Set along Florida’s Space Coast, Melbourne is a vibrant city home to over 84,600 residents. Affectionately known as the Harbor City, Melbourne is considered one of the best places to retire in all of the United States. The city has a great deal to offer seniors, who make up 20.9% of the population, including affordable living costs, pristine beaches, warm year-round temperatures and an abundance of entertainment options.
As seniors age, they may find themselves in need of a little extra assistance in their daily lives. Thankfully, assisted living facilities can provide help with chores and everyday tasks, along with medical care, wellness programming and social activities. In Melbourne, the average cost for care in these communities is $4,461 per month, which falls slightly below the U.S. national average.
This guide presents an overview of assisted living, covering topics such as the cost of assisted living care in Melbourne, what these services cost in nearby cities and where seniors can go for financial assistance. It also presents a list of resources available to support seniors as they age and a brief description of the rules and regulations assisted living facilities in Melbourne must abide by.
Hundreds of thousands of American seniors utilize assisted living, a figure that is only growing. For these seniors, assisted living combines residential housing,assistance in daily activities, and some healthcare. These communities also strive to provide an atmosphere that is comfortable and engaging for their residents… Read More >
COVID-19 restrictions and rules for Assisted Living Facilities are typically set by the state – to see the rules in your state, you can read our guide to Assisted Living in Florida. Keep in mind that there may be other policies that communities put in place to protect their residents, so you should contact your local community for more information. Additionally, you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn more – find contact information here.
Assisted living in Melbourne costs seniors an average of $4,461 per month.
While it falls just under the U.S. national average, the cost of assisted living in Melbourne is more than $400 higher than that of the typical Florida city.
Costs can vary greatly between cities across Florida. Budget-conscious seniors can find the most affordable assisted living costs in Gainesville at $2,350 per month, and at $3,350, rates in Tampa are only $100 higher. Costs in Orlando are comparable to the statewide median, and like Melbourne, Miami ($4,385) and Pensacola ($4,323) are only slightly above the statewide average. Tallahassee and Jacksonville are higher still, at rates of $4,650 and $4,660, respectively. Assisted living costs are highest in Naples at an average cost of $5,300 per month.
Note: Data for Melbourne was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Palm Bay Area, was used instead.
How to Get Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Melbourne
Since not everyone can afford to pay for assisted living out-of-pocket, it’s important to find alternative methods to help make assisted living more affordable. Some of these options include:
For more information about your options for making assisted living more affordable, visit our guide to Assisted Living in Florida.
Resource | Contact | Service |
Aging Matters in Brevard | (321) 639-8770 | Aging Matters in Brevard is a nonprofit agency that provides services to support seniors as they age. The organization offers in-home care services, transportation services, a Seniors At Lunch group dining program, Sunflower House caregiver resource center and a retired and seniors volunteer program. Eligibility requirements, including age and income limits, may vary between programs. |
Helping Seniors of Brevard | (321) 473-7770 | Helping Seniors of Brevard is an organization that connects seniors and caregivers with information, education and resources. It operates a free senior information hotline where trained specialists provide care management and referral assistance. Through its media program, seniors have access to newspaper columns, weekly radio programs and close to 100 television programs with senior-focused content. The nonprofit also champions the needs and rights of Brevard County seniors through its Senior Advocacy Council. |
Senior Resource Alliance | (407) 514-1800 or (800) 963-5337 | The Senior Resource Alliance helps seniors in Central Florida find services to meet their needs, collaborating with community-based service providers to provide information and assistance with Medicare programs, housing, utilities, nutrition programs and caregiver support. Its services are open to seniors who are 60 and older living in Brevard, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. |
Wickham Park Senior Center | (321) 425-5533 or (321) 425-5534 | The Wickham Park Senior Center provides a friendly environment for Melbourne’s elderly residents to participate in activities, engage in social interaction and attend educational programs. The daily schedule includes activities such as bingo, cards, arts and crafts, exercise classes and educational lectures. The center also hosts a senior travel club and fun, special events. Most activities are covered by the $20 annual membership fee, though some volunteer-organized activities may incur an additional $1 fee. |
One Senior Place | (321) 323-7325 | One Senior Place is a resource office and shopping center for senior products and services. Seniors can get complimentary consultations and referrals to local services, attend daily seminars and educational events and access the free on-site resource library. |
Melbourne Vet Center | (321) 254-3410 | Veterans, surviving spouses and their dependents can contact the Melbourne Vet Center to access individual and group counseling, community outreach, educational programming and mental health assessments. The center can also provide seniors with referrals to other VA services, such as health care and assistance with accessing benefits. |
Brevard County Legal Aid | (321) 631 2500 | Through Brevard County Legal Aid, over 400 attorneys provide free legal advice, assistance and representation for civil matters such as consumer cases, guardianship, wills, Supplemental Security Income and elder abuse. Seniors must meet the established income limitations to apply. |
Assisted Living Facilities in the Melbourne area are required to follow a set of rules and regulations that are determined at the state level. For an overview of those rules and regulations, see the information below. For more specific information, talk with your local community or Area Agency on Aging.