Florida, known for its warm climate and retirement-friendly atmosphere, is home to hundreds of assisted living facilities. However, not all facilities are created equal. A recent analysis of Google reviews for assisted living facilities across the Sunshine State by our data team reveals stark contrasts in quality and satisfaction levels.
As part of our mission to bring transparency and greater consumer choice to the assisted living industry, we’ve published a detailed breakdown of these findings in this article. We’ve ranked the top and bottom locations across the state, looking at all locations that have two or more assisted living facilities.
The Cream of the Crop: Top 5 Locations
- Plantation (Average Rating: 5.00, Total Reviews: 38) Plantation achieves perfection with all three of its facilities scoring a flawless 5.00. Apple Assisted Living Facility (15 reviews), Jacob's Tender Loving Care Assisted Living (13 reviews), and The Palms at Plantation (10 reviews) all receive top marks from residents and families.
- New Smyrna Beach (Average Rating: 4.98, Total Reviews: 88) This coastal town impresses with Smyrna West Assisted Living Facility scoring a perfect 5.00 from 21 reviews, while Lexington Place Florida maintains an outstanding 4.96 rating from 67 reviews.
- Homestead (Average Rating: 4.91, Total Reviews: 87) Homestead continues to excel with Heaven Assisted Living Facility (4.91 stars, 46 reviews) and Vicky's Assisted Living Facility (4.90 stars, 41 reviews) both receiving near-perfect scores.
- Coral Gables (Average Rating: 4.89, Total Reviews: 243) The Watermark at Coral Gables leads with an impressive 4.99 rating from 185 reviews. Belmont Village Senior Living Coral Gables (4.90 stars, 10 reviews) and The Palace at Coral Gables (4.77 stars, 48 reviews) also contribute to the area's high average.
- Merritt Island (Average Rating: 4.84, Total Reviews: 46) Love Seniors Home shines with a 4.87 rating from 15 reviews, while Cedar Creek follows closely with 4.81 stars from 31 reviews.
Room for Improvement: Bottom 5 Locations
- Wellington (Average Rating: 3.46, Total Reviews: 320) Wellington shows significant variability: Wellington Elder Care 2 leads with 4.58 stars (19 reviews), while Addington Place At Wellington Green struggles with 2.23 stars (13 reviews). HarborChase Of Wellington Crossing (3.94 stars, 49 reviews) and NuVista at Wellington Green (3.10 stars, 239 reviews) fall in between.
- Atlantic Beach (Average Rating: 3.63, Total Reviews: 41) Both facilities here have room for improvement: Fleet Landing scores 3.71 from 21 reviews, while Anthem Lakes receives 3.55 from 20 reviews.
- Brooksville (Average Rating: 3.80, Total Reviews: 194) Brooksville shows a wide range of ratings: Noble Senior Living at Brooksville leads with 4.36 stars (14 reviews), while Country Acres Assisted Living Facility receives 3.00 stars (36 reviews). Oak Hill Assisted Living (3.68 stars, 116 reviews) and The Grande (4.14 stars, 28 reviews) fall in the middle.
- Oxford (Average Rating: 3.81, Total Reviews: 178) Oxford's facilities vary greatly in quality: Hearthstone Wildwood excels with 4.88 stars (50 reviews), while Mission Oaks struggles with 2.71 stars (17 reviews). A Banyan Residence at Wildwood (4.25 stars, 67 reviews), The Willows (3.23 stars, 30 reviews), and Trinity Springs (4.00 stars, 14 reviews) round out the offerings.
- Oviedo (Average Rating: 3.82, Total Reviews: 79) Madison at Oviedo leads with 4.23 stars (40 reviews), while Memory Lane Cottage At Oviedo (3.57 stars, 14 reviews), Savannah Cottage Of Oviedo (3.67 stars, 15 reviews), and Savannah Court and Cottage Of Oviedo (3.80 stars, 10 reviews) all have potential for improvement.
