How Westminster Communities Supports Older Veterans Year-Round

TL;DR/Quick Summary: Honoring older veterans who served their country and community is a year-round responsibility, not a once-a-year holiday. As one of the best places for military veterans to retire, Westminster Communities of Florida recognizes the contributions and impact of former service members through community ceremonies, peer support groups, and financial help for veterans.

Honoring those who have served in the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and thanking them for their service is more than a once-a-year holiday. It is an ongoing commitment to fostering purpose, camaraderie, and belonging. For older veterans, transitioning into a new season of life means finding a welcoming environment where past sacrifices are recognized and everyday life is filled with engaging, enriching experiences.

Westminster Communities of Florida honors service members through meaningful community ceremonies, tailored wellness programming, and financial assistance options to help keep the flame of dedication burning brightly.

Our not-for-profit senior living communities in Florida honor the service and bravery of older veterans and provide opportunities for them to connect to residents who share their legacy of public service. From celebrations and traditions to specialized incentives such as the Distinguished Service Award, we are committed to ensuring our communities rank among the best places for military veterans to retire.

Understanding the US Veteran Population: Insights from the Census Bureau

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows the broader national demographic landscape of older veterans, revealing important insights on the need for community programming and tailored support.

According to the Census Bureau’s landmark report, “Aging Veterans: America’s Veteran Population in Later Life,” nearly half of all veterans in the United States—approximately 8.1 million individuals—are 65 years of age or older. Overall, adults over 50 represent more than 75% of the entire U.S. veteran population.

At a Glance: U.S. Veteran Population Over 65

Total Veterans Aged 65+: 8.1 Million (~49% of all veterans)

Demographic Characteristics & Health Considerations

According to the Census Bureau’s report, older veterans experience higher rates of functional disability compared to civilian seniors. Managing physical limitations while staying socially connected is crucial to long-term health. Thankfully, research shows providing older veterans with opportunities for social connection and engagement within a community setting can help lower their risk of isolation and its effects on senior wellness, underscoring how active senior living communities can support healthy aging for veterans.

How Westminster Communities Honors and Supports Older Veterans’ Well-Being Year-Round

The branches of the U.S. Armed Forces are well-known for their highly disciplined, team-oriented culture. For individuals who spent their careers in this type of environment, maintaining a sense of social connection and mutual respect is essential for their mental and emotional health.

At Westminster Communities, we believe recognizing the service of veterans should be done consistently and authentically, not just on Veterans Day. Our senior living communities in Florida go beyond recognizing a date on the calendar by offering ceremonies and organizing peer groups that build trust, reignite shared memories, and reinforce a sense of pride and personal dignity for veteran residents year-round.

Honoring Living Legacies of WWII Veterans “From Shore to Shore”: Celebrating WWII Living Legacies

Across all of our active senior living communities, there is an impactful legacy of public service. To capture this, Westminster Communities produced the original documentary film, From Shore to Shore: WWII Living Legacies, which chronicles the contributions veterans have made throughout their lives.

This inspiring documentary features four extraordinary, true stories from members of the Greatest Generation (born 1901-1927) living within our communities. Centered on four remarkable residents—Sallie Amato, Dr. Charles Nam, Ann Beardslee, and Rufus McClure—the film travels from quiet American hometowns to the global theater of World War II.

More than just a wartime history, From Shore to Shore follows the journey and lifelong service of these remarkable individuals from their return home through the impact they have made on shaping the fabric of Florida as dedicated educators, civic leaders, demographers, and mentors. Whether breaking barriers as early female Marines, building internationally recognized academic programs, or launching humanitarian relief efforts, their echoes still reverberate within our state and around the world.

Discover these incredible stories and hear more about how these outstanding veterans continue to enrich the communities they serve in the feature-length documentary, available on YouTube.

Watch their inspiring stories.

Active Veterans Groups and Guest Speaker Series

Each of our 11 active senior living communities throughout Florida offers engaging, resident-led peer support groups for veterans that meet regularly to foster friendships and provide older veterans a way to stay connected to military history and service values:

• Guest Speaker Events: At our guest speaker events, communities host military historians, active-duty service members, VA representatives, and local leaders who share updates on military affairs, benefits, and historical presentations.
• Peer Support and Shared History: These active groups provide a welcoming space for residents to share stories of service, participate in roundtables, and mentor younger generations.
• Community Honor Projects: Veterans groups often spearhead meaningful campus initiatives, such as establishing campus “Walls of Honor,” organizing care package drives for deployed service members, and coordinating local patriotic observances.

For older veterans, these events and groups recognize and remind them of their contributions, foster connection and belonging, and give them a sense of purpose and pride:

Why Honoring Older Veterans Matters

• Validation of Lived Experience: Ceremonies such as Veterans Day parades, pinning events, patriotic choir performances, and flag-raising observances recognize the historical contributions of each retired veteran.
• Peer-to-Peer Bonding: Shared traditions encourage residents to exchange stories of service, establishing deep friendships rooted in mutual understanding and shared values.
• Sense of Purpose: Active participation in ceremonial committees, honor guards, or community outreach projects gives residents meaningful opportunities to continue serving others.

Whole-Person Wellness for Military Retirees

At Westminster Communities of Florida, well-being is integrated into daily life. For caregivers and older adults looking for the best places for military veterans to retire, Westminster Communities offers a full menu of wellness  amenities and services:

• Fitness and Mobility Programs: Dedicated wellness coordinators design exercise routines tailored to mobility levels, helping older veterans manage functional physical needs while promoting independence.
• Social and Cultural Engagement: From historical discussion groups and veteran coffee socials to creative arts workshops, residents enjoy rich opportunities for mental stimulation.
• Support Services: Team members are available to help coordinate senior care for veterans. Additionally, dining services and maintenance-free living allow residents to focus on living well and pursuing personal passions.

