The Palace Gardens - Assisted Living Retirement Community sits in Homestead, Florida, right across from Baptist Homestead Hospital on a five-acre campus, where you'll find a relaxed tropical feeling in a private, peaceful setting, and while they had a technical issue on their website at one point, staff keep the place very tidy and go out of their way to make residents comfortable. The community has 200 all-private studio and one-bedroom apartments, each fully furnished, with carpeting, window treatments, cable TV, and the safety of hurricane impact glass, plus bathrooms come with showers and grab bars for support, and residents have access to WiFi, air conditioning, and emergency call systems too.
You see, the casual, Florida Keys vibe flows through the gardens, walking paths, patios, and a zero-entry heated swimming pool where they offer water exercise classes, with extra touches like an ice cream parlor, a library with computers, and even pet therapy programs that help bring some cheer. There's a full-service beauty salon and barber shop on site, and the community does welcome pets, so folks don't have to leave their best friends behind. Meals come three times a day-breakfast, lunch, and dinner-with snacks and special diets handled by the kitchen, including support for folks with diabetes or dietary needs, and there's meal delivery for those who want it. Chefs make sure food's not just healthy but appealing, and memory care residents get extra nutrition support through their Executive Chef Ken Wilbanks, who focuses on brain-healthy meals.
Residents can join a full calendar of activities, from educational classes and daily exercise to religious services, live shows in the theater, games, happy hours, outings to restaurants or museums, and special holiday parties, with an atmosphere that's social yet relaxed, giving people plenty of chances to make friends. For those with memory issues like Alzheimer's or dementia, there's a dedicated memory care wing with its own activities, a Memory Care Activities Director, "keeping up with Frank" events for engagement, and a sensory stimulation program, all tailored by the staff using a CRM to fit each person's needs. The Palace Gardens takes pride in CARF accreditation-few in Florida have this-and they've received awards from U.S. News & World Report and the National Association of Homebuilders too, showing that people do take note of their quality.
Health and care play a big role here, with caregivers helping residents with medication, bathing, grooming, dressing, and other daily needs, plus a nurse on staff part-time, licensed nurses available, an Assistant Director of Nursing for memory care, and on-site therapy services for rehabilitation, physical, and occupational therapy. There's supervision 24/7, health monitoring, scheduled physician visits, and the staff helps with every step, including transport to and from meals. Safety matters, so there's a gated, secure entrance, cameras, firefighter systems, Wanderguard security for those at risk of wandering, and clear emergency plans and a generator ready for storms or power loss.
Families can find a choice of living options: assisted living, memory care, catered living for higher-needs support, independent living for active folks, skilled nursing and rehabilitation, respite, and hospice care. Residents who use wheelchairs are accommodated, and aging in place is possible so people don't have to move when their needs change. The community is hands-on, family-owned, with leadership and staff who stay involved, which avoids lots of corporate rules and keeps things running smoothly for residents and families, and Medicaid payments are accepted. Services cover weekly housekeeping, linen and towel service, laundry, and maintenance, so people can focus on living rather than chores. For entertainment and convenience, residents have access to cable TV, internet, common and private rooms, computer rooms, a theater, entertainment venues, scheduled transportation, and outdoor spaces, and there's even guest and resident parking for visitors.
The Palace Gardens encourages staying active and healthy with Tai Chi, yoga, fitness programs, and group stretching, and for spiritual needs, religious services and support are available on site. There's a sense of community here, with staff and residents often forming close bonds, and for military veterans, VA aid assistance is provided. Everything's designed to let residents live as independently as possible, with the help they need, in an uplifting atmosphere that avoids the feel of a large institution. The Palace Gardens stands out for attention to detail, its casual yet caring style, and how it gives residents purpose, safety, and connection.
