Assisted living in Polk County

What does assisted living mean under Florida law?

An assisted living facility is a residential setting licensed by AHCA under Chapter 429, Part I, that provides housing, meals and at least one personal service, such as help with bathing, dressing, eating or medications, to adults who do not need 24-hour nursing supervision.

AHCA's records show 43 licensed assisted living facilities in Polk County, ranging from 4 to 224 beds; 18 have Lakeland addresses and 13 Winter Haven addresses, and 10 hold LMH, 8 LNS and 1 ECC licenses.

How much does assisted living cost?

CareScout's 2025 Florida median is $66,000 a year, about $5,500 a month; each Polk County facility sets its own rates, often with separate charges for care levels and medication management.

Medicare does not pay for assisted living. Medicaid long-term care plans pay for services but not rent and meals.

Who belongs in assisted living?

A person who needs daily help or supervision, can transfer with assistance and does not need round-the-clock nursing; ALFs with LNS or ECC licenses can handle higher needs.

See who an ALF can admit.

What should we check before choosing a Polk County assisted living facility?

Check the AHCA license and any specialty license, the latest standard survey and what it cited, any fines or a recent change of owner, who is awake overnight, and the contract's fee schedule and 45-day notice terms.

Our facility pages put each larger Polk County ALF's state record on one page, with nearby alternatives and questions to ask.

How many Polk County ALFs hold a specialty license?

Polk County has 43 AHCA-licensed ALFs with 2,956 licensed beds between them. Of those, 10 add a limited mental health license, 8 limited nursing services and 1 extended congregate care, while 18 report a memory care program on their AHCA profile (records retrieved November 6, 2026).

A specialty license describes the services a facility may provide. It is not a grade.

Who helps Polk County families pay for assisted living?

Private money pays most bills; beyond that, VA pension with Aid and Attendance, long-term care insurance, Florida Medicaid long-term care plans (for services in contracted ALFs) and Optional State Supplementation (for room and board) each cover part of the cost for people who qualify.

Senior Connection Center (1-800-336-2226) screens for Medicaid long-term care, and Polk County's veterans services office helps with VA claims at no charge.

Where in Polk County is assisted living licensed?

AHCA's records place Polk County's assisted living licenses in these cities; agencies have no bed count.