Noteworthy Trends and Observations
- Size Doesn't Always Matter: Some smaller locations like Homestead and Punta Gorda outperform larger ones, suggesting that quality care can be found in both big and small communities.
- Consistency is Key: Top-performing locations tend to have consistently high ratings across all their facilities, while lower-ranked areas often show more variability.
- Volume of Reviews: Higher-rated locations often have a substantial number of reviews, indicating a more reliable assessment of their quality.
- Mixed Performance in Some Areas: Locations like Brandon and Saint Cloud show significant variability among their facilities, highlighting the importance of evaluating individual facilities rather than relying solely on location averages.
- Improvement Potential: Even in lower-ranked areas, there are often standout facilities performing well above the local average, suggesting potential for improvement across the board.
What This Means for Seniors and Families
This data underscores the importance of thorough research when choosing an assisted living facility. While location can be a factor, it's clear that individual facilities within the same area can vary widely in quality.
- Don't judge by location alone: Even in highly-rated areas, individual facilities can underperform, and vice versa.
- Look beyond the averages: Pay attention to the number of reviews. A facility with a high rating but few reviews may be less reliable than one with a slightly lower rating but many more reviews.
- Consider visiting multiple facilities: Given the variability, it's wise to tour several options before making a decision.
- Read individual reviews: Beyond the star ratings, the content of reviews can provide valuable insights into the day-to-day experiences of residents and their families.
Bottom Line
While Florida offers many excellent assisted living options, quality can vary significantly. By doing your homework and leveraging resources like online reviews and services such as Mirador, you can increase your chances of finding a facility that provides the care, comfort, and quality of life that seniors deserve in their golden years.
Research methodology: We analyzed all reviews posted since January 2022 on each facility’s Google My Business Profile and other third party review sources, and excluded any facilities with less than 10 reviews, in order to ensure each facility had a minimum number of recent reviews to ascertain a reliable average score. We also only included locations with at least two or more assisted living facilities.
Data
Highest rated
| Rank | City | Facility Name | Average | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plantation | Apple Assisted Living Facility | 5.00 | 15 |
| Jacob's Tender Loving Care Assisted Living | 5.00 | 13 | ||
| The Palms at Plantation | 5.00 | 10 | ||
| Plantation Total | 5.00 | 38 | ||
| 2 | New Smyrna Beach | Lexington Place Florida | 4.96 | 67 |
| Smyrna West Assisted Living Facility | 5.00 | 21 | ||
| New Smyrna Beach Total | 4.98 | 88 | ||
| 3 | Homestead | Heaven Assisted Living Facility | 4.91 | 46 |
| Vicky's Assisted Living Facility | 4.90 | 41 | ||
