Nicknamed “The Sunshine City,” St. Petersburg, Florida, is a fantastic place for seniors considering independent living. Independent living facilities offer a great quality of life; specifically meant for seniors who are still able to do most things on their own, these facilities are structured to also offer a bit of extra assistance every now and then. With A Place For Mom, you can find 12 different independent living facilities in St. Petersburg.
Aside from low-maintenance living, independent living centers give seniors a chance to reside among their peers. Here you’ll find organized social outings and events, plus dedicated areas for dining, games, and other social gatherings. According to A Place for Mom data, most of these facilities are located close to public transportation or offer their own transport; boast beauty salons, barber shops, and fitness centers; and have recreational spaces such as movie theaters, swimming pools, and cafés. And what better place to do it: St. Petersburg is sunny most of the year, more affordable than people might believe, and close to the beach!
Properties in this guide are all within a 10-mile radius of downtown St. Petersburg, including communities like Sunset Beach and Pasadena. This guide will offer information on St. Petersburg’s independent living facilities, financing options, laws and regulations, and more to help you find the right community.
My loved one was previously a resident at The Princess Martha and the facility and experience were great. The cleanliness and friendliness were great. The staff, meals and activities were also great. I would...
I really like the community and the staff is usually very responsive. I love that so many good doctors come up the facility which is very convenient. I think they will get things back on track. My parents...
My loved one is currently a resident at Westminster Palms and the overall experience has been very good for her, so far. The cleanliness is great. The friendliness is beyond great. The care services and the...
Addington Place is a very clean community, lovely apartments, nice dining room, but the food is....okay, helpful staff who seem genuinely caring of their residents. Staff greet ME by name, which impresses...
My sister is currently a resident at Westminster Suncoast and everything has been great for her at this facility so far! The facility staff are all very caring. The place is very clean and my sister is...
You have freedom to go and come as you please. You have to check-in each day by 10:00 if not they come and check on you. I think it's great you can ride to and from dinner. I would go back there if I find...
. I like Wentworth and so does my mother! Everyone's kindness and helpfulness has been so nice! We have been having many difficulties with her recent illness and hospitalization and everyone has been great!
It's a tough situation at best .....any facility is only as good as the people working there, those folks helping the clients & their day to day care. Yes, good help is always hard to find. The place was...
Very nice staff. Gorgeous location. New owners recently took over and renovations are beginning. Most of the staff appear to have stayed on through ownership changes. My mom feels safe and secure there.
Very impressed with Toby Weinman Residence. They have knowledgeable and helpful Nursing staff around the clock. The facility is clean and beautifully updated. If you want an enriching lifestyle that...
The nursing staff needs to be more hands on with the residents. They need to have more activities provided. They have bingo every day, but no other activities maybe once or twice a week they have someone...
My mother and our family appreciated the furnished apartment like rooms, each having their own bathroom and shower. We very much appreciate the homemade meals that are healthy and very tasty. The residents...
My loved one was a resident at Seasons Largo and the experience was great all around. The cleanliness and friendliness were great. The staff, meals, and activities were also great. I would recommend this...
This place is amazing! It was the second place my mom and I toured that day, and I knew the moment we walked in the door, that this was the place we were looking for! She has been there about a month and a...
What our family really liked about The Pointe community was their staff team. The staff members there were really good to our loved one and based on the experience we had, we would recommend the community to...
I would rate 5 in all categories. My family member passed a couple of months ago, but I was always pleased with her care. Based on the experience we have had so far, we would absolutely recommend this...
Our family is very grateful to so many at Arbor Oaks at Tyrone where our mom had lived since 2017 before she recently passed. There were so many staff that cared for mom and we are eternally grateful to all...
Everyone is very special. Love the food & home deliveries, activities, picnics & parties are amazing My nice [name removed] has been here 24 years and everyone loves her
My loved one is currently a resident at The Villas of Casa Celeste and everything has been very good for her at this facility so far. The sales lady, [name removed], is amazing. They have been wonderful to...
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders St Petersburg community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
On average, it costs $4,169 per month for independent living in St. Petersburg, according to A Place For Mom proprietary data; this price includes associated fees and service fee add-ons.[01] This number represents what residents actually paid at our network facilities and reflects a variety of floor plans, amenities, and other variables that determine cost of living.
Represented in the following chart is a baseline cost for independent living in St. Petersburg, Florida, without add-on fees.
Independent living communities are not classified as senior care communities and, therefore, cannot be paid for with long-term health care insurance policies, Medicaid, or Medicare. However, seniors can use long-term health care insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare to pay for in-home medical services that may be needed.
This section will explain how seniors can pay for independent living through private pay, housing assistance, VA benefits, and/or Medicare and Medicaid resources for seniors.
Because independent living communities are not classified as senior care communities, they are not required to be inspected as often as senior care communities. However, they must follow Florida laws and regulations, which includes mandatory inspections once a building reaches a certain age and every 10 years after that.[02]
All housing in Florida must abide by the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.[03] These laws offer protections for tenants and landlords. Some of these protections are specifically relevant for seniors, such as:
Under these laws, landlords cannot deny housing to someone specifically because of their race, sexual orientation, gender, national origin, religion, familial status, or disability.
While inspections are only required every 10 years once a building hits a certain age, tenants can request an inspection. Inspection reports can be searched for at the FloridaHealthFinder site, a service of the Agency for Health Care Administration.
