Senior Living Apartments in Sarasota, FL

Income or savings aren’t the only ways to use your private funds to pay for your senior apartment. Other methods, like reverse mortgages, cashing out a life insurance policy, or selling a house, can help you afford your Sarasota apartment. Learn how to leverage your assets to pay for your senior apartment by reading the articles below.

Sarasota is a welcoming place to veterans. About 78% of veterans in Sarasota are over 65, so the city is well-equipped to help senior veterans access their benefits and find community. The Sarasota County Department for Veterans Services is a useful resource and outlines benefit eligibility and community services.

Can I pay for my senior apartment in Sarasota with veterans benefits?

You may be able to pay for some or all of your senior apartment in Sarasota using veterans benefits.^[03] You or your family may be eligible for the VA Pension or the Aid and Attendance benefit. Both of these benefits can be used to pay for anything that improves your quality of life, including rent in a senior apartment. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis, so you should contact a benefits counselor to help you apply.

Getting help: How to apply for veterans benefits

Applying for veterans benefits is notoriously difficult. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible for you to access the benefits for which you’re eligible. The key is to find the right benefits counselors to help you determine your eligibility and apply.

We’ve compiled this list of veterans benefits counselors in Sarasota so you can make the most of your benefits. You can choose which program or counselor works best for you.

Veterans benefits counseling in Sarasota

Veterans in Sarasota can access benefits counseling from dedicated counselors based in Sarasota or from the state of Florida. Besides benefits counseling, veterans and their families can access mental health counseling and social services from the Sarasota Vet Center. Below you’ll find the list of benefits counseling services for Sarasota veterans.

• Veterans Service Organizations (VSO). One of the most common ways to get benefits counseling is through Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs). These are VA-vetted benefits counselors across the United States, experts in veterans benefits, and who help you identify the right benefits for you and apply. Connect with them before starting an application to ensure you get the most out of your veterans benefits. To get in contact, go to the VSO webpage and click on “Find a new representative.” You can also go to the National Resource Directory and search “VSO in Florida.”
• Sarasota County Department for Veterans Services. The Veterans Services page for Sarasota County outlines useful eligibility information for local veterans. It also provides access to the forms and resources you need to apply for veterans or survivor’s benefits. You can request a benefit seminar with a benefit’s counselor by calling the department or by mailing this form to the address provided on it.
• The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA). Veterans can access benefits counseling directly from the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Professional benefits counselors are employed by the department and are available for virtual benefits counseling services only. Call 727-319-7408 to set up your first virtual appointment.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Sarasota. The Sarasota VFW and DAV chapters are nonprofit organizations dedicated to assisting local veterans. Both offer benefits counseling and other forms of financial relief. They can also help you appeal denied benefits claims. To get in contact with local Sarasota chapters, use the numbers or email addresses listed below.

Residents can’t cover senior apartment costs with Medicaid or Medicare. Both of these government programs are health insurance options and can only be used to pay for health or personal care expenses (rent in a senior apartment falls outside of this purview). However, you should still understand how Medicaid and Medicare can help you save on health care expenses.

Florida Medicaid: State-run health care program

Florida Medicaid is a health insurance plan specifically for low-income individuals. In Florida, the state Medicaid program is run by the Agency for Health Care Administration (also called the AHCA). You can select from two different health insurance plans under Florida Medicaid:

• Managed Medical Assistance (MMA). This is the most frequently used plan for low-income individuals living in a senior apartment. The MMA plan functions like all health insurance plans and covers basic health care needs such as doctor’s visits, prescribed drugs, and hospitalization. The MMA plan also covers transportation to and from appointments.
• Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC). As soon as a senior transitions to a long-term care facility, such as assisted living, memory care, or a nursing home, they may become eligible for the SMMC LTC plan. This plan is specifically for people in long-term care. It may also cover some aspects of home care.

How do I know if I’m eligible for Florida Medicaid?

You’re eligible for Florida Medicaid if you meet all of the following requirements:

• You’re a Florida resident.
• You’re in need of health care.
• You qualify as low-income or very low-income, meaning you must make less than $18,075 before taxes.

You also must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• You’re 65 years or older.
• You’re responsible for someone under 18 years of age.
• You’re blind or have severe vision impairment.
• You have a disability or a household family member with a disability.
• You’re pregnant.

Medicare: Federal health care program

Like Medicaid, Medicare won’t cover rent for your senior apartment. However, it will pay for certain health care expenses. Unlike Medicaid, Medicare is a health care program specifically for seniors. Most seniors over 65 are eligible for Medicare if they paid their Medicare taxes or are married to someone who has paid their Medicare taxes.

What does Medicare cover?

