Communities in Clearwater, FL

With its median fee of $4,188, Clearwater’s seniors save $812 per month when compared to Florida’s average and another $625 on top of that when compared to the country’s. The city also holds up well against neighboring alternatives, such as North Port ($5,181), Orlando ($5,000) and Homosassa Springs ($5,313). The exception is Lakeland, although the monthly savings of $63 may not be sufficient to entice families away from Clearwater.

Note: Residential memory care is usually offered in assisted living facilities, and in general, memory care rates tend to be 20-30% higher than assisted living rates. No national database currently tracks memory care costs in the United States, so we’ve estimated the monthly memory care costs listed below by adding 25% to the rates listed in Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey.

Memory care fees can fluctuate because each facility’s prices are based on numerous factors, such as location and staff-to-resident ratios, but the median monthly fee of $4,188 should give families an idea of likely costs.

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.

Clearwater’s memory care is one of the most affordable types of care in the city, only surpassed by assisted living’s $3,350 and adult day care’s $2,123. However, neither of these is suitable for elders with cognitive issues. In-home care and home health care can aid people with early-stage dementia, but their fees of $4,767 and $4,962, respectively, are much higher than memory care. Nursing homes are costlier still, at $8,927.

Clearwater’s memory care communities are licensed and regulated by the Bureau of Health Facility Regulation. The bureau monitors facilities by investigating complaints and conducting unannounced inspections to ensure they continue to comply with the terms of their licenses. It can revoke a facility’s license if it fails to uphold standards, such as having inadequate staff-to-resident ratios.

• Sperling’s BestPlaces’ Health Care Cost Index for Clearwater is 103.7, slightly exceeding Florida’s average of 102.3. However, other costs, such as transportation, are significantly lower, and the overall average cost of living index of 99.1 is notably below Florida’s 103.1. This suggests that Clearwater’s elders get more for their money than the average Floridian.
• Clearwater’s older residents are well served by the region’s medical facilities, which include Morton Plant Hospital, ranked No. 2 in Central Florida and No. 7 in the entire state by U.S. News and World Report. Across the bay in Tampa, elders can also receive outstanding care at Tampa General Hospital, which is rated the best in Central Florida and No. 3 in the state. 
• Clearwater’s crime rates are higher than the U.S. averages, but effective policing over the past 10 years has seen a dramatic decline in the number of violent and property crimes in the area. Families concerned about crime in the city may be pleased to know that memory care communities must have strict security in place to get their licenses, including surveillance cameras and controlled entry/exit doors.
• The narrow gap between winter and summer temperatures is one of the most senior-friendly aspects of the area, as winter lows are around 52 degrees and summer highs are approximately 90. Consequently, Clearwater’s elders don’t experience temperature extremes. High rainfall in summer causes humidity levels to rise to uncomfortable levels, but those drop to near normal the rest of the year.
• Sperling’s BestPlaces gives Clearwater an above-average Health Cost Index of 98.5/100. This is in part due to the good quality of air coming in off the Gulf and the city’s success in cleaning contaminated land as part of the EPA’s Superfund program. It’s also because Clearwater has 273 physicians per 100,000 people, which is 63 more than the U.S. average.
• Clearwater residents aged 65+ qualify for reduced-fare rides on PSTA’s regular bus routes, which operate throughout Pinellas County. Buses are wheelchair-accessible, so seniors with disabilities can also take advantage of the service.