- 9040 Town Center Pkwy, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
- (800) 969-7176
-
9040 Town Center Pkwy
Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 - (800) 969-7176
Choosing assisted living, memory care, or independent living can feel overwhelming. Our senior living advisors answer the most common questions families ask about senior living costs, eligibility, paying for care, when it’s time to move, and how our free senior placement services work throughout Florida.
Senior Consulting Advisors provides free senior living placement services and ongoing support for older adults and their families navigating senior care.
Whether you’re exploring assisted living, memory care, independent living, or other senior living options, our experienced Senior Living Advisors guide you through every step of the process.
Our free services include:
Our goal is to make the senior living search less overwhelming by providing compassionate, personalized guidance from the first conversation through a successful transition.
A Senior Living Advisor helps older adults and their families find the right senior living community based on their unique needs, preferences, budget, and location.
At Senior Consulting Advisors, we guide families through every step of the process, including understanding the differences between assisted living, memory care, independent living, skilled nursing, and other care options to scheduling tours, comparing communities, and making an informed decision. Our goal is to simplify what can often feel like an overwhelming process while advocating for the senior’s best interests. We offer these services at no extra cost to seniors.
Senior Consulting Advisors provides personalized senior living placement services focused on what’s best for each family, not on selling a particular community. Unlike online referral services that simply provide lists of facilities, our experienced advisors take the time to understand your loved one’s medical, social, financial, and personal needs. We personally guide you through community tours, explain care options, answer questions, and remain connected even after a move-in.
Plus, our advisors are local to the areas they serve and are personally familiar with local communities. Our mission is to provide compassionate, expert guidance that helps families feel confident in their decisions.
Our senior living placement and consulting services are completely free for families. We are compensated by participating senior living communities, allowing us to provide expert guidance at no additional cost to you.
From helping families compare assisted living, memory care, and independent living communities to coordinating tours and supporting the move-in process, our mission is to make finding the right senior living community easier without adding financial stress.
Our senior advisory services are completely free for families because we are compensated by participating senior living communities after a successful move-in.
There are no additional costs to you, and our recommendations are based on your loved one’s needs, not on fees. We believe every family deserves expert guidance when choosing assisted living, memory care, or independent living, without worrying about the cost of professional support.
Our team consists of experienced Senior Living Advisors with backgrounds in senior care, healthcare, case management, social work, senior living operations, nursing, and patient advocacy. All of our advisors are Certified Dementia Practitioners (CDP), and many hold professional credentials such as CORE, LNHA, CALA, and more. Additionally, our advisors are local to the area they serve and have extensive knowledge of senior living communities in their area.
Overall, we are dedicated to helping families make informed, compassionate decisions with confidence.
Senior Consulting Advisors proudly serves seniors and families throughout Florida, with experienced senior living advisors available in communities across the state.
Our advisors work with families in many areas, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Bradenton, Naples, Fort Myers, Orlando, The Villages, Lakeland, Fort Lauderdale, and surrounding communities.
We also have franchise locations serving parts of South Carolina and the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Visit our Locations page to find the Senior Living Advisor serving your area, or contact us to learn how we can help.
It may be time for assisted living when an older adult begins struggling with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, medication management, meal preparation, housekeeping, or mobility.
Other signs include frequent falls, memory problems, social isolation, poor nutrition, or concerns about safety while living alone.
Senior Consulting Advisors can help assess your loved one’s needs and determine whether assisted living is the right next step. Early planning often provides more options and makes the transition less stressful for everyone involved.
The main difference between assisted living and independent living is the level of care provided. Independent living is designed for active seniors who want a maintenance-free lifestyle with amenities, social activities, and other services, but who do not need daily personal care.
Assisted living includes all the benefits of community living while also providing help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, medication management, and mobility.
Our senior living advisors can help determine which option best fits your loved one’s current and future needs.
Memory care is a specialized type of senior living designed for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other forms of memory loss. Memory care communities offer secure environments, specially trained caregivers, structured daily routines, therapeutic activities, and personalized support tailored to each resident’s abilities. These communities focus on promoting safety, preserving independence whenever possible, and improving quality of life for both seniors and their families.
Yes, someone with early-stage dementia may be able to stay in an assisted living community, depending on their level of cognitive impairment and the services the community provides. Many assisted living communities can support residents with mild memory loss.
However, as dementia progresses and safety concerns increase, a dedicated memory care community often becomes the more appropriate option because it provides specialized staff, secure surroundings, and dementia-focused care. A senior living advisor can help families determine the most appropriate level of care based on their loved one’s current condition and anticipated future needs.
Many senior living communities allow residents to age in place, meaning they can remain in the same community as their care needs change over time. Depending on the community, this may include transitioning from independent living to assisted living, memory care, or higher levels of support without relocating to a completely different campus.
Because not every community offers a full continuum of care, it’s important to ask about future care options before making a decision. A senior living advisor can help identify communities that best support long-term aging in place goals.
A senior living community offers much more than a place to live — it provides safety, support, social connection, and peace of mind for both seniors and their families. Whether choosing independent living, assisted living, or memory care, residents can enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle while receiving the level of support they need.
Benefits of senior living often include:
For many older adults, moving to a senior living community leads to greater independence, increased social engagement, and a higher quality of life than living alone at home.
The cost of assisted living in Florida varies depending on the location, apartment size, level of care needed, and amenities offered. On average, Florida families can expect to pay between $4,000 and $6,000 per month in 2026, although prices may vary based on community and region.
Additional services, such as medication management or higher levels of personal care, may increase the monthly cost. Our senior advisors can help families compare communities, understand pricing, and find options that fit their budget.
