The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Highlands County, FL for 2024

Highlands County sits in the center of the Florida panhandle, northeast of Ft. Myers, with a population of 102,884, 34.8 percent of whom are age 65 or older. Among that group, an estimated 13 percent, or 4,500 people, are living with Alzheimer's disease and would benefit from care in an assisted living home that specializes in treating patients with dementia.

To become Extended Congregate Care Facilities (ECCs), assisted living facilities must be licensed by the governing body, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, which establishes the regulations and inspects the EECs. Highlands County has two of these ECCs in the town of Lake Placid.

• Seniors and family members on a fixed income may discover that their budgets stretch farther in Highlands County because the state has no income tax. That excess money can be spent on healthcare costs in an ECC.
  
• Based on a U.S. median of 100 across all categories, cost of living ratings in Highlands County's is 89.3. Housing is very low at 68, and healthcare rates are only 9 points above the median. The savings on housing and taxes can make a considerable difference when budgeting for an ECC.
  
• Snow never falls in Highlands County, but it does receive 50 inches of rain per year, which is 11 points more than an average U.S. city at 39. The national average of 205 sunny days annually is almost 50 lower than Highlands County's average of 253. Seniors' health may benefit from the balmy weather. Winter lows only fall to 48 degrees, and summer highs reach 92. Highlands County received a 75 out of 100 in Sperling's Comfort Index.
  
• Highlands County is home to world-class medical facilities, including those specializing in brain health and dementia care, such as Highlands Regional Medical Center and Advent Health Sebring, in the event of a medical emergency or illness.

Memory Care costs in Highlands County start around $5,995 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of memory care is $5,694 per month.

It’s important to note that memory care rates in Highlands County and the surrounding suburbs can vary widely based on factors such as location, the level of care needed, apartment size and the types of amenities offered at each community.

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Memory Care in Florida page.

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.

Highlands County-area memory care communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all memory care communities in Florida are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in Florida page for more information about these laws.