5 Pet-Friendly Assisted Living Communities in Miami, Florida
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Florida has long been a popular state for Americans to retire to, so it’s no surprise that its cities boast some of the nation’s best senior living options. In Miami, retirees live a vibrant lifestyle, and the city’s assisted living communities reflect that with their range of options for amenities and entertainment. The city also offers year-round warm weather and tax-friendliness, as well as easy access to health care with its large number of physicians compared to national averages.
In assisted living, you don’t have to worry about daily chores or regular home maintenance. Instead, you can take advantage of light personal care services, chef-prepared meals and daily opportunities to meet friends, relax and stay active. In Miami, assisted living prices are typically lower than the national average, at $4,385 per month. There’s a wide range of communities to suit every taste, including small, homelike options to sprawling campuses with endless leisure options.
When entering assisted living, bringing your pets can help make the transition smoother and provide some emotional support. Below, we’ve reviewed some of Miami’s best pet-friendly assisted living communities to help you find one that suits your needs.
Bay Oaks Historic Retirement Residence – Best Outdoor Grounds
Prestige Care Aventura – Best Small Capacity
The Oasis at Coral Reef – Best Amenities
Mirabelle Senior Living – Best Luxury Community
The Pointe at North Gables – Best Services
Bay Oaks Historic Retirement Residence – Best Outdoor Grounds
Key features:
Comfortable historic decor
2 acre grounds off Biscayne Bay
Small capacity
This warm senior living community has a classic and comfortable feel. At Bay Oaks Retirement Community, an almost 1-to-1 staff-to-resident ratio translates to a high standard of care. Homestyle meals are made from fresh, nutritious ingredients, many of which are grown on-site.
Small pets are welcome in this community, which has a vast outdoor acreage to accommodate them despite being in the heart of Miami. It features an architect-designed courtyard, a fruit orchard and rose gardens. If you prefer to stay inside, the Club Room has a courtyard view, a billiards table and a grand piano. Bay Oaks also has dedicated guest lodgings so family and friends can stay nearby for longer visits.
What Residents Are Saying
Reviewers laud the chefs at Bay Oaks for preparing some of the best meals they’ve tried in senior living. “The food is good, and it’s fresh,” attested one. “Spacious, well-appointed rooms, organic meals, happy caring staff, amazing grounds, dogs, birds... utopia,” added another.
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Prestige Care Aventura – Best Small Capacity
Key features:
Multilingual staff
Home-cooked meals
Resident garden
Prestige Care Aventura is a small retirement home with room for only six residents. This makes it perfect for seniors seeking a homelike environment for retirement. Small pets are allowed in this community, which is tight-knit and pleasant.
Nutritionist-planned meals and low-impact exercise classes such as yoga help residents stay physically healthy. An in-house physician is available, as are regular nurse visits. Caregivers at Prestige Care Aventura are available around the clock.
What Residents Are Saying
Reviewers appreciate the warm staff, who work hard to keep the home running smoothly. “The owner and his staff are excellent. The home is clean, safe and quite pleasant. The bedrooms and living areas are nice. The other residents are calm and kind,” said a resident’s visiting relative.
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The Oasis at Coral Reef – Best Amenities
Key Features:
Resort-like community
Continuum of care
Chef-prepared fine dining
Opportunities for fun and leisure are plentiful throughout The Oasis at Coral Reef’s expansive campus. They include several swimming pools, a fitness center and a beach club as well as regular live entertainment. The community also has a lounge, a bistro and several dining venues where residents can enjoy chef-prepared meals. Carefully landscaped grounds with gardens and walking paths give residents a sunny spot to take their pets.
The Oasis at Coral Reef offers high-quality services to match its fine amenities. Seniors can enjoy an on-site salon, concierge, a transportation program, and regular housekeeping and laundry services. A 24-hour wireless response system ensures safety, while an award-winning hospital nearby provides additional peace of mind.
What Residents Are Saying
Reviewers consistently laud The Oasis’s exceptional quality, from the interior design and amenities to the activities, staff and food. “I liked that everything was included. They have a pool, beautiful couches and chairs outside in the shade, an exercise room, and a place for games and things like that,” wrote one.
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Mirabelle Senior Living – Best Luxury Community
Key Features:
Central downtown location
Robust social calendar
Concierge services available
Mirabelle Senior Living is a resort-style retirement home that offers individualized care plans. The staff becomes acquainted with the passions and preferences of each person in the community, allowing them to offer meals and activities that cater to resident tastes. Mirabelle also offers multiple types of care, making it a good choice for people with changing needs or couples who need different levels of care.
This community welcomes all pets and recognizes their significant benefits for mood, cognition and overall wellness. It also promotes a physically and socially active lifestyle with its upscale leisure options, which include an infinity pool, a wine cellar, a rooftop bar and a spa. There is also a wide range of amenities and activities available to keep you entertained.
What Residents Are Saying
According to reviews, Mirabelle Senior Living’s staff members go the extra mile to ensure the safety and comfort of residents. “The assisted living staff keep me safe and help me with my everyday tasks,” says one resident. “I truly feel safe here. My apartment is beautiful as well. It has a beautiful kitchen, spacious bedrooms/closets, and an astonishing view! The food is delicious as well. They have a variety of different options so I am never bored.”
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The Pointe at North Gables – Best Services
Key features:
Community cat
Latin-inspired cuisine
Spacious Rooms
At The Pointe of North Gables, a dedicated team prioritizes resident comfort, working tirelessly to provide 24-hour access to specially trained elder caregivers. They also offer on-site physical and occupational therapy, and residents with mobility issues or other disabilities can make use of the community’s specialty medical equipment. Additionally, round-the-clock security and daily housekeeping are provided for your peace of mind and convenience.
The Pointe boasts a range of outdoor amenities, including manicured gardens, patios and walking paths. Vaccinated small pets are heartily welcomed, with a spacious patio where you can relax and enjoy the sunshine with furry companions.
What Residents Are Saying
Reviewers of The Pointe at North Gables noted the lively atmosphere and active residents. “I saw people who were very nice talking to everybody. It was very nice to see how they interacted with the residents,” said a visitor. “It’s a place that has warm loving care and is always trying to improve ... [The team is] also doing an excellent job updating the facility to make it feel refreshed,” another wrote.
Read more reviews on Caring.com
The Bottom Line
No matter what Miami assisted living community you choose, you can count on lots of opportunities to live an involved, active and social lifestyle. And, pet-friendly residences can give you an easy way to make new friends with other pet owners. Click on any of the assisted living communities above to learn about them in more detail and find out whether they’re the best choice for you.
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a decade of experience working in and writing about health care, the last five of which she has focused on senior health and senior living. Before joining Caring.com, Rachel worked with websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, MedicareGuide.com, and BetterHelp.com. She studied health science as an undergraduate at Boston University and continued her education in health communication at BU in 2019. She can be reached at editorial@caring.com.