| Homestead Total | 4.91 | 87 | ||
| 4 | Coral Gables | Belmont Village Senior Living Coral Gables | 4.90 | 10 |
| The Palace at Coral Gables | 4.77 | 48 | ||
| The Watermark at Coral Gables | 4.99 | 185 | ||
| Coral Gables Total | 4.89 | 243 | ||
| 5 | Merritt Island | Cedar Creek | 4.81 | 31 |
| Love Seniors Home | 4.87 | 15 | ||
| Merritt Island Total | 4.84 | 46 | ||
| 6 | Sunrise | Pacifica Senior Living Sunrise | 4.80 | 147 |
| Ursula's Haven Assisted Living Facility | 4.83 | 24 | ||
| Sunrise Total | 4.82 | 171 | ||
| 7 | Santa Rosa Beach | Somerby Santa Rosa Beach | 4.63 | 40 |
| Watercrest Santa Rosa Beach | 5.00 | 14 | ||
| Santa Rosa Beach Total | 4.81 | 54 | ||
| 8 | Valrico | DIVINE OASIS ALF | 5.00 | 28 |
| Elderly Pride Assisted Living | 4.60 | 40 | ||
| Valrico Total | 4.80 | 68 | ||
| 9 | Parkland | Allegro Parkland | 4.77 | 35 |
| Aston Gardens at Parkland Commons | 4.76 | 63 | ||
| Parkland Total | 4.77 | 98 | ||
| 10 | Port Saint Lucie | A Kee To Paradise | 5.00 | 14 |
| Harbor Place At Port S T. Lucie | 4.43 | 21 | ||
| The Palms of St. Lucie West | 4.72 | 29 | ||
| Port Saint Lucie Total | 4.72 | 64 | ||
| 11 | Miami Lakes | Revelation - ALF | 4.79 | 61 |
| Sunshine Eldercare Of Miami Lakes | 4.59 | 17 | ||
| Miami Lakes Total | 4.69 | 78 | ||
| 12 | Sebastian | Nomel's Assisted Living Facility - Sebastian | 4.74 | 23 |
| The Promenade | 4.63 | 68 | ||
| Sebastian Total | 4.69 | 91 | ||
| 13 | Ormond Beach | Brookdale Ormond Beach | 4.71 | 24 |
| Evergreen Alf | 4.76 | 51 | ||
| Grand Villa Of Ormond Beach | 4.63 | 46 | ||
| Ormond In The Pines | 4.70 | 76 | ||
| Paradise Pointe of Ormond Beach | 4.60 | 10 | ||
| Ormond Beach Total | 4.68 | 207 | ||
| 14 | North Port | Discovery Commons South Biscayne | 4.51 | 83 |
| The Gallery At North Port | 4.84 | 112 | ||
| North Port Total | 4.67 | 195 | ||
| 15 | Fernandina Beach | Osprey Village | 5.00 | 43 |
| Savannah Grand Of Amelia Island | 4.63 | 90 | ||
| The Lakeside At Amelia Island | 4.34 | 44 | ||
| Fernandina Beach Total | 4.66 | 177 |
Lowest rated
| Rank | City | Facility Name | Average | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellington | Addington Place At Wellington Green | 2.23 | 13 |
| HarborChase Of Wellington Crossing | 3.94 | 49 | ||
| NuVista at Wellington Green | 3.10 | 239 | ||
| Wellington Elder Care 2 | 4.58 | 19 | ||
| Wellington Total | 3.46 | 320 | ||
| 2 | Atlantic Beach | Anthem Lakes | 3.55 | 20 |
| Fleet Landing | 3.71 | 21 | ||
| Atlantic Beach Total | 3.63 | 41 | ||
| 3 | Brooksville | Country Acres Assisted Living Facility | 3.00 | 36 |
| Noble Senior Living at Brooksville | 4.36 | 14 | ||
| Oak Hill Assisted Living | 3.68 | 116 | ||
| The Grande | 4.14 | 28 | ||
| Brooksville Total | 3.80 | 194 | ||
| 4 | Oxford | A Banyan Residence at Wildwood | 4.25 | 67 |
| Hearthstone Wildwood | 4.88 | 50 | ||
| Mission Oaks | 2.71 | 17 | ||
| The Willows | 3.23 | 30 | ||
| Trinity Springs | 4.00 | 14 | ||
| Oxford Total | 3.81 | 178 | ||
| 5 | Oviedo | Madison at Oviedo | 4.23 | 40 |
| Memory Lane Cottage At Oviedo | 3.57 | 14 | ||
| Savannah Cottage Of Oviedo | 3.67 | 15 | ||
