The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Palm Harbor, FL for 2024

Located northwest of Tampa, Palm Harbor has a population of 61,366, with 36% of residents being seniors aged 60 and older. Many of these elderly residents battle the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s disease. To combat the statewide increase in seniors diagnosed with dementia, Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs established statewide Memory Disorder Clinics and the Florida Alzheimer’s Brain Bank. Palm Harbor’s Alzheimer-related death rate likely decreased as a result of these efforts, from 455 in 2014 to 417 in 2018. The Centers for Disease Control reported an 8.35% drop in Alzheimer’s deaths during this time, with a 4.93% overall death rate.

Many assisted living communities in Palm Harbor offer memory care options for seniors with dementia. These specialty units within the community employ specially trained staff, provide activities to promote cognitive function and utilize security systems to prevent wandering. This guide includes helpful information for those seeking long-term care options for loved ones with dementia, the costs of memory care in Palm Harbor and a list of free and low-cost resources.

The Florida Long Term Care Services Unit is part of the Agency for Health Care Administration and is in charge of licensing and registering long-term care facilities. The agency also regulates these providers and performs inspections to be sure all state and federal regulations are being upheld.

• Florida is ahead of the game with recognizing and caring for the needs of seniors with dementia. The Dementia Care & Cure Initiative, part of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, includes services and supports for seniors who are living with dementia and want to remain active in their communities. 
• The weather in Palm Harbor may be hot and humid in July and August, but the city’s proximity to the ocean provides fresh breezes for those summer days. The sun shines an average of 246 days per year compared to the national average of 205 days, and the area does not receive snow in the winter. Eight months out of the year Palm Harbor has a comfort index of 7.6 or greater, with 10 being the most comfortable. June through September are the least comfortable months, at a 2.6, because of temperatures in the 90s with high humidity.
• Seniors who live in long-term memory care facilities can make their retirement funds go further due to Florida’s tax-friendly retiree policies. Florida has no income tax on wages or Social Security income. Pension income and income from an IRA or 401(k) are not taxed, and there’s no estate or inheritance tax.
• Hospital care in Palm Harbor includes the Mease Countryside Hospital a few miles south in Safety Harbor, offering excellent medical care. The Entel Education Center, which provides classes for patients on health care topics such as diabetes and dementia, was added as part of the expansion of services. Tampa, a half-hour drive southeast, is home to world-class hospitals such as Tampa General and St. Joseph’s.
• Palm Harbor is safer than most cities in Florida. Property crime averages 9.4 per 1,000 residents compared to Florida at 17.85 and crimes per square mile are 24 versus Florida as a whole at 45. The most stark difference is the chance of violent crime in Palm Harbor being a low 1 in 990 residents compared to Florida at 1 in 258. 

Assisted living communities often include memory care units to provide the specialized care, activities and around-the-clock supervision seniors with dementia require. The Genworth Cost of Care Survey does not include costs for memory care, however, the additional care services, staff training and security needed for residents with cognitive impairments average 20-30% more than assisted living. The costs for memory care in this guide are calculated by adding 25% to the cost of assisted living.

Palm Harbor’s monthly average cost of memory care is $4,188, $812 less than Florida at $5,000 and almost $1,500 less than the United States at $5,625. A two-hour drive south, North Port averages $5,181 and Lakeland is similar to Palm Harbor averaging $4,125. Sebring, a little over two hours southeast, averages $4,295, and The Villages, an hour and 40-minute drive north, has the highest costs, averaging $6,510. Homosassa Springs is northwest of The Villages, with a monthly average of $5,313.

Adult day health care, which costs an average of $2,123 per month, is a more affordable option for seniors who want to stay at home and only require supervision and care during the week. Homemaker services offer daily living assistance and housekeeping at an average cost of $4,767 per month, while home health aides perform the same duties with some medical care for $4,862. A semiprivate room in a nursing home costs $8,927 on average, and a private room costs $9,885 for seniors who require round-the-clock, higher-level medical care.

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

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

For more information about different ways to finance memory care, visit our Memory Care in Florida page.