Nursing Homes and Senior Care in Florida

Nursing Homes by City in Florida

The Florida cities with the most CMS-certified nursing homes. All 205 cities are listed below the table. Homes in Florida average 3.8 hours of nursing care per resident per day; the national median is 3.7 hours.

5-Star Nursing Homes in Florida

Homes with CMS's top overall rating, ordered by inspection rating. See all highest-rated nursing homes in Florida.

Assisted Living in Florida

Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Bureau of Health Facility Regulation, Assisted Living Unit licenses assisted living in Florida. License types: Assisted Living Facility (Standard license), Extended Congregate Care, Limited Nursing Services, Limited Mental Health and Memory Care Services. Use the state's search to check a community's license and inspection history.

• Florida assisted living facility search
• Florida assisted living rules
• Florida assisted living licensing (Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Bureau of Health Facility Regulation, Assisted Living Unit)

Memory Care Rules in Florida

Florida's term is "Memory Care Services license", a separate license or certification. Facilities must give families a written disclosure of their dementia care services.

• An assisted living facility that serves one or more memory care residents, or that advertises or otherwise holds itself out as providing memory care services, must obtain a memory care services license (s. 429.076, F.S., created by ch. 2026-102).
• To obtain a memory care services license, a facility must maintain a standard assisted living facility license and meet any additional minimum requirements adopted by rule.
• By June 1, 2027, AHCA must adopt rules covering memory care policies and procedures, standardized admittance criteria, minimum care, services and activities, staff training that meets or exceeds s. 430.5025, safety requirements including at least one awake staff member on duty at all hours, physical plant requirements, and resident contracts that specify the memory care services provided.
• Rules will list terms a facility may not use in advertising without the license, including memory care, memory care facility, dementia care, dementia care facility, Alzheimer's care and Alzheimer's care facility.
• Until those rules take effect, a facility that advertises special care for persons with Alzheimer's disease or other related disorders must: have an awake staff member on duty at all hours if it has 17 or more residents (or, with fewer than 17 residents, an awake staff member or mechanisms to monitor and ensure residents' safety); offer activities specifically designed for persons who are cognitively impaired; have a physical environment that provides for residents' safety and welfare; and employ staff who complete the training required under s. 430.5025 (s. 429.178, F.S.).
• All assisted living employees who provide personal care or have regular contact with residents complete a 1-hour Department of Elder Affairs dementia training within 30 days of hire; employees who provide personal care complete 3 more hours within 7 months (s. 430.5025, F.S.).
• In a facility that advertises and provides specialized Alzheimer's or dementia care, employees complete the additional 3 hours within 3 months, personal care staff complete an additional 4 hours of dementia-specific training within 6 months, and then at least 4 hours of continuing education each calendar year (s. 430.5025(4)(e), F.S.).
• A facility that claims to provide special care for persons with Alzheimer's disease or other related disorders must disclose in its advertisements or in a separate document the services that distinguish that care, give a copy to each person who requests information, and keep copies for review at license renewal (s. 429.177, F.S.).

• Florida memory care rules

Medicaid Long-Term Care in Florida

Florida's Medicaid program is Florida Medicaid, Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) Long-Term Care program. For nursing home Medicaid (2026), the state lists an income limit of $2,982 (ICP/HCBS/Hospice, Individual, 300% FBR) and an asset limit of $2,000 (Individual); $3,000 (Couple). Residents keep a personal needs allowance of $160 (NH-ICP/HCBS/Hospice/PACE).

• Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) Long-Term Care (LTC) program: in-home care, adult day, assisted living and respite. For people age 65 and over and eligible for Medicaid, or age 18 and over and eligible due to a disability, who are at nursing home level of care as determined by the DOEA CARES program. The Department of Elder Affairs and the ADRCs manage a wait list; each month DOEA releases individuals based on priority score and frailty-based rank, not on how long a person has been on the list.

• Florida Medicaid, Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) Long-Term Care program nursing facility coverage
• Florida Medicaid long-term care limits

Nursing Home Inspections and Complaints in Florida

Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Bureau of Field Operations inspects nursing homes in Florida for CMS. To file a complaint, call 1-888-419-3456 or use the state's complaint page.

• Florida nursing home inspection lookup
• File a nursing home complaint in Florida

Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman

The Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a free, confidential advocate for residents of nursing homes and assisted living. Ombudsmen help with complaints, residents' rights and problems with care. Call 1-888-831-0404.

• Contact the Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Aging Services and Caregiver Support in Florida

Florida Department of Elder Affairs runs Florida's aging services, delivered through local Area Agencies on Aging. Family caregivers can get help through National Family Caregiver Support Program. Adult day services are licensed or certified by Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Assisted Living Unit.

• Florida aging services: Florida Department of Elder Affairs
• Area Agencies on Aging in Florida
• Caregiver support in Florida: National Family Caregiver Support Program
• Florida adult day services

Guides for Your Next Step

See how to choose a nursing home, what memory care is, how Medicaid pays for nursing home care and what Medicare covers. For local help, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

Frequently Asked Questions