Senior Living Options for Sarasota, FL Families

About 79 road miles, roughly 1 hr 39 min without traffic (OpenStreetMap routing estimate). Typical route: I-75 south about 75 miles, then into Cape Coral.

Visiting from out of state? Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is about 21 road miles (around 35 minutes) from our homes, with hotels near the airport and throughout Cape Coral and Fort Myers.

• Sarasota Memorial Hospital
• HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital

Near our Cape Coral homes: Cape Coral Hospital, Gulf Coast Medical Center, Lee Memorial and HealthPark Medical Center (Lee Health). Verify any facility on Florida HealthFinder.

CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey lists Florida statewide medians of $5,610/month for assisted living and $10,342/month for a semi-private nursing home room. We couldn't verify a Sarasota-specific figure, so we don't list one.

Love ALF: $3,200/month all-inclusive shared room; advanced care such as diabetes management up to $3,500; no move-in fee beyond the first month; Medicaid accepted.

Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida (Fort Myers) is the Aging and Disability Resource Center for Sarasota County (Planning and Service Area 8). Direct line (239) 652-6900, toll-free (866) 413-5337. 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.

Sarasota County is in Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Region F. 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 for Southwest Florida 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.

Love ALF is in Cape Coral, not Sarasota. About 1 hour 40 minutes without traffic; still Medicaid region F.

• Two family-owned 12-bed homes (AHCA #13519, #13758) — small enough that staff know every resident
• Help with daily living, medication management, dietitian-planned meals, activities, 24-hour care
• Nurse practitioner, podiatrist, cosmetologist; OT-led care; bilingual staff; hurricane backup power
• Manageable dementia welcome (no memory care unit)

See cost, services, SW 34th St home, SW 7th Pl home.

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

• 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.

More Florida senior care resources

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

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