The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Lake Wales, FL for 2024

Situated on the highest ground in the center of the Florida peninsula, the small city of Lake Wales is home to a large number of retirees, with more than 26% of its 16,774 inhabitants being adults aged 65 and older. Residents can benefit from Lake Wales' low cost of living, Florida’s lack of income tax and the city's many amenities and attractions, including art galleries, a historic downtown area, parks and lakes, a botanical preserve and churches serving all denominations.

Seniors requiring help with personal care or everyday tasks can consider moving into an assisted living community. These residences offer 24/7 support in a residential environment and encourage socialization through organized activities and communal areas. Assisted living facilities in Lake Wales charge a monthly average of $3,300, less than the Florida and U.S. averages of $4,000 and $4,500, respectively.

This guide looks at the pros and cons of retiring in Lake Wales and discusses the cost of assisted living compared to rates in nearby cities. It also provides details of financial assistance programs and local resources to help seniors and their families plan for long-term care.

Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration licenses and regulates assisted living communities in Lake Wales. The organization ensures that every facility, whether home to one or hundreds of residents, adheres to state laws and regulatory guidance to achieve minimum standards of personal care.

 

• Although on a par with the Florida average, the cost of living in Lake Wales is 15% lower than the national norm, so seniors can expect their retirement income to stretch further than in other parts of the country. In addition to benefiting from the low cost of assisted living, Retirees can make savings on everyday expenses, such as groceries, transportation, clothing and health care.

 

• With 128 physicians per 100,000 people, Lake Wales' ratio of physicians to inhabitants is 39% lower than the U.S. average of 210. However, seniors have access to several medical facilities in the local area, including Central Florida Health Care — Lake Wales and AdventHealth Lake Wales.

 

• Lake Wales is well-served by the Citrus Connection bus transportation system. Seniors aged 65 and older get discounted fares on routes around the city and throughout Polk County. Older adults can use the company’s Paratransit service, which provides door-to-door transportation in buses equipped with wheelchair lifts.

 

• On a scale of 1 to 100, Lake Wales scores 19.9 for violent crime, 2.8 points lower than the U.S. norm. Residents have a higher probability of becoming the victim of property crime as the city scores 51.1 points compared to the national average of 35.4. However, seniors can rest assured that communities typically feature security measures to keep residents safe, such as gated entries, video surveillance and 24-hour staffing.

 

• Seniors in Lake Wales can take part in outdoor activities all year round, thanks to its moderate climate. Winters are typically mild, with average temperatures in the mid-60s. Temperatures during the summer months hover around the low 90s, with July and August experiencing highs of 93 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

• The air in Lake Wales and Polk County contains low levels of particle pollution. This good quality air is often beneficial to seniors with cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, such as COPD, heart disease and asthma.

 

Seniors spend an average of $3,300 per month on assisted living in Lake Wales.

Assisted living in Lake Wales costs $3,300 per month, $700 below the state average and 26.6% lower than the national median. As such, the city is one of the most affordable places in Florida for retirees. Tampa seniors pay similar fees of $3,350, while those residing in Orlando pay 21% more for the same services. To the west of Lake Wales, North Port assisted living facilities charge $845 less, while on Florida’s east coast, Palm Bay retirees pay an additional 35% each month.

At $3,300 per month, assisted living is the most affordable form of senior care in Lake Wales. Costs increase by $1,276 for seniors requiring personal care assistance to live independently at home. Those needing basic medical care in the home, such as wound care and diabetes management, spend 35.7% more than assisted living residents for home health care. Lake Wales seniors requiring round-the-clock medical care and monitoring pay the highest rate of $8,745, a 165% increase on assisted living fees.

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.