Frequently asked questions

Westminster Communities of Florida’s Active Living Communities focus on an active and engaged lifestyle, lifelong learning and wellbeing, with maintenance-free residences and a full continuum of supportive services and care available. Our Active Living Communities are also known as Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), offering independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing and other health care services.

Residents enjoy a wide variety of benefits when they choose to live at a Westminster community. Our communities offer a wide variety of lifestyle activities, wellbeing programming and lifelong learning opportunities, and support your active social calendar. In addition to the various social benefits, national studies have shown that people who live at a CCRC live longer and healthier, and are more satisfied with their lives. Plus, every residence comes with maintenance-free living — no more mowing the lawn or cleaning the gutters, we’ll take care of everything inside and outside your new residence. Residents who have made the move often tell us that the biggest factor in their decision was the peace of mind that comes with having a plan for the future. Knowing that supportive services and care are available, should you need them later, can be a great comfort to you and your family. Moving to a Westminster community provides priority access to all health care services.

Westminster Communities of Florida is a family of fiscally strong, faith-based, not-for-profit retirement communities. Our communities are located in Bradenton, Jacksonville, Orlando, St. Augustine, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee and Winter Park, and offer an active lifestyle with an emphasis on lifelong learning and wellbeing. With more than 7,000 residents of all faiths, we offer a wide variety of choices for everyone: waterfront villas and apartments, single-family homes in suburban neighborhoods and high-rise apartments in the city. We have achieved an A- Fitch rating, reflecting our excellent fiscal standing. As a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, the Westminster Retirement Communities Foundation helps to provide for residents who have outlived their means through no fault of their own, as well as low-income residents.

You must be age 62 or older to enjoy the Westminster Communities of Florida lifestyle. It is important to know that a future resident must qualify financially to live in a Westminster community. Our experienced marketing representatives are trained to assist future residents with the approval process and guide you to the most appropriate type of residence to suit your individual needs and budget. Future residents must also meet physical and medical eligibility with a physician’s opinion and medical records indicating that you are able to live independently. Prospective residents who wait too long may not be able to meet these requirements.

Westminster communities are open to residents of all faiths. Our organization continues to enjoy a common heritage and covenant relationship with the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Neither organization, in whole or part, has any responsibility for the financial or contractual obligations of the other.

The cost of living in one of our communities varies based on your choice of residence, the services and amenities included, the location of the community and the type of residency plan selected. Our communities are located throughout Florida, and each campus is unique and offers a wide variety of affordable choices to meet your individual budget.

For many residents, the decision to move to a Westminster community is a money-saver, making the most of resources to ensure that your needs are met. By paying an up-front entrance fee, the Residency Agreement provides for predictable, discounted costs for long-term care later in life, if it should be needed. In addition, residents no longer have the expense of maintaining a home, and gain access to a wide variety of life-enriching services and amenities, as well as health care services, all on one campus. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you compare your current costs of maintaining your home to our affordable fees.

An Entrance Fee is a one-time fee paid by new residents when they move into one of our communities. The Monthly Service Fee includes services like maintenance-free living, 24-hour security and scheduled-transportation. Full access to community amenities like our fitness centers is also included. Dining options, housekeeping, and utilities are often included in the Monthly Service Fee, or may be available on an a-la-carte basis.

Many residents are able to deduct a one-time portion of their Entrance Fee and a portion of the Monthly Service Fee annually from their taxes as a medical deduction. For questions about your specific situation it is important to consult your tax advisor.

Our communities proudly offer Distinguished Service Awards to retired career military or surviving spouses, as well as retired teachers, firefighters and police officers. The Westminster Communities Foundation also offers Honorable Service Grants to retired ministers, missionaries, Christian educators, spouse or surviving spouse. To find out if you meet eligibility requirements. You can learn more about the program on the Honorable Service Grant Web page, or contact Suzanne Ujcic, Honorable Service Grant Coordinator, at (800)-948-1881 ext. 226.

Westminster Communities of Florida communities are regulated and monitored by the Florida Department of Financial Services, Office of Insurance Regulation. Assisted Living and Nursing Care centers are also regulated with regular, timely inspections by the Agency for Health Care Administration of the State of Florida. Locally, each community also has county oversight for residential, food and beverage, and safety-related operations.