The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Merritt Island, FL for 2024

When exploring long-term care options, individuals who require daily assistance may consider assisted living. These communities offer a supportive environment where trained caregivers provide personalized care and help with tasks such as bathing, grooming and medication management. Most also offer daily meals, complimentary transportation and activities programs. In Merritt Island, these communities typically cost $4,461 per month, which is more affordable than the national average but more expensive than the state average.

This guide offers a more in-depth look at assisted living in Merritt Island, including a breakdown of how costs compare to other types of long-term care, some benefits and drawbacks of retiring to the area and a list of organizations that seniors can contact for free/low-cost support services.

Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration, Bureau of Health Facility Regulation is responsible for overseeing the licensing and operation of assisted living facilities in Merritt Island. When applying for a license, facilities must undergo an initial inspection to confirm that they are compliant with the established laws and regulations. Follow-up inspections must be completed at least every 2 years.

• Merritt Island is a coastal paradise known for its warm and sunny year-round climate. Winters are especially pleasant, as there is no snowfall and temperatures don’t fall below 49 degrees. Summer temperatures can climb as high as 90 degrees, which is more comfortable than many Florida cities that see very hot and humid weather during the summer months.
• The region also boasts high air quality. The American Lung Association gives the area A-ratings in the categories of high ozone days and 24-hour particle pollution.
• With an index score of 103.7, the overall cost of living in Merritt Island is comparable to the Florida state median of 103.1. However, it is slightly more expensive than the average American city (100). This is largely due to the area’s high housing costs. Fortunately, transportation costs are about 14% lower than the national average, and health care costs are moderate.
• Florida’s low taxes can help offset seniors’ living expenses. As there is no state income tax, seniors do not have to pay taxes on retirement income generated from Social Security benefits, government pensions, IRAs and 401(k)s. Florida seniors are also free from paying estate and inheritance tax.
• There are no hospitals in Merritt Island. In the event of an emergency, seniors travel to Rockledge Regional Medical Center or Cape Canaveral Medical Center in Cocoa Beach, both of which are only about 3 miles away.
• Seniors can access local destinations and nearby communities using Space Coast Area Transit. The public transportation system offers fixed route services around Merritt Island and a curb-to-curb paratransit service. Seniors 60 and up are eligible for reduced fares.
• Crime rates in Merritt Island are a bit above average. Measured on a scale from 1 to 100, the town receives an index rating of 25.8 for violent crime, which is several points higher than the national average of 22.7. In terms of property-related offenses, its score of 47.2 is quite a bit higher than the U.S. average of 35.4. However, most assisted living facilities have advanced security systems and video surveillance to keep residents safe.

The average cost of assisted living communities in Merritt Island is $4,461 per month.

Compared to the state median, care costs in Merritt Island are more than $400 higher. They are, however, slightly lower than the national average of $4,500. In nearby Orlando, rates are on par with the state average of $4,000. Lakeland is even more affordable, with rates over $1,000 below those in Merritt Island. However, Merritt Island is a less expensive option than Jacksonville, where rates are around $200 higher. The town also sees lower costs than The Villages, where seniors typically pay over $5,200 per month.

Adult day care offers light, part-time assistance at the affordable rate of $1,408 per month, which is over $3,000 less than assisted living. In-home care and home health care are around $300 more expensive than assisted living, though they’re ideal for seniors who wish to remain living at home rather than in a residential setting. Base rates for nursing care are over $5,200 higher than assisted living costs, though they include 24-hour supervision and specialized skilled nursing care.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Florida page.