| Savannah Court and Cottage Of Oviedo | 3.80 | 10 | ||
| Oviedo Total | 3.82 | 79 | ||
| 6 | Lecanto | Brentwood Retirement Community | 3.11 | 19 |
| Rosecastle of Citrus | 4.59 | 29 | ||
| Superior Residences of Lecanto | 3.18 | 22 | ||
| The Reserve at Citrus | 4.48 | 33 | ||
| Lecanto Total | 3.84 | 103 | ||
| 7 | Daytona Beach | Bishops Glen Retirement Center | 4.41 | 46 |
| Indigo Palms | 1.64 | 11 | ||
| Magnolia Manor At Daytona Beach | 4.43 | 14 | ||
| Sunscape Daytona Beach | 4.54 | 52 | ||
| THE BLAKE AT LPGA | 4.24 | 17 | ||
| Daytona Beach Total | 3.85 | 140 | ||
| 8 | Gainesville | Charter Senior Living Of Gainesville | 4.58 | 67 |
| HarborChase Of Gainesville | 4.12 | 25 | ||
| Hunters Crossing Place Assisted Living | 4.52 | 29 | ||
| Meridian Behavioral Healthcare | 1.63 | 63 | ||
| Oak Hammock At The University Of Florida | 3.75 | 16 | ||
| The Village At Gainesville | 4.08 | 12 | ||
| The Windsor Of Gainesville | 4.67 | 43 | ||
| Gainesville Total | 3.91 | 255 | ||
| 9 | Pensacola | Azalea Trace | 4.49 | 39 |
| Brookdale Pensacola | 4.50 | 16 | ||
| Homestead Village Retirement Community | 2.95 | 20 | ||
| Sodalis Pensacola | 4.32 | 72 | ||
| Summer Vista | 3.42 | 24 | ||
| The Waterford At Carpenter's Creek | 4.54 | 69 | ||
| Veranda of Pensacola | 3.67 | 18 | ||
| Pensacola Total | 3.98 | 258 | ||
| 10 | Saint Augustine | BayView Assisted Living at the Pavilion | 2.93 | 28 |
| Benton House Of St Johns | 4.58 | 12 | ||
| Silver Creek | 4.49 | 85 | ||
| Saint Augustine Total | 4.00 | 125 | ||
| 11 | Lutz | Angels Senior Living at The Lodges of Idlewild | 3.38 | 24 |
| Magnolia Manor Assisted Living | 4.64 | 11 | ||
| Lutz Total | 4.01 | 35 | ||
| 12 | Lady Lake | Buffalo Crossings Assisted Living Facility | 4.16 | 25 |
| HarborChase Of Villages Crossing | 3.84 | 38 | ||
| Lady Lake Senior Living | 4.11 | 18 | ||
| The Springs Lady Lake | 3.59 | 22 | ||
| Village Veranda At Lady Lake | 4.21 | 100 | ||
| Watercrest Spanish Springs | 4.22 | 32 | ||
| Lady Lake Total | 4.02 | 235 | ||
| 13 | Wesley Chapel | Beach House at Wiregrass Ranch | 4.06 | 47 |
| Blue Heron Assisted Living | 3.98 | 108 | ||
| Wesley Chapel Total | 4.02 | 155 | ||
| 14 | Delray Beach | Abbey Delray | 3.18 | 38 |
| Abbey Delray Assisted Living And Memory Care | 2.10 | 10 | ||
| Abbey Delray South | 3.78 | 50 | ||
| Arden Courts Of Delray Beach | 4.89 | 19 | ||
| Grand Villa Of Delray West | 4.56 | 80 | ||
| Grand Villa of Delray Beach East | 4.69 | 125 | ||
| Harbour's Edge | 3.33 | 12 | ||
| Inspired Living Delray Beach | 4.14 | 58 | ||
| Sonata Delray Beach | 4.18 | 11 | ||
| Symphony At Delray Beach | 4.37 | 49 | ||
| The Arbor At Delray | 4.52 | 29 | ||
| Tuscan Gardens Of Delray Beach | 4.48 | 31 | ||
| Tuscan Gardens of Delray Beach | 4.43 | 35 | ||
| Delray Beach Total | 4.05 | 547 | ||
| 15 | Saint Petersburg | Addington Place At College Harbor | 4.84 | 55 |
| Canyon Grove Senior Living Community | 2.73 | 11 | ||
| Grand Villa Of St Petersburg | 4.03 | 88 | ||
| Inspired Living At Ivy Ridge | 4.17 | 30 | ||
| The Fountains At Boca Ciega Bay | 4.36 | 77 | ||
| Westminster Palms | 4.19 | 21 | ||
| Saint Petersburg Total | 4.05 | 282 |
