Sarasota Senior AdvisorHow many life plan communities are there in Sarasota and Manatee counties?
Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation lists 9 continuing care retirement communities in the two counties on its October 2025 map, 6 in Sarasota County and 3 in Manatee, out of 74 statewide.
| Community | City | County | OIR status | Phone (OIR map) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom Village of Bradenton | Bradenton | Manatee | Certificate of authority | (941) 210-6153 |
| Westminster Bradenton | Bradenton | Manatee | Certificate of authority | (941) 748-4161 |
| Emerson Lakes | Lakewood Ranch | Manatee | Provisional certificate of authority (PCOA) | (941) 210-0636 |
| Bay Village of Sarasota | Sarasota | Sarasota | Certificate of authority | (941) 966-5611 |
| The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch | Sarasota | Sarasota | Certificate of authority | (941) 552-5325 |
| Lakehouse West | Sarasota | Sarasota | In runoff (marked * on OIR's map) | (941) 923-7525 |
| Plymouth Harbor | Sarasota | Sarasota | Certificate of authority | (941) 365-2600 |
| Village on the Isle | Venice | Sarasota | Certificate of authority | (941) 484-9753 |
| Convivial Jacaranda Trace | Venice | Sarasota | Certificate of authority | (941) 208-1536 |
Source: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, CCRC facility map (Life and Health Financial Oversight, October 2025).
What is a life plan community?
A life plan community, the industry's newer name for a continuing care retirement community, combines independent living with assisted living and nursing care on one campus under a continuing care contract, usually with an entrance fee and a monthly fee, regulated in Florida by Chapter 651.
A building that calls itself a retirement community but sells no continuing care contract is not a CCRC under Florida law and does not appear on OIR's list.
Why does the Sarasota area have so many life plan communities?
Because of who lives here: Sarasota County's 38.8% share of residents 65 and older is among the highest in the country, and many arrive as healthy retirees who can enter independent living and want a guaranteed path to care later.
The region's communities include century-old nonprofit campuses in West Bradenton, bayfront towers in downtown Sarasota and newer campuses in Venice and Lakewood Ranch.
Who checks a life plan community's finances in Florida?
The Office of Insurance Regulation reviews each provider's annual, quarterly and monthly filings and its minimum liquid reserves, approves contract forms, and can place a provider under supervision; residents can call OIR's CCRC team at 850-413-3153.
The care inside, in assisted living and nursing units, is licensed and inspected by AHCA like any other facility.
Life plan community guides
Life plan community contracts and refunds in Florida
The 7-day right to rescind, the pro-rated refund formula, refund timing, 30-day cancellation notice and what every Florida continuing care contract must disclose.
Read →Entrance fees and contract types
How Type A (life care), Type B (modified) and Type C (fee-for-service) contracts differ, rental CCRCs, and what each means for future nursing costs in Sarasota and Manatee.
Read →How Florida oversees life plan communities
Certificates of authority, provisional certificates, minimum liquid reserves, runoff status and annual reports: how Florida OIR oversees CCRCs, and where AHCA fits.
Read →At a glance
| A Florida life plan community has | A Florida life plan community does not have | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | An OIR certificate of authority | A star rating from OIR |
| Contract | An OIR-approved form with a 7-day rescission right | OIR-set prices |
| Care | AHCA-licensed assisted living and nursing units | Automatic admission for non-residents |
