Florida
Gainesville, FL Senior Care — Nursing Homes & Assisted Living
Gainesville has 18 nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Browse honest ratings, staffing levels, and inspection history for every facility — transparent data from official government sources, free for families.
18 homes near you · sorted by overall rating
Gainesville is home to 19 senior care facilities across Alachua County, including 10 Medicare-certified nursing homes and 9 assisted living facilities, serving UF Health patients and residents throughout North Central Florida. The city's standout asset is Oak Hammock at the University of Florida - a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) offering both skilled nursing and assisted living on one campus.
19
Total facilities
10
Nursing homes
9
Assisted living
2,025
Total beds
4
5-star nursing homes
Nursing home quality
Gainesville has four 5-star nursing homes: Plaza Health and Rehab (180 beds, largest in the city), Terrace Healthcare & Rehab (138 beds), Parklands Care Center and Rehab (120 beds), and Oak Hammock at UF (73 beds, non-profit, university-affiliated). Several Gainesville nursing homes partner with UF Health Shands for post-acute rehabilitation, including Plaza Health and Terrace Healthcare.
Memory care in Gainesville
Six of Gainesville's nine assisted living facilities offer dedicated memory care - one of the highest concentrations in North Florida. Options range from small residential communities to large campus-style facilities.
About senior care in Gainesville
Gainesville is a university city anchored by the University of Florida and UF Health Shands Hospital. Several nursing homes in the area serve as post-acute rehabilitation destinations for UF Health patients. Oak Hammock at the University of Florida is a nationally recognized non-profit CCRC with both skilled nursing and assisted living on a single campus adjacent to the university.
Veterans & VA benefits
Gainesville hosts a major VA outpatient clinic serving veterans in Alachua and surrounding counties. Some local facilities have experience working with VA benefit programs. See our guide to VA benefits for Florida seniors for details on coverage and eligibility.
About ratings in Gainesville
Gainesville's nursing home quality varies significantly. While four facilities hold 5-star ratings, three are rated 2 stars - Park Meadows Healthcare & Rehab, Aviata at North Florida, and Gainesville Convalescent Center. We publish full AHCA inspection records and CMS penalty history for every facility.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best nursing home in Gainesville, FL?
Gainesville has four 5-star CMS-rated nursing homes: Plaza Health and Rehab (180 beds), Terrace Healthcare & Rehab (138 beds), Parklands Care Center and Rehab (120 beds), and Oak Hammock at the University of Florida (73 beds, non-profit CCRC). Oak Hammock is unique as a university-affiliated community offering a full continuum of care on one campus.
Is there memory care assisted living in Gainesville, FL?
Yes - six of Gainesville's nine assisted living facilities offer dedicated memory care programs. The largest options are The Village at Gainesville (140 beds), Windsor of Gainesville (115 beds, also offering OT, PT, speech therapy, and pet therapy), and The Glenwood of Gainesville (110 beds). Oak Hammock at UF also offers memory care within its assisted living component.
What nursing homes accept Medicare near the University of Florida?
All Medicare-certified skilled nursing facilities in Gainesville accept Medicare for qualifying post-acute stays (typically following a 3-night hospital admission). The facilities closest to UF Health Shands that hold 5-star ratings are Plaza Health and Rehab and Terrace Healthcare & Rehab, both under two miles from the medical center.
Use the circle in each card to add facilities to your list. Once you have two or more, you can compare them side by side or submit a single contact request to all of them at once. Click a card's name to view its full detail page.
Free placement help
Not sure where to start?
A local placement specialist can walk you through your options in Gainesville — at no cost to your family.