Sebring is a city known for the abundance of fishing and boating activities pursued on the freshwater Lake Jackson it surrounds. Older residents may also love the peaceful rural environment and its relative proximity to cities such as Orlando and Tampa. Seniors comprise approximately 30% of its 11,000 residents, which is far above the state and national averages. In Sebring, they benefit from a very low average cost of living, several hospitals only minutes away and an excellent climate.

Seniors finding daily living tasks more challenging may wish to consider assisted living. It’s appropriate for those who don’t need medical care but do require someone who is always nearby to help. Facilities are homier than nursing homes, with residents typically living in private apartments and staff handling housekeeping and meal preparation duties. Sebring’s median monthly fee is $3,436, which is significantly more affordable than Florida’s average of $4,000 and the country’s $4,500.

This guide discusses the pros and cons of living in Sebring, its assisted living costs in comparison with other cities and types of care and the financial assistance programs that may help reduce costs. It also lists some free senior-friendly resources.

Directory of Assisted Living Facilities in Sebring, FL

The Palms of Sebring

My friend is a resident of The Palms of Sebring. She was in the rehab facility there, and she just moved to a different room. When she got there, she got sick or so, and everybody had COVID; I even go … (read more)
My friend is a resident of The Palms of Sebring. She was in the rehab facility there, and she just moved to a different room. When she got there, she got sick or so, and everybody had COVID; I even go … (read more)

Florida Access Care

Very clean and friendly staff. Such a positive environment to be in. Residents are treated with respect and love.
Very clean and friendly staff. Such a positive environment to be in. Residents are treated with respect and love.

Family Extended Care of Sebring

Family Extended Care of Sebring was a very, very nice facility with very, very nice people. I really liked it. The only problem for us is it was too far from my home to be convenient for me to visit m … (read more)
Family Extended Care of Sebring was a very, very nice facility with very, very nice people. I really liked it. The only problem for us is it was too far from my home to be convenient for me to visit m … (read more)

Sunny Hills ALF of Sebring

My mother is living at Sunny Hills ALF of Sebring. They have excellent activities. They offer church services several days a week, which for my mom is very important. They have crafts, and they have p … (read more)
My mother is living at Sunny Hills ALF of Sebring. They have excellent activities. They offer church services several days a week, which for my mom is very important. They have crafts, and they have p … (read more)

Maranatha Manor

Visiting this facility and working with the staff was my pleasure for the day. I was personally escorte to the patients room by a staff member. I was offered a drink and assistanc to get my patient up … (read more)
Visiting this facility and working with the staff was my pleasure for the day. I was personally escorte to the patients room by a staff member. I was offered a drink and assistanc to get my patient up … (read more)

Fellowship Home at The Fairway

My husband is a resident of Fellowship Home at The Fairway. It’s large there, so the people are very nice. The grounds are beautiful that it’s on, it’s in a golf course area, so it’s very pretty there … (read more)
My husband is a resident of Fellowship Home at The Fairway. It’s large there, so the people are very nice. The grounds are beautiful that it’s on, it’s in a golf course area, so it’s very pretty there … (read more)

Lakeshore Manor at Lake Jackson

Lakeshore Manor at Lake Jackson was a nice facility. They had a knowledgeable and friendly staff. The dining area was adequate. The apartments were nice. It seemed to be maintained well.
Lakeshore Manor at Lake Jackson was a nice facility. They had a knowledgeable and friendly staff. The dining area was adequate. The apartments were nice. It seemed to be maintained well.

The Manor at Lake Jackson

The Manor at Lake Jackson was a very beautiful place but was totally locked down. It’s for people who are really mentally incapacitated. They had activities for the residents and were doing bingo in o … (read more)
The Manor at Lake Jackson was a very beautiful place but was totally locked down. It’s for people who are really mentally incapacitated. They had activities for the residents and were doing bingo in o … (read more)

Magnolia Retirement Home, Inc

Numerous visits over several years confirm first impressions. Magnolia Retirement Home operates on a shoestring budget. Minimal, perhaps sub-minimal staffing, facilities maintenance, operations, res … (read more)
Numerous visits over several years confirm first impressions. Magnolia Retirement Home operates on a shoestring budget. Minimal, perhaps sub-minimal staffing, facilities maintenance, operations, res … (read more)

2013

Southern Lifestyle Senior Living Center

We went to the Southern Lifestyle Senior Living Center. The thing we liked about it was when you go in there, you can take a lot of your own stuff with you, your own furnishings and that kind of stuff … (read more)
We went to the Southern Lifestyle Senior Living Center. The thing we liked about it was when you go in there, you can take a lot of your own stuff with you, your own furnishings and that kind of stuff … (read more)

Balmoral Assisted Living

I’m at Balmoral Assisted Living. It’s going to be nice when they’re done with the renovations. I just have a studio to myself. They do arts and crafts. They have music. They have church on Sunday. The … (read more)
I’m at Balmoral Assisted Living. It’s going to be nice when they’re done with the renovations. I just have a studio to myself. They do arts and crafts. They have music. They have church on Sunday. The … (read more)


COVID-19 Rules for Assisted Living in Sebring

Since most COVID-19 rules for Assisted Living Communities and other Senior Living Facilities are set at the state level, you can view the specific rules for your state on our Guide to Assisted Living in Florida. Keep in mind that every community has specific policies that they put in place to protect their residents, so you should contact your local community for more information. Additionally, you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn more – find contact information here.

