If you or a senior loved one are living in Florida and need assistance with the Activities of Daily Living or other daily senior care, it’s important to know what assisted living facilities are and how to find the right one. In Florida, there are four types of assisted living facility licenses, each offering different levels of care and support. But how do you find the right one? Thankfully, there are resources like the Florida Assisted Living Facility Comparison Tool and Florida Facility Locator Tool to help you make informed decisions. And if an assisted living facility isn't the right fit, there are alternatives like adult day care centers and adult family care homes. Read on to learn more about the different types of assisted living facilities in Florida and how to find the right one for you or your loved one, or reach out to the Sunbound team to learn more.

What is an assisted living facility?

Before diving into the different types of assisted living facilities in Florida it’s helpful to start with a brief overview of what assisted living facilities are, and how they differ from other forms of senior living communities. Assisted living facilities are residential communities that cater to  elderly or disabled individuals who require assistance with daily activities like bathing, grooming, and managing medications. These facilities offer a range of services, including meals, transportation, housekeeping, and social activities, while also providing 24/7 supervision and healthcare support. The main goal of assisted living facilities is to promote independence and respect for the residents while also ensuring their safety and well-being. It’s important to choose a licensed facility that adheres to quality standards in terms of staffing ratios and safety protocols to guarantee the best care for yourself or your senior loved one.

Types of assisted living facilities in Florida

Florida has four types of assisted living facility licenses, each offering different levels of care and support for residents. 

Standard License: The first type of license is the standard license, which is the most commonly found assisted living facility in the state. These facilities offer personal care services such as bathing, grooming, and dressing, as well as assistance with medication management and daily living activities. In order to operate as an assisted living facility in Florida, a facility must have at least a standard license. In addition to a standard license, a facility may also obtain one of the three licenses below to provide additional services for its residents.

Extended Congregate Care License: The second type of license is the extended congregate care license. Along with providing the basic services allowed with a standard license, as well as a host of additional services. These include limited nursing services and assessments, help with the Activities of Daily Living such as bathing and toileting, daily care and management with such things as weight or nutritional check-ins, and organizing other aspects of care such as trips to rehabilitation or other medical providers.

Limited Nursing License: The third type of license is the limited nursing services license, which is issued to facilities that offer all the services of an assisted living facility, but also offer access to care provided by licensed nurses. Residents at limited nursing license facilities must meet acceptance qualifications, as well as continued residency criteria.

Limited Mental Health License: Finally, the fourth type of license is the limited mental health license, which is for facilities that specialize in the care of residents with mental health conditions. These facilities may offer counseling, therapy, and medication management services to their residents. They provide a more tailored approach to mental health care than standard assisted living facilities.

It's essential to note that irrespective of the type of license, all assisted living facilities in Florida must comply with specific regulations and standards to ensure the safety and well-being of their residents.

Finding an assisted living facility in Florida

If you or your senior loved one think that a Florida assisted living facility is the right place to call home, the next step is finding the right assisted living facility. Thankfully there are some incredibly helpful tools and resources out there for finding an assisted living facility in Florida.

First, you can always reach out to Sunbound about finding a great assisted living facility in Florida. Sunbound partners with senior living communities all across the country to help seniors and their families to help find and pay for the highest quality senior living and senior care. If you want to learn more about how Sunbound can help you or your senior loved one, reach out to us at info@sunboundhomes.com for more information.

Along with Sunbound, the Florida state government also has some amazing resources for finding and vetting assisted living facilities. The Florida Assisted Living Facility Comparison Tool is a web-based tool that provides seniors and their families with a comprehensive list of licensed assisted living facilities in Florida. This tool allows users to compare the facilities based on various factors such as location, services provided, quality of care, and facility ratings. This tool has a lot of information on each community, including not only basic information like number of beds and bed hold policy, but also information like on special activities of nurse availability. By using this tool, seniors and their families can make informed decisions about which facility is best suited to meet their needs.

Another great free tool is the Florida Facility Locator Tool is another web-based tool that provides seniors and their families with a searchable database of licensed healthcare facilities in Florida. This tool includes information on assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospices, and other healthcare providers. Users can search for facilities based on location, facility type, and services provided. Another important piece of information that you can find in the Florida Facility Locator Tool is whether the facility has any of the speciality licenses described in greater detail above.

Alternatives to an assisted living facility in Florida

It’s important to remember that assisted living facilities are not the only place where seniors can get the care they need. There are a couple of other options available in Florida for seniors who need care, but who don’t think that an assisted living facility is right for them. One alternative is adult day care centers which provide programs and services during the day for adults who need a protective environment. These centers offer a range of services including social and leisure activities, self-care training, nutritional meals, respite care, health assessments, therapy, and transportation. 

Another option is adult family care homes that offer full-time, family-like living arrangements for up to five elderly persons or adults with disabilities. Services provided by adult family care homes include housing, meals, personal care, medication assistance, resident supervision, health care services arrangement, transportation services arrangement, health monitoring, and social and leisure activities. Residents can also contract with licensed home health care providers for additional nursing and healthcare services as needed.

To learn more about how Sunbound can help make paying for senior living and senior care more affordable for you or your senior loved one, send us an email at info@sunboundhomes.com or request more information on Sunbound. Sunbound is the best way to pay for senior living and senior care, and we’re on a mission to make senior living and senior care more affordable for everyone.