For a community to be classified as a senior community in Florida, 80% of the population must be over the age of 55, and no one in the community can be under 45 years old.
Florida Department of Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: 850-245-4444
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
There are currently no COVID-19 regulations for independent living facilities to follow in the state of Florida or in St. Petersburg; however, the city recommends following these Centers for Disease Control guidelines.
Seniors looking to live in an independent living community in St. Petersburg will find a wide array of different types of living facilities. From converted grand hotels to sprawling villas, A Place For Mom has several wonderful options in our network. Because these communities are meant specifically for seniors, you will be surrounded by peers in the same stage of life.
Within the St. Petersburg area, A Place for Mom has 12 partner independent living facilities. One is a standalone independent living facility, while five offer a combination of assisted living and independent living. Six offer a combination of assisted living, independent living, and memory care; this can be appealing to families and seniors seeking a residence that can accommodate a senior’s needs across many stages of life.
With many facilities located on St. Petersburg’s waterfront area, independent living communities in the area provide easy access to the beautiful beaches of St. Petersburg, as well as the downtown area of Gulfport, offering both businesses and cultural events. From movie theaters to bars to libraries, St. Petersburg’s independent living facilities offer on-site features to help residents relax at their leisure. These are amenities you can expect from independent living facilities in the St. Petersburg area:
Many independent living facilities in the St. Petersburg area offer maintenance, giving residents peace of mind. Common safety features in these communities ensure seniors have a safety net, should it be needed; many units are designed with elevators and wide doorways. To heighten the low-maintenance lifestyle, the vast majority of St. Petersburg’s independent living communities have their own barber shop and/or beauty salon.
Seniors in independent living communities often are eager to experience off-site activities, as well as opportunities for fun within their communities’ own walls. St. Petersburg’s independent living facilities take this into account, with nearly all boasting a location close to public transit. For those who prefer community-provided transportation, more than two-thirds of the independent living facilities we partner with in St. Petersburg offer complimentary transportation; most also offer at-cost transport.
Know where to start.
Identify the right care for your loved one with our free assessment.
See what you can afford.
Understand cost and payment for long-term care based on your loved one's needs.
Find top facilities for you.
Free, personalized guidance from our Senior Living Advisors can help you narrow your search.
Tour your favorite facilities.
Our free touring checklist can help you choose the right community.
St. Petersburg is a city where you can get by without a car, but it certainly helps to have one. If you don’t, you can get a ride from the independent living facility as 83% of our partners offer free transportation and 75% offer it at-cost.
There are areas in St. Petersburg that are walkable or bike-friendly, but the city as a whole is not connected in a way that makes vehicle-free travel entirely possible. Taking into account infrastructure and accessibility, St. Petersburg has a walk score of 43 (out of 100, meaning a car is necessary) and a bike score of 59 (out of 100, meaning a car is needed in some situations instead of a bike).[05]
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PTSA) is the local public transit option. It offers accessible bussing options and also extends discounts to anyone over the age of 65. Those with disabilities can look into the Disabled Special Citizen Program, which offers discounts to those with disabilities.
Those who live in independent living communities are people who still like to get out and about. Getting out and about in a place nicknamed The Sunshine City sure gives you lots of options! You can see local nature by going on a guided kayak trip at the Shell Key Preserve. For those looking to camp or hike, you’ll be right at home at the Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. If you like bird watching, you’ll love Sawgrass Lake Park. After spending a day in the sun, watch the day come to an end at the Island Sunset and Skywalk Light Show; cruises are available for those who prefer the waterway.
Perhaps you are looking for something that stimulates your intellectual side. With plenty of museums in St. Petersburg, there is something for everyone. If you love Salvador Dalí, you’ll certainly love the Dalí Museum, featuring artwork that spans his entire lifetime. For impressive glasswork, you can check out the Duncan McClellan Gallery. Admission is free, and there is artwork both outdoors and indoors. Also contemporary and cool is the Morean Art Center. This is another free museum, and you can even sign up to take classes. For more classes, Charlie Parker Pottery is a great place to learn some new skills and make some new friends.
Another great place to make new friends in the Sunshine Center, a senior center hosted by St. Petersburg’s Parks & Recreation Department. The Sunshine Center offers a bevy of recreational activities, educational classes, wellness programs, volunteer opportunities, and support groups.
The Princess Martha, Cloudberry Lodge at Brandon and Weinberg Village are the top-rated Independent Living facilities near St Petersburg, FL. These Independent Living facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Independent Living in St Petersburg is $3,645 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
A Place For Mom (2023) A Place For Mom Proprietary Data
Collier County. (March 2023.) Milestone Inspections. Colliercountyfl.gov
Pinellas County. (March 2023). Fair Housing Discrimination. Pinellas.gov
U.S. News & World Report. (2022). Bayfront Health St. Petersburg.
Walk Score. (2023). Living in St. Petersburg.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
A Place For Mom (2023) A Place For Mom Proprietary Data
Collier County. (March 2023.) Milestone Inspections. Colliercountyfl.gov
Pinellas County. (March 2023). Fair Housing Discrimination. Pinellas.gov
U.S. News & World Report. (2022). Bayfront Health St. Petersburg.
Walk Score. (2023). Living in St. Petersburg.