The 5 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Zephyrhills, FL for 2024

Located in Pasco County, Zephyrhills is a relatively tranquil city surrounded by lush countryside, located only 40 minutes from downtown Tampa. Around 34.4% of its 19,300 residents are seniors, which is double the national average. Residents benefit from excellent medical care that's only minutes from their homes, below-average rates of violent crime and a very low average cost of living. The surrounding environment is also one of Florida's healthiest in terms of air and water quality.

Assisted living is a type of residential care for seniors who struggle to manage daily living tasks, such as dressing and getting in and out of bed. Trained staff is on site 24/7 to ensure residents get the right dosages of their medications on time. Seniors reside in private or semiprivate rooms with ADA-compliant private bathrooms and meals. Staff freshly prepares and serves meals in communal dining rooms. The median assisted living cost in Zephyrhills is $3,350 per month, which is significantly more affordable than the state and national averages.

This guide considers the pros and cons of living in Zephyrhills and the costs of assisted living there in comparison with nearby cities and other types of care. It also covers financial assistance options and lists some free and low-cost senior-friendly resources.

 

The Bureau of Health Facility Regulation is the department within the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration responsible for regulating the state's assisted living facilities. To gain a license, a facility must satisfy strict criteria relating to a variety of subjects, including fire safety, resident care, health and safety and building code regulations.

 

• There's only one hospital in Zephyrhills due to its relatively remote location and small population. However, AdventHealth Zephyrhills provides quality care for many conditions, such as stroke and heart failure. Additionally, Zephyrhills is only 20 minutes from AdventHealth Dade City, which is equally admired for supporting seniors with kidney failure, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.
• One of the primary benefits of living in Zephyrhills is its average cost of living, which at 89.8 is far below Florida's 103.1. Consequently, the city's seniors often get more for their dollars. Health care costs are on a par with the state average but other costs seniors typically face, such as transportation, are significantly more affordable.
• Violent crime in Zephyrhills ranks 20.4 on a scale where 100 represents high crime, which is below the Florida state average of 22.7. Property crime is significantly higher at 80.4, although statistics show this is falling almost every year. Seniors concerned about property crime may be pleased to know many assisted living communities have security systems and staff on-site 24/7.
• Many seniors relocate to Florida because its subtropical climate means comfortable year-round temperatures. However, in Zephyrhills, summer's blend of heavy rainfall and temperatures as high as 91 degrees mean muggy days are common. In contrast, winter is much more comfortable, with relatively normal levels of rainfall and temperatures rarely dropping below 49 degrees.
• Zephyrhills has an above-average health cost index of 96.7. The city's water and air quality indexes of 50 and 54 are slightly below the norm, but not enough to make a large difference. Significant work is going into cleaning up contaminated land as part of the EPA's Superfund program — enough to see the city score an almost perfect index of 99/100.
• Zephyrhills may be some miles from major centers, but GoPasco makes it easier and more affordable for seniors to travel in Pasco County. Adults aged 65+ can travel for $2.50 per one-way ride, and the door-to-door paratransit service aids low-income adults aged 60+ with disabilities that prevent them from using fixed-route buses.

 

 

As fees vary between assisted living facilities in Zephyrhills, the most accurate representation of likely costs is the median fee, which is $3,350 per month.

At $3,350, the median fee for Zephyrhills compares favorably with Florida's average of $4,000 and the country's $4,500. It's also more affordable compared to nearby cities, such as Orlando's $4,000, Homosassa Springs' $4,250 and the average of $5,208 paid in The Villages. Lakeland has a lower average cost than Zephyrhills, although the difference is only $50 per month.

Median fee comparisons between assisted living in Zephyrhills and other types of care suggest the former provides better value for money. At $3,350 for care, meals and accommodations, it's more affordable than in-home care's $4,767 and home health care's $4,862 — two services that don't include housing and meals in their fees. Nursing homes do provide these services but the median fee is significantly higher, at $8,927, because they provide 24/7 medical care. At $2,123, the most affordable option is adult day care, but this fee doesn't include the housing or round-the-clock care provided in assisted living facilities.

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.