Most families pay for assisted living using a combination of personal savings, retirement income, Social Security benefits, pensions, proceeds from the sale of a home, long-term care insurance, and veterans benefits when eligible. Some individuals may also qualify for financial assistance through Medicaid programs or state-specific assistance programs.
Our senior care advisors help families explore available payment options and identify communities that fit both their care needs and financial situation.
Medicare does not typically pay for assisted living because it does not cover long-term residential care or assistance with activities of daily living.
However, Medicare may cover certain medical services received while living in an assisted living community, such as physician visits, hospital care, rehabilitation, or eligible home health services. Families often use other resources, such as private funds, long-term care insurance, Medicaid programs, or veterans benefits, to help pay for assisted living.
In some cases, Florida Medicaid may help cover certain assisted living services for eligible individuals through approved long-term care programs. While Medicaid generally does not pay for room and board, it may help cover personal care services, medication management, and other qualifying support. Eligibility requirements vary based on income, assets, and medical needs. Our senior living advisors can help families understand available Medicaid options and identify communities that participate in eligible programs.
Many long-term care insurance policies help cover the cost of assisted living, but coverage varies depending on the policy’s terms, benefit limits, waiting periods, and eligibility requirements. Some policies pay a daily or monthly benefit toward personal care and supportive services provided in licensed assisted living communities. Reviewing your policy with an insurance representative or your senior living advisor can help you understand what benefits may be available.
Eligible veterans and their surviving spouses may qualify for VA benefits that can help offset the cost of assisted living, memory care, or other long-term care services. Programs such as VA Aid and Attendance can provide additional monthly financial assistance for veterans who require help with activities of daily living. Eligibility depends on military service, health needs, and financial qualifications. Senior Consulting Advisors can help families understand available veterans benefits and connect them with resources to begin the application process.
Senior living communities generally use one of two payment models: rental or buy-in (entrance fee).
A rental senior living community charges a monthly fee that typically includes housing, meals, utilities, maintenance, activities, and amenities. Depending on the level of care, the monthly cost may also include personal care services, medication management, and assistance with activities of daily living.
A buy-in community, often called a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) or Life Plan Community, requires a larger upfront entrance fee in addition to a monthly payment. In return, residents often gain access to a continuum of care—including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing—while remaining within the same community as their needs change.
One of our Senior Living Advisors can help you compare both payment models and determine which best fits your financial goals, lifestyle, and long-term care needs.
An assisted living community tour gives families the opportunity to see the community firsthand and determine whether it’s the right fit. During the tour, you’ll typically visit apartments, dining areas, activity spaces, outdoor amenities, and common areas while learning about the services, care options, pricing, and daily life. You’ll also have the chance to meet staff, ask questions, and observe the community’s atmosphere.
A Senior Consulting Advisors team member can accompany you on tours, point out important details to consider, and help compare different communities so you can make an informed decision.
Yes, many assisted living communities allow you to have pets, though each community has its own policies. Pets can provide companionship, reduce stress, and improve emotional well-being for many older adults. Some communities even offer designated pet areas or pet-friendly amenities.
If bringing a pet is important, Senior Consulting Advisors can help identify assisted living communities that are pet-friendly and fit your loved one’s needs.
Yes, family members are encouraged to visit loved ones in assisted living. Regular visits play an important role in maintaining emotional well-being and family connections. Most assisted living communities offer flexible visiting hours, family events, holiday celebrations, and comfortable spaces for spending time together. Maintaining family involvement is a priority in most senior living communities.
Yes, many assisted living communities allow residents to have a car, as long driving is still a safe option. Whether a resident may continue driving depends on their physical health, vision, cognitive abilities, and state driver’s license requirements.
However, many seniors choose to stop driving because assisted living communities often provide scheduled transportation for medical appointments, shopping, errands, outings, and social activities. This allows residents to maintain their independence without the responsibilities of owning a vehicle.
When touring an assisted living community, ask about parking availability, transportation services, and any policies regarding resident drivers to ensure the community meets your needs. Our senior living advisors can help families find communities with transportation services that support an active, independent lifestyle.
Senior Consulting Advisors works with hospitals, case managers, discharge planners, social workers, physicians, and other healthcare professionals to help ensure safe, timely transitions from the hospital to the appropriate level of senior care. We work closely with care teams to identify the best assisted living, memory care, independent living, or other senior living options based on each patient’s medical needs, preferences, budget, and location. Our advisors coordinate community tours, communicate with families, assist with placement logistics, and help reduce discharge delays so healthcare professionals can focus on patient care.
In many cases, we can begin assisting with a hospital discharge the same day we are contacted. Our Senior Living Advisors understand that discharge planning often happens on a tight timeline and work quickly to identify appropriate senior living communities, confirm availability, coordinate assessments, and guide families through the decision-making process. While the exact timeline depends on the patient’s medical needs and community availability, our goal is to help make the transition from the hospital to assisted living, memory care, or another level of care as smooth and efficient as possible.
Transitional Care Management (TCM) helps patients safely transition from the hospital to home or the next appropriate level of care while reducing the risk of complications and hospital readmissions. Unlike traditional TCM programs that begin after discharge, Senior Consulting Advisors starts the process during the hospital stay.
Our team works alongside hospital care managers, physicians, and community providers to identify patients early, build trust before discharge, coordinate care, and provide structured follow-up during the critical first 30 days. By beginning Transitional Care Management before a patient leaves the hospital, we help create a smoother transition, improve continuity of care, and connect patients with the resources they need for long-term success.
Welcome!
We’ve helped hundreds of families find
their best senior living option.
We would love to help you, too!
Choose an option:
