The Best Independent Living Communities in Manatee County, FL

"Inspired Living at Lakewood Ranch was very attractive, pretty, modern, and brand new. The rooms were exceptional and very good. The people I met were very accommodating and knew what they were talking about. It's one of the best and absolutely clean."

"I went to Desoto Beach Club, and actually signed up there for six months. It’s a clean facility. I went there with my family. We ate there, and they have good food, good security, and safety programs. Their independent-living situation was just fine with me. The staff was all friendly, and very accommodating. "

"I moved into Desoto Palms because of the location and size. We can sit outside in the sun, and a lot of people play bingo. They serve three meals a day and have a library, a game room, activities room, living room, a beauty salon, and laundry. The staff is quick to respond, always pleasant, and smiling. They anticipate your needs and will provide transportation for your doctors' appointments. However, they have very rigid meal time. "

"I went to Cypress Springs Gracious Retirement Living. It looked like it was clean. It has a very nice ambiance about it. It's a warm, friendly place. They were professional and pleasant staff members. They have outdoor spaces, too."

"Alderman Oaks Retirement Center is a locally run facility. It is a fairly small 3-story building. They provide meals. They have limited care as far as nursing backup, but they do have monitoring capability on a 20-minute basis. They are very warm and friendly people. "

"I've visited the Grand Villa of Sarasota. The floor plans in the rooms were excellent, with kitchenettes that were nice. I was looking at a two-bedroom and they were very nicely laid out. The staff was excellent and the activities and their program plans were full. So there wasn't a lack there. I like the idea that if you go from independent living to assisted living, you don't move, but their assisted living comes to you. I like its location, it's close to town, and they have transportation services available to go to the grocery store or places. If you're ambulatory, it's an easy walking distance from the town with outdoor cafes and stuff. So it was quite nice. It was under relatively new ownership and the facility was being renovated."

"Addington Place at College Harbor was gorgeous. They are top of the line on everything. The services were wonderful. Everybody there was great. The staff was fantastic. Their menu was excellent. The dining area was beautiful. The activities seemed to be very good, and the people were outside. They have a pool and an activity room. The rooms were gorgeous."

"We had a wonderful tour of The Goldton at Venice. The lady who assisted me did such a beautiful job. She didn't put any pressure on us. She had all the answers to the questions we had. It was just delightful. The place was well done. The whole thing was very professional and she did a terrific job. You couldn't ask for a nicer person to take you around or a prettier place because they did a beautiful job with the decorating. They do have a policy where if you have a relative staying, they have a room available to rent. The model room was beautifully decorated. They would provide everything but the washer/dryer. The thing I was most impressed with was the contemporary decor throughout the building and also the very nice wide hallways. And the extra-height ceilings made it feel like it was spacious. That was my dominant feeling of the entire place. It was a nice deal because they have three restaurants in that building and you can eat at any of them. I think the only thing I might think about is that you're only getting two meals. You have to take breakfast and then you get to choose between lunch and dinner. What I did like about it is she said that for hurricanes, they have a generator that generates for the whole building. "

"I saw a two-bedroom and the layout was good. The dining area was normal with tablecloths. The staff was excellent. The residents were playing a card game. They had a pool and a library."

Sunstar Village, located at 7575 65th Way in Pinellas Park, Florida, is a welcoming assisted living community dedicated to compassionate, family-centered care. Designed to support seniors who need assistance with daily living while preserving their independence, Sunstar Village offers a safe and comfortable environment where residents feel at home. The community provides personalized services tailored to each resident's unique needs, with a mission focused on dignity, peace of mind, and well-being. Whether transitioning from independent living or seeking a supportive long-term home, residents and families can trust in the warm, attentive care that defines Sunstar Village. Set within a charming residential area, Sunstar Village features thoughtfully designed apartments, including the popular "SunBeam Single," nestled around beautifully maintained garden courtyards. Residents benefit from a secure, gated setting with ample guest and resident parking, along with housekeeping, linen and laundry services, and private cleaning options. The shared dining room encourages social connection during nutritious meals, with accommodations for diabetic, kosher, vegetarian, and other special diets. Daily life is enriched through a diverse calendar of activities, including music, games, book clubs, arts and crafts, gardening, and organized offsite excursions-all promoting engagement and enjoyment. What makes Sunstar Village truly stand out is its homelike atmosphere and devoted staff, who treat every resident like family. Safety is a top priority, with trained caregivers providing support around the clock and medication assistance as needed. The community's location in central Pinellas Park offers proximity to local attractions such as Sawgrass Lake Park, Heritage Village, the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum, and Fort De Soto Park-perfect for family visits and resident outings. With a strong reputation for excellence, Sunstar Village is a trusted choice for seniors seeking comfort, care, and community. To learn more about this provider's license and review other available state reports, please visit: Florida Agency of Health Care Administration

"Good facility, no bells and whistles, but good services and good food. Highly recommended, especially if your financial resources are pretty limited. "

"Brookdale Bayshore was very nice. There’s a barbershop and a beauty shop. I’ve been to the dining area, and it was homey. "

It’s a family home care with 24hr care. We also live here on the property with our residents. You have 24hr nurse care 3 meals a day plus snacks. A doctor who comes once a month and a pharmacist who’s always on call. It’s a beautiful environment and peaceful you will feel like you never left home. We go on joy rides to the beach, to the stores or even to the shopping mall. We go once a month out to dinner residents' choice. Housekeeping and laundry are all done in-house. Anything you need we are here to serve you.

"Westminster Manor is a very friendly place. They have a lot of activities for my sister and she is very happy there. She loves her apartment and the food is very good. I haven't had a negative problem yet. She's been just very content. Her room is a very nice size. It's got a kitchen, a dining area, a living room, a bathroom, a big bedroom, and a walk-through closet. The other closet has plenty of storage units and she's got a really pretty view from her room. The facility is a big complex. There's a pool, shuffleboard, and a little dog park. The next building is where the main building is, the offices, and the assisted living. They have a little country store there. So, if they're looking for things and they can't get out, they can ask the staff and they will stock them there so they can get them there rather than having to go to stores. The staff that I have dealt with has been very helpful and very friendly. One of the things that I like about them is they check the residents. Everybody is equipped with an emergency pull cord in the bathroom, but there's also a button that every resident has to hit before 11:30 in the morning as a check-in. If they don't do that, then they're going to check on them whether they're independent care or not, which is a huge plus. Normally, if she wants to have something repaired, she can call the maintenance crew and they come right away and do it, but right now, they're a little involved with this plumbing project that they have unless it's an emergency. So, it's a little slower than it normally would be, but for everything else, they've been very accommodating. She was very much against even moving from where she was, and now she says how happy she is that she moved. They have a medical center too, and if they don't use that medical center and you need transportation, they can take you to the doctors. They do field trips and shopping trips that takes everybody to the mall. So, a lot is going on and I think their price is very reasonable given those activities, and compared to some of the other places we looked at, I think that they're comparable in what they offer in their care and their attention to the residents, and it's not a brand new facility. It's been there for a long time."