Senior Care Resources in Pinellas County (St. Petersburg & Clearwater), Florida

Pinellas is Florida's most densely populated county and about 27.5% of residents are 65+. Its Area Agency on Aging covers only Pasco and Pinellas, and the county is in Medicaid region C.

Veterans in Pinellas have Bay Pines VA Medical Center nearby — worth factoring into any relocation decision.

Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas (St. Petersburg) is the Aging and Disability Resource Center for Pinellas County (Planning and Service Area 5). Direct line (727) 570-9696. Website.

The ADRC is the front door for Medicaid long-term care screening, caregiver support, Older Americans Act meals (group and home-delivered), local transportation referrals and senior center listings. Statewide Elder Helpline: 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337).

SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) offers free, unbiased Medicare and Medicaid counseling through the Department of Elder Affairs and your local Area Agency on Aging. Call 1-800-963-5337 or request a local counselor at floridashine.org.

Pinellas County is in Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Region C. Assisted living is a covered service in the SMMC Long-Term Care program for people 65+ (or 18+ with a disability) who are Medicaid-eligible and found by CARES to need nursing-home level of care.

1. Call Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas for screening and wait-list placement.
2. When released from the wait list, CARES assesses medical need and DCF reviews finances.
3. If approved, AHCA mails a packet to choose a long-term care plan.

Hospitals serving the area include:

• Morton Plant Hospital (Clearwater)
• Mease Countryside Hospital (Safety Harbor)
• Bay Pines VA Medical Center

Search all licensed hospitals, nursing homes and ALFs in Pinellas County on Florida HealthFinder.

CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey reports Florida statewide medians of $5,610/month for assisted living and $10,342/month for a semi-private nursing home room. We don't list a Pinellas-specific figure because we couldn't verify one; ask each facility for written pricing.

• If your loved one lives at home and needs help with medications, oxygen or electricity-dependent equipment, register with the Florida Special Needs Registry (registration doesn't guarantee a shelter spot).
• Find your county emergency management office at FloridaDisaster.org/counties.
• Keep a 30-day medication supply, medication list, ID and insurance cards ready (Florida Department of Health guidance).
• Residents of assisted living facilities rely on the facility's emergency plan — ask to see it, including backup power.

• Look up the license and inspection reports on Florida HealthFinder.
• Get the monthly price in writing and ask exactly what's included vs. extra.
• Ask about staffing overnight, medication management and who handles medical visits.
• Ask whether Medicaid is accepted and how private-pay residents transition to Medicaid.
• Ask about dementia: which needs they can manage and when a resident would need memory care.
• Ask for the hurricane plan and backup power details.
• Visit at mealtime and talk to residents and families.

Love ALF is not located in St. Petersburg. Our two homes are in Cape Coral, Lee County — about 115 road miles and roughly 2 hr 18 min from St. Petersburg without traffic (OpenStreetMap routing estimate). For families relocating a loved one closer to relatives in Southwest Florida, here's what we offer:

• Two family-owned homes with 12 beds each, shared rooms — licensed by Florida AHCA (#13519 and #13758), opened 2020 and 2021
• $3,200/month all-inclusive; advanced care such as diabetes management up to $3,500; no move-in fee beyond the first month
• Medicaid accepted
• Help with daily living, medication management, 3 meals plus a snack (dietitian-planned), activities, 24-hour care
• Nurse practitioner, podiatrist, cosmetologist; OT-led care strategies; bilingual English/Spanish staff
• 2 free rides a day to doctor appointments within 10 miles of the home; hurricane backup power
• Manageable dementia welcome (no memory care unit)

See cost, services, Love ALF – SW 34th St, Love ALF II – SW 7th Pl, and our Lee County Medicaid guide.

Call (239) 544-5928 to schedule a tour. Se habla español — ask for Cindy Garcia.

All Florida senior care resource pages

• U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts — Persons 65 years and over, percent (Florida counties)
• Florida Dept. of Elder Affairs — Aging and Disability Resource Centers
• Florida Dept. of Elder Affairs — Elder Helpline by county
• Florida SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders)
• AHCA — New SMMC Regions (A–I, effective Feb. 2025)
• AHCA — SMMC Long-Term Care Recipient FAQs
• CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey — state medians
• CMS Care Compare hospital listing (via Fonteum Florida inventory)
• Florida Special Needs Registry (Florida Dept. of Health)
• Florida Division of Emergency Management — county emergency management contacts
• Florida HealthFinder (AHCA) — facility search & inspection reports
• Drive estimates: OpenStreetMap / OSRM routing (free-flow, no traffic)

Facts checked October 2026. Phone numbers and programs can change — confirm with the agency.