Memory Care Communities in Tampa, Florida

Memory care costs in Tampa are among the most reasonable in Florida. Residents pay an average of $4,188 per month for comprehensive memory care services, approximately $900 less than the state average and nearly $1,500 less than the national average. In relation to the cities surrounding Hillsborough County, Tampa is one of the least expensive cities in the region, at $1,000 less than the North Port Area and approximately $1,100 less than Homosassa Springs per month. Tampa and its southern neighbor Punta Gorda share the same cost for assisted living. Lakeland, which is located east of Tampa towards the center of the state, offers assisted living care for around $60 less per month.  

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.

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.

The cost of memory care in Tampa is around $800 more than that of assisted living per month, mainly due to the extra services and treatment options that seniors with memory care require. Memory care services are also more expensive than adult day health care by more than $2,000 per month. Seniors who utilize in-home care or home health care pay slightly more for services than memory care seniors, an amount that averages around $580 more for home care and around $670 more for home health care. A semi-private room in a nursing home is $8,927, more than twice the cost of memory care services.

In Florida, memory care communities fall under the purview of the Division of Health Quality Assurance, a division of the Agency for Health Care Administration. The Health Quality Assurance division is responsible for the licensure and regulation of all manners of health care providers, including memory care facilities, and must conduct regular onsite evaluations and investigate care complaints as necessary.

• Tampa has been a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities since 2021. This signifies a huge commitment to making the city more senior-friendly by improving the infrastructure of the community and working with seniors to determine what the area needs to do to improve senior livability. This often includes making areas more pedestrian-friendly or increasing transportation options for seniors.
• The weather in Tampa is both a positive and a negative. Summers are very hot and humid, with a normal summer high of 90 degrees. Fortunately, most homes and businesses have air conditioning, so seniors who cannot handle the heat can spend the most sweltering parts of the day inside. The winter climate is pleasant, with plenty of sun and temperatures in the 70s.
• The cost of living in Hillsborough County, including Tampa and St. Petersburg, is about the same as the national average, with the cost of utilities and health care slightly below average and groceries slightly above average. However, the sheer number of organizations, businesses and utility companies in the area creates a competitive environment that can benefit seniors who aren’t afraid to shop around.
• Tampa is a relatively safe place to live for being such a large city. The city has a crime rate that is 1.4 times lower than the national average, with a recent downward trend in violent crime and property crime. There is a larger law enforcement presence here than in other areas of the state and more access to emergency services. 
• Seniors in the early stages of dementia have a huge selection of indoor and outdoor activity options to choose from around the city. Only a short jaunt away, the white, sandy beaches offer natural beauty and plenty to see. The city also has a walkability score of 85 out of 100, so seniors be accompanied to local shops and restaurants for good food and a little retail therapy. 
• Tampa’s healthcare system has a lot of ground to cover, but seniors with dementia have a good selection of high quality physicians to choose from. AdventHealth Tampa offers Alzheimer’s and Dementia testing and a range of neurological and neurosurgical treatment options to help seniors maintain their current level of cognitive function.