Fort Myers Senior AdvisorHow many life plan communities are in Lee County?
Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation lists 4 continuing care retirement communities in Lee County on its October 2025 map, out of 74 statewide: two in south Fort Myers, one in Cape Coral and one in Bonita Springs.
| Community | City | OIR status | Phone (OIR map) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shell Point Retirement Community | Fort Myers | Certificate of authority | (239) 893-7871 |
| Cypress Cove at HealthPark Florida | Fort Myers | Certificate of authority | (239) 297-7377 |
| Gulf Coast Village | Cape Coral | Certificate of authority | (239) 772-1333 |
| The Terraces at Bonita Springs | Bonita Springs | Certificate of authority | (239) 880-7559 |
Source: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, CCRC facility map (Life and Health Financial Oversight, October 2025).
What makes a community a life plan community in Florida?
A life plan community, the newer name for a continuing care retirement community, sells continuing care contracts under Chapter 651 that combine housing with access to assisted living and nursing care later, usually for an entrance fee plus monthly fees.
A 55-plus neighborhood or a rental senior apartment building that sells no continuing care contract is not a CCRC under Florida law and does not appear on OIR's list, however it markets itself.
Why does south Fort Myers have such large life plan campuses?
Because the county drew retirees early: Shell Point opened in the late 1960s on waterfront land near Iona and grew into one of the largest single-site communities in the country, and Cypress Cove was built beside HealthPark Medical Center so residents could live next to a hospital.
Those campuses also hold several of the county's largest licensed assisted living and nursing buildings, which our directory lists with their inspection records.
Who watches a Florida CCRC's finances?
OIR reviews each provider's annual audited statements and filings, its required minimum liquid reserves and its contract forms, and can place a provider under supervision; residents can call OIR's CCRC staff at 850-413-3153.
The care inside, in the assisted living, memory care 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
Continuing care contracts in Florida: the 7-day rescission right, refund rules when a resident leaves, entrance fee escrow, contract types and what to read before signing at a Lee County CCRC.
Open the guide →How Florida keeps watch on life plan community finances
What OIR checks at Florida continuing care retirement communities: certificates of authority, reserves, annual reports, supervision and runoff, and how Lee County families can use those records.
Open the guide →The short version
| 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-filed form with a 7-day rescission right | Prices set by the state |
| Care | AHCA-licensed assisted living and nursing units | Guaranteed admission for non-residents |
