What assisted living is
An assisted living facility (ALF) provides housing, meals, and personal care: help with bathing, dressing, grooming, medications, and getting around, plus activities and supervision. It is not a nursing home; residents generally don't need round-the-clock skilled nursing.
Who it fits
- Mom needs help with a few daily activities, or with medications
- She's isolated or no longer safe alone, especially at night
- A family caregiver can't keep up
If she's managing on her own, look at independent living. If memory loss is the main concern, see memory care.
How Florida regulates assisted living
Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration licenses every ALF [1].
In Florida, assisted living facilities (ALFs) are licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). Besides the standard license, a facility can hold specialty licenses that allow more care [2]:
- Extended congregate care (ECC): more nursing and support services, so residents can stay as their needs grow.
- Limited nursing services (LNS): certain nursing tasks provided by licensed nurses.
- Limited mental health (LMH): for residents who live with a mental health condition.
Of the 1213 ALFs in our three counties that the state listed as "Licensed" or "In review" on October 30, 2026, 848 have six or fewer licensed beds. Big communities and small homes hold the same license but feel very different. More on small homes.
Hurricane season and backup power. Florida requires every assisted living facility to have an alternate power source and enough fuel to keep indoor temperatures at or below 81°F for at least 96 hours after losing power. Facilities with 16 or fewer beds must keep 48 hours of fuel on site, and larger ones 72 hours [3]. Ask to see the generator, what it powers, and the evacuation plan.
What it costs
The 2025 monthly median for assisted living in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area was $5,617, compared with $5,610 for Florida and $6,200 nationally [4]. Assisted living costs in detail.
Mom's rights
Florida law gives residents a bill of rights, including at least 45 days' notice before most discharges and the right to file grievances without retaliation [5]. Read the summary.