Southern Life – Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing senior living for yourself or someone you love often starts with questions. You may be comparing options for Assisted Living or Memory Care in Lake Placid and the larger Highlands County, looking for an Independent Living apartment, wondering what amenities are included, or simply trying to understand what everyday life might feel like in a community.
At Southern Life Assisted Living & Memory Care, we provide personalized support in our community in Lake Placid, Florida. We offer Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care, with one bedroom, private and companion studios, home-cooked meals, activities, gathering spaces, outdoor patios and porches, and access to supportive services designed to help residents continue enjoying meaningful daily routines.
Below are answers to some of the questions families often ask about Southern Life.
Southern Life is a senior living community in Lake Placid, Florida, offering affordable Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care and our Senior Day Program.
Our residents have access to personalized support, social activities, dining, housekeeping, laundry, on-site therapy services, outdoor spaces, and team members available around the clock.
Our goal is to help each resident keep as much independence as possible while having access to the right level of support when needed.
Southern Life Assisted Living & Memory Care is located at:
1297 US 27 N.
Lake Placid, FL 33852
Our community's location along US 27 makes it easily accessible for families exploring senior living in Lake Placid and throughout Highlands County, including those seeking care near Sebring and Avon Park.
Our community is just minutes from local landmarks, scenic parks, hospitals, medical offices, and shopping centers. Southern Life is near Lake Placid Health and Rehabilitation Center via Health Way and many local physicians so you or your loved one can reach the healthcare providers you prefer.
There are also many local boutiques, cafes, and shopping centers within a 5-minute drive such as the South Highlands Shopping Center and the downtown Lake Placid Journal Plaza. You can also visit Devane Park or Stuart Park to enjoy the outdoors and scenic green spaces. We also offer local transportation to Lake Placid, Avon Park and Sebring.
Southern Life Assisted Living & Memory Care is located at:
1297 US 27 N.
Lake Placid, FL 33852
Our community's location along US 27 makes it easily accessible for families exploring senior living in Lake Placid and throughout Highlands County, including those seeking care near Sebring and Avon Park.
Our community is just minutes from local landmarks, scenic parks, hospitals, medical offices, and shopping centers. Southern Life is near Lake Placid Health and Rehabilitation Center via Health Way and many local physicians so you or your loved one can reach the healthcare providers you prefer.
There are also many local boutiques, cafes, and shopping centers within a 5-minute drive such as the South Highlands Shopping Center and the downtown Lake Placid Journal Plaza. You can also visit Devane Park or Stuart Park to enjoy the outdoors and scenic green spaces. We also offer local transportation to Lake Placid, Avon Park and Sebring.
Independent living is for older adults who are looking for fewer household chores and responsibilities while enjoying friendship and connecting in a great community.
Southern Life provides personalized Assisted Living support based on each resident’s needs.
Services and support may include:
- Wellness and safety monitoring
- Personalized levels of care
- Assistance with daily activities
- Medication management
- Housekeeping
- Laundry
- An emergency response system
- Daily activities and fitness opportunities
- Home-cooked meals
- Access to team members 24 hours a day
- On-site therapeutic services
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- On-site therapy gym
- Scheduled transportation for local errands or appointments
- Each resident has an individualized care plan that helps guide the support they receive.
Our goal is to provide the right assistance so residents can continue making choices, enjoying familiar routines, connecting with others, and participating in the activities that matter to them.
Southern Life offers Memory Care in Lake Placid, FL for older adults who need additional support related to Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Our compassionate dementia-trained team members focus on creating a calm, familiar environment with personalized routines.
Our Sequoia Care therapy offers physical, occupational, and speech therapy services to help Memory Care residents enhance their mobility and daily function.
Because Memory Care needs can vary significantly from one person to another, families should speak directly with the Southern Life team about their loved one’s routines, preferences, abilities, and care needs.
- Private Independent Living studios for $2000/month.
- One-bedroom Independent Living apartments at $2800/month.
- An Assisted Living companion studio at $2995/month.
- A private 270 sq ft Assisted Living studio at $3200/month.
- A 570 sq ft Assisted Living one-bedroom at $3995/month.
- A private 270 sq ft Memory Care studio at $3500/month.
There is also a one-time non-refundable community fee of $3000 and an additional monthly fee based on the care level required. Families can contact Southern Life to ask about current availability and decide which option may best fit their loved one’s preferences and needs.
Yes. Southern Life is a pet-friendly senior living community.
For many older adults, a pet is an important source of companionship and an established part of their daily routine. Being able to continue living with a beloved pet may make the transition to senior living feel more familiar and comfortable.
We welcome pets under 25 pounds with a one-time pet fee of $350. Families interested in pet-friendly senior living in Lake Placid should discuss their specific pet with the Southern Life team before move-in. All pets must have updated vaccinations, and some breed restrictions may apply.
Southern Life offers a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces designed for dining, activities, relaxation, and connection with others.