Why Florida is One of the Best Places for Military to Retire

Florida consistently ranks among the best places for military veterans to retire due to its favorable tax climate (including no state income tax), abundant military installations, world-class VA medical centers, and year-round warm weather.

When searching for military retirement communities, choosing a not-for-profit organization like Westminster Communities of Florida offers distinct advantages:

• Mission-Driven Senior Care for Veterans: Financial resources are reinvested directly into community enhancements, team member training, and resident services.
• Life Plan Community: In a life plan community like Westminster Communities, residents have access to a full continuum of care that supports active independent senior living, assisted living, memory care, and nursing care, ensuring residents can age in place with confidence.
• Vibrant Peer Networks: With thousands of seniors across multiple senior living communities in Florida, residents easily connect with other older veterans, educators, and community leaders who share similar life journeys.

Financial Help for Veterans: Making Senior Living Communities in Florida More Accessible

For older veterans and their families, finding the most affordable places to live for military retirees requires making the most of both veteran retirement benefits and financial incentives offered by individual senior living communities. Many families are exploring  housing assistance for veterans in Florida alongside specialized options offered directly by mission-driven senior living organizations like Westminster Communities.

VA Aid and Attendance Benefit

Many older veterans and their families are eligible for VA Aid and Attendance benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This pension add-on provides tax-free financial assistance to help offset the cost of long-term senior care for veterans. Integrating federal benefits with programs offered by not-for-profit senior living communities in Florida can help bring high-quality senior living within reach.

Financial Help for Veterans Offered at Westminster Communities of Florida

For those who touched the lives of others through their careers, Westminster Communities of Florida is grateful to recognize their impactful service through targeted grants and awards that offer financial assistance for moving into one of our communities.

1. The Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award is a Westminster Communities of Florida incentive celebrating individuals who dedicated their lives to public service in various capacities:

• Who It Honors: Retired career military personnel or their surviving spouses. Retired teachers, police officers, and firefighters are also eligible. 
• The Benefit: Recipients of the Distinguished Service Award receive  a reduced entrance fee when moving into a Westminster Life Plan Community, which provides meaningful financial support for veterans and public servants as a heartfelt thank-you for their dedication to our country and local communities.

2. Benevolent Assistance: A Lasting Promise

Rooted in mission and ministry, the Westminster Communities Foundation established its Benevolent Assistance program in 1974 to offer confidential support to any Life Plan Community resident whose financial resources have been exhausted through no fault of their own.

This founding commitment ensures that residents who make their home in a Westminster community have the security of knowing they will always be supported. In 2025 alone, the Westminster Communities Foundation provided $2.16 million to keep 80 residents and couples comfortably in their homes within our communities.

Honoring Older Veterans With Engagement, Connection, Service, and Support

Keeping the flame of service lit means ensuring that those who have protected our freedoms receive the respect, engagement, and supportive care they deserve in their retirement years. With meaningful community recognition programs, peer support groups for veterans, comprehensive health and wellness amenities, and tailored financial help for veterans like the Distinguished Service Award, Westminster Communities of Florida is one of the best places for military to retire in Florida.

Whether you or your loved one are exploring financial help for veterans, evaluating veteran retirement benefits, or searching for the most affordable places to live for military retirees, our team is here to guide you and answer your questions.

Discover how a Westminster community can support your next chapter. Visit Westminster Communities of Florida online or contact us today to learn more about the Distinguished Service Award, schedule a personalized tour, and explore available residence options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is Florida one of the best places for military veterans to retire?

Florida consistently ranks among the best places for military veterans to retire thanks to its favorable tax climate (including no state income tax), abundant military installations, world-class VA medical centers, and year-round warm weather.

Westminster Communities of Florida offers additional financial help for veterans, including the Distinguished Service Award and the Benevolent Assistance Program, to make senior living in Florida more accessible. 

Q: What financial help for veterans is offered at senior living communities in Florida?

While support varies from community to community, eligible older veterans may be able to combine veteran retirement benefits, such as the VA Aid and Attendance benefit, a pension add-on, with incentives available at individual communities.

At Westminster Communities of Florida, these include the Distinguished Service Award (a reduced entrance fee for retired career military personnel, spouses of military retirees, and other public servants) and the Benevolent Assistance program.

Q: Why is Westminster Communities of Florida one of the best places for military veterans to retire? 

Westminster’s senior living communities in Florida honor older veterans year-round through:

• Guest Speaker Events: Our guest speaker events feature periodic guest speaker events with military historians, active-duty service members, VA representatives, and local leaders who share updates on military affairs, benefits, and historical presentations.
• Peer Support and Shared History: These active groups provide a welcoming space for residents to share stories of service, participate in roundtables, and mentor younger generations.
• Community Honor Projects: Veterans groups often spearhead meaningful campus initiatives, such as establishing campus “Walls of Honor,” organizing care package drives for deployed service members, and coordinating local patriotic observances.
• Fitness and Mobility Programs: Dedicated wellness coordinators design exercise routines tailored to mobility levels, helping older veterans manage functional physical needs while promoting independence.
• Social and Cultural Engagement: From historical discussion groups and veteran coffee socials to creative arts workshops, residents enjoy rich opportunities for mental stimulation.
• Supportive Services: Team members are available to help coordinate senior care for veterans. Additionally, care plans, dining services, and maintenance-free living allow residents to focus on living well and pursuing personal passions.

Research cited from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that community-centered environments like Westminster Communities help lower older veterans’ risk of social isolation and support healthy aging.