Medicare covers short-term and medically necessary health care expenses for seniors over 65. Short-term means that Medicare will cover the entire cost of inpatient stays (either at a hospital or a rehabilitation facility) for up to 20 days. Medicare will cover rent for a room, meals, and all care services during this time. From days 21-100, Medicare will pay some of the cost, and you’ll have a daily copay. Medicare may also cover some recurring expenses, like medications or dialysis.

What Medicare considers to be medically necessary depends on the individual. Some procedures are always considered medically necessary, such as coronary bypass surgery. In general, a physician and Medicare need to both agree that the procedure, test, medication, or item is medically necessary before Medicare agrees to cover it. To help you understand what types of things Medicare covers, check out the Medicare coverage portal.

Help paying Medicare premiums in Sarasota

Sarasota residents can get help paying their Medicare premiums with local Medicare Savings Programs. You can find more information about these programs, including how to sign up for them, on the federal Medicare website. Generally, you need to make less than $1,549 a month to be eligible for a Medicare Savings Program, although these numbers are updated periodically to reflect inflation.

Medicaid and Medicare benefits counseling in Sarasota

Seniors across Florida can get benefits counseling for Medicaid and Medicare through the Florida Department of Health. The Department of Elder Affairs for the State of Florida also offers benefits counseling for seniors across the state.

Sarasota has a few different safety nets for seniors in need. Seniors who need help paying rent, finding affordable housing, or getting a daily meal can find resources to help with these needs in Sarasota.

Housing assistance in Sarasota

The Sarasota Housing Authority runs two different housing programs: the Housing Choice Voucher Program (also known as Section 8) and the project-based voucher program. Section 8 housing units are dwellings — usually apartments — that accept Housing Choice Vouchers. It’s important to note that none of A Place for Mom’s partnering senior living facilities accept Section 8 housing vouchers. Individuals using a voucher will pay up to 30% of their monthly income on rent. Using income cutoffs, the most a person will pay for rent in a Section 8 apartment in Sarasota is $802.50.

Sarasota housing assistance eligibility

Only low-income individuals are eligible for housing assistance in Sarasota. Income cutoffs vary across the nation, but in Sarasota the most a person can make to be considered low-income is $32,100 a year or $2,675 a month before taxes. However, most vouchers are reserved for people making less than $20,100 a year before taxes. You can apply for a Section 8 housing voucher on the Sarasota Housing Authority website listed below, but you may be put on a waitlist.

Can I pay for my senior apartment in Sarasota with a housing voucher?

While there are apartment complexes in Sarasota that take Section 8 housing vouchers, none of these is a senior apartment complex. If you decide to apply for a voucher, you’ll likely be put on a long waitlist before receiving your voucher because of high demand. A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with any senior apartments that accept housing vouchers.

Rental assistance in Sarasota

Seniors needing help paying rent for their senior apartment can look to Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army of Sarasota, and Jewish Family and Children’s Services. All of these nonprofit organizations offer short-term rental assistance, direct financial assistance, and financial counseling.

Food assistance for seniors in Sarasota

Sarasota’s Senior Friendship Centers run two different meals programs for local seniors. Friendship Dining opportunities take place every day at locations throughout the city. You can find a list of open dining centers by calling 941-955-2122. This program offers anyone over 60 a tasty lunch or dinner in a safe and pleasant environment. There’s a suggested donation of $3 per meal, but anyone will receive a meal regardless of their ability to pay.

The Friendship Home Delivered Meals program takes up to seven frozen meals directly to seniors. Anyone over 60 is eligible to receive these meals, and deliveries are made once a week. You can learn about eligibility or sign up by calling 866-413-5337.

Social Security benefits

Seniors can use Social Security benefits to help pay their rent. While most Social Security benefits won’t cover the entire cost of rent in Sarasota, they can offset some of the costs. Eligibility for Social Security benefits is based on work credits and other factors, such as having a disability.

The easiest way to learn about which Social Security benefits you’re eligible for is to take the Eligibility Quiz on the Social Security website. You can also review the quick overview of Social Security benefits below.

• Social Security Retirement benefit (SSR). If you’re between the ages of 62 and 70 and have paid Social Security taxes for more than 10 years (this is the same as getting work credits), then you’re likely eligible for this benefit. However, you can no longer apply for this benefit once you’re over the age of 70.
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). This benefit is specifically for individuals with a disability who have also paid their Social Security taxes.
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This benefit is for people with a disability or visual impairment who haven’t paid Social Security taxes. It adds financial assistance to other Social Security benefits.
• Social Security Survivor’s pension. This benefit is for widows or widowers who may not have paid their Social Security taxes but were married to someone who did.