Community amenities include:
- A spacious dining room
- Restaurant-style dining
- Library and game room
- Spacious activity and entertainment areas
- Multiple outdoor patios and porches
- Beauty and barber salon
- Living and gathering areas
- On-site therapy services through Sequoia Care
- Scheduled transportation
- Emergency response system
These spaces give residents opportunities to spend their days in different ways, from enjoying a meal with friends or participating in an activity, playing a game, relaxing outdoors, or visiting with family.
Meals are an important part of daily life here. Our community serves three home-cooked, dietitian-approved meals each day with restaurant-style service in our dining room. Sample menus include traditional breakfast favorites like hot and cold cereal, pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, or sausage. Lunch and dinner offer items like salads, meats, vegetables, soups, sandwiches, fresh fruit, desserts, and other familiar choices.
Alternate menu items are also available upon request.
Dining is about more than nutrition. Shared meals give residents another opportunity to connect with friends and enjoy a familiar daily routine in Southern Life’s spacious dining room.
Southern Life provides a daily activity and fitness program along with a social calendar of events and activities.
Residents can also take advantage of community spaces such as the library and game room, activity and entertainment areas, gathering spaces, and outdoor patios and porches.
Activities are intended to give residents opportunities to remain active, spend time with others, pursue interests, and add variety to their days.
Yes. Southern Life provides access to on-site therapeutic services through Home Health to give residents and respite guests access to physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy services. We also have a dedicated on-site therapy gym as well.
Having therapy services available at the community makes it more convenient for residents who need ongoing therapeutic support without requiring every appointment to take place away from home.
Depending on an individual’s needs, therapy may focus on areas such as strength, mobility, balance, daily function, communication, and maintaining independence with everyday activities. These services complement Southern Life’s personalized approach to care by helping residents stay active, engaged, and confident in their abilities.
Southern Life offers several senior living options with pricing based on the type of residence and level of support needed. Independent Living starts at $2,000 per month for a private studio and $2,800 for a one-bedroom. Assisted Living starts at $2,995 per month for a companion studio, with private studios starting at $3,200 and deluxe one-bedrooms at $3,995; and Memory Care private studios start at $3,500 per month.
Assisted Living care levels range from $395 to $895 per month, while Memory Care levels range from $495 to $1,295 per month in addition to the monthly rent for the apartment you choose. A second-person fee of $1,500 per month and a one-time, non-refundable $3,000 community fee may also apply. Southern Life also accepts several LTC Medicaid Waiver programs, including Aetna, Florida Community Care (FCC), Simply, Sunshine, and UnitedHealthcare.
When comparing senior living costs, families should look at more than the base monthly rate. It is also important to understand what is included, which services may carry additional charges, and how pricing may change if a resident’s needs change.
Southern Life works with families to explore a variety of potential financial resources and payment options that may help make senior living more affordable. Depending on individual eligibility, these may include using personal savings, Veterans Aid & Attendance benefits, long-term care (LTC) insurance, LTC Medicaid Waiver programs, include Aetna, Florida Community Care (FCC), Simply Sunshine, UnitedHealthcare and other available assistance programs.
We help families understand which resources may apply to their situation and explain how different options may help offset the cost of care. The Southern Life team can help families understand the community’s current payment options and identify questions they may want to ask when exploring available financial resources.
Southern Life offers respite care for older adults who need short-term support in a safe and inviting senior living community, as well as a senior day program for those who need help during the day.
Respite Care can be helpful for someone recovering from an illness, injury, or hospital stay, as well as for families who need temporary support while a caregiver travels, rests, or manages other responsibilities. During their stay, respite guests receive attentive support and access to Southern Life’s community amenities, dining, activities, and social opportunities.
A short-term stay can also give an older adult and their family an opportunity to experience life at Southern Life before making a longer-term senior living decision.
Southern Life also offers a Senior Day Program five days a week for older adults who would benefit from social connection, structured activities, meals, and supportive services during the day while continuing to live at home.
The program can be especially helpful for families balancing caregiving with work, appointments, or other responsibilities. Participants have opportunities to enjoy companionship, activities, and the welcoming environment at Southern Life, while families gain added peace of mind knowing their loved one is engaged and supported during the day.
Families are welcome to contact Southern Life to ask questions and schedule a personal visit.
During a tour, families can see available apartments and community spaces, learn more about our care levels, meet members of the team, and discuss their loved one’s individual needs.
A visit is also a good opportunity to see Southern Life’s spacious dining room, library and game room, activity spaces, patios and porches, and other areas residents enjoy throughout the day.
Finding the right senior living community is about more than checking boxes on a list. It is about finding a place where the services, environment, people, and daily experience feel right for the individual and their family.
At Southern Life, residents can receive personalized support while enjoying opportunities for connection, activity, dining, relaxation, and meaningful daily routines.
Whether you're casually browsing care options or beginning to consider a move to senior living, our team is here to answer your questions and help you understand your options.
Contact our expert advisors or schedule a tour of Southern Life to experience our community firsthand today.
