Help with daily living activities (dressing, bathing, medications) Daily meals Housekeeping, laundry Transportation Social events and activities	In the state of Florida, the cost of assisted living averages $3,150 monthly.
Skilled Nursing Care/Nursing Home	Assistance with daily living activities Daily Meals Housekeeping, laundry Social activities and events Medical treatments as needed Rehabilitative therapies – physical, occupational, speech/cognitive Around the clock medical care	Depending on whether you have a private or semi-private room, monthly costs for skilled nursing care in Florida can be anywhere from $7,300 to $8,060 monthly.
Home Care	Assistance with health care needs – medications, injections, wound care, health monitoring Post-operative care In-home physical therapy Companion services	In-home care costs in the state of Florida average $18.50 per hour.

*These costs are a generalization and will vary by the community, facility or in-home health care agency.

Is Moving to a Senior Living Community an Affordable Option?

It’s not uncommon to think that remaining in your current home is the most affordable option. However, there are several factors to keep in mind when making these important decisions about your future.

For instance, consider the costs involved with maintaining a home. There’s the monthly mortgage or rent payment, utilities, property taxes and insurance, big-ticket repairs like a new roof, landscaping, groceries and so much more. In a senior living community, the majority of those costs are rolled into your monthly rental payments or into the community’s association fees.

Sit down and map out your current monthly living expenses, including all your health care costs. Then, compare those costs to the information you received from doing your research about the senior living communities that interest you. Often, seeing the numbers written down in black and white can be quite eye-opening! You may find the cost of moving to a retirement neighborhood makes more sense financially than you thought. Plus, there’s the added bonus that you’ll have peace of mind for your future health needs.

Senior Living Services in North Florida at Advent Christian Village

Advent Christian Village offers a variety of senior living options and health services to ensure you’re living a vibrant, confident lifestyle. Download our rate sheet today, or contact us to schedule a personal, guided tour so you can see all that ACV has to offer.