What to Consider About Assisted Living in Sebring

The Bureau of Health Facility Regulation is responsible for overseeing Florida’s assisted living facilities. Its role includes issuing licenses to those that satisfy certain criteria, such as staff training and fire safety compliance. The bureau can also suspend or revoke licenses from facilities that fail to comply with their terms and conditions.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Assisted Living in Sebring

  • Sebring is one of the most affordable cities in Florida for seniors. Its average cost of living index is 81.6, which is much more favorable than the country’s 100 and Florida’s 103.1. The average health care index of 106.3 is above Florida’s 102.3, but other costs are typically lower, which could offset some medical expenses. 
  • The crime statistics for Sebring show wide variations in the frequency of certain types of crime. For example, violent crime is below the norm for the country, but property crime is significantly higher. Seniors concerned about this may be pleased to know that assisted living facilities include security systems as standard, and many have surveillance systems and awake staff 24/7.
  • Winter in Sebring can see lows of 47 degrees, while in summer, highs of 93 are common. The relatively narrow gap between the two partially explains the city’s popularity with seniors who may appreciate not experiencing extreme weather. Summer rain creates high levels of humidity, but those levels drop to normal for most of the year.
  • Sebring’s environment is relatively healthy, as shown by the city’s above-average results in decontaminating land as part of the EPA’s Superfund program and the better-than-normal air quality.
  • There aren’t as many physicians per capita when compared to the national average, but the city has three hospitals, despite its rural location. These include the high-performing Highlands Regional Medical Center and AdventHealth Sebring.
  • The Transport Disadvantaged Program provides low-cost transportation for Sebring adults aged 65+ attending medical appointments and some other purposes. Consequently, the city’s seniors shouldn’t need to worry about its rural location adversely impacting their ability to make critical journeys.

Paying for Assisted Living in Sebring

Monthly fees for assisted living in Sebring vary between facilities as each is unique, but the median fee of $3,436 should give seniors an idea of their likely costs.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Nearby Cities

Sebring’s average senior saves $564 per month compared to Florida’s $4,000 median fee for assisted living and another $500 on top of that when compared to the national average. Except for Punta Gorda, where the median fee is $3,350, Sebring is the most affordable among its near neighbors. Port St. Lucie’s average is the closest, at $3,763, but others are costlier. Orlando equals Florida’s average of $4,000, while North Port’s is another $145 per month above that. 

$3436

Sebring

$4000

Florida

$4500

United States

$4145

North Port

$4000

Orlando

$3763

Port St. Lucie

$3350

Punta Gorda

The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care

Adult day care’s median fee of $1,733 is the only one among the different types of senior care in Sebring that’s more affordable than assisted living’s $3,436. In-home care and home health care both average $4,767, but as with adult day care, the senior will need to factor in the costs of paying to live at home (which won’t be the case with assisted living). The costliest option by far is a nursing home, where a semiprivate room (the cheapest option) typically costs $7,300 per month.

$4767

In-Home Care

$4767

Home Health Care

$1733

Adult Day Health Care

$3436

Assisted Living Facility

$7300

Nursing Home (semiprivate room)

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Sebring

Paying for Assisted Living Facilities in Florida

More Ways to Pay for Assisted Living

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.

Free Assisted Living Resources in Sebring

Sebring’s seniors can access numerous free resources provided by nonprofits. The following table includes short bios on five of them and contact details. Resources include medical care for veterans, legal support for all seniors and help for assisted living residents whose quality of care may be substandard. Some resources help seniors engage with each other and give back to their communities.

Resource

Contact

Description

(937) 393-4745

Highland County Senior Citizens Center is a private nonprofit that offers a wealth of programs and activities for Sebring's older residents. Standard fare is available, such as bingo, but there is also live music three times per week, billiards and chair volleyball. Active seniors may appreciate the walking club.

(863) 402-6983

The nonprofit law firm provides free legal advice and representation to individuals on low incomes facing matters involving civil law. These include consumer problems, such as debt repayment, and issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

(850) 414-2323

The ombudsman program advocates for seniors in licensed care communities, such as assisted living. It educates residents about their rights and investigates complaints made by them, their loved ones and third parties. The ombudsman can negotiate resolutions on the senior's behalf but will escalate serious concerns, such as neglect.

(863) 471-6227

The outpatient clinic provides primary care and specialty services to veterans and their loved ones. It's open on weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. There's an on-site pharmacy to handle prescriptions and specialists in helping people with PTSD and mental health issues.

(863) 784-7189

Sebring seniors wanting to help others can join the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. Volunteers are placed in one of the many nonprofits operating in the area that help their communities. Work is varied, such as delivering meals to homebound seniors and helping out at local events and festivals.

Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Sebring

Sebring Assisted Living Communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all Assisted Living Facilities in Florida are required to follow. Visit our Assisted Living in Florida page for more information about these laws.

Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Florida