BELLA VITA
ASSISTED LIVING · PALM BAY, FLORIDA
Every month, families from New York, New Jersey and across the Northeast move a parent to assisted living in Florida — for the cost difference (the numbers are here), for the weather, or to be near children who already moved. Done in the right order, it is very manageable. Done backwards, it gets expensive and stressful. This is the order that works.
Start with photos and a full virtual tour, then visit in person if you can — or have a family member nearby do it. Never commit to a move nobody has seen. Talk to the person who actually runs the home, not a call center.
The home evaluates your parent's care needs — help with bathing, dressing, medication, mobility. That evaluation is what sets the level of care and the real monthly price, and it tells everyone honestly whether the home is the right fit. At Bella Vita it is free and done the same day, in person or by video call with the family.
Florida requires a health assessment on Form 1823, completed by a physician or licensed health care provider — it can be done by your parent's current doctor before the move, or by a Florida provider within 30 days after admission. Gather the medication list, medical records, insurance cards, and any power of attorney or health care surrogate documents.
Most families pay privately or with long-term care insurance — file insurance claims early, because many policies have a waiting period before they pay. Veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for VA Aid and Attendance. If Medicaid is part of the plan, read step 5 carefully.
Medicaid does not transfer between states. A parent on Medicaid in New York must apply again in Florida under Florida's rules — plan the timing so there is no coverage gap; an elder law attorney can help. Original Medicare works nationwide, but a Medicare Advantage plan usually must be replaced after a move (moving opens a Special Enrollment Period). Line up a new primary care doctor and pharmacy in Florida before the move.
Bring the familiar things: their chair, photos, bedding, the TV they know how to use. Keep the first week unhurried — calls and visits from family, no big decisions. A smaller home helps here: with only six residents, your parent is known by name from the first day, not a room number.
Can my parent move into a Florida assisted living home from another state?
Yes — it happens every week. What the home needs is the care evaluation and Florida's Form 1823 health assessment; both are routine.
Does Medicaid transfer from New York or New Jersey to Florida?
No. Medicaid is state-run, so it never transfers — your parent would apply in Florida and meet Florida's eligibility rules. Bella Vita is an approved Florida Medicaid provider (contracted with Simply Healthcare, and open to single case agreements with other plans), and we will tell you honestly how the timing works.
How long does the whole process take?
Families who start with the tour and evaluation usually complete a move in two to four weeks. The long poles are the Form 1823 and, when it applies, insurance or Medicaid paperwork — another reason to start them early.
Who runs Bella Vita?
The owner, Alejandro Cardozo, is the licensed administrator. He answers the phone himself, does the evaluations, and walks out-of-state families through every step above — you always know exactly who is responsible for your loved one.
Photos and the full virtual tour of the home, exactly as it is:
See the home ▶ Virtual tourPlanning a move from up north? Call or text (407) 914-5350 — the owner answers. Or request a free consultation.