Oak Hammock at the University of Florida sits on a peaceful 136-acre campus in Gainesville, Florida, where big oak trees cast wide, cool shade, and people see neighbors out walking their dogs or biking along green paths. The place has a mission to support older adults and build an active, caring community, and you can see that in the way neighbors smile and talk as they pass, in the way activities fill up the common rooms most days. The community runs as a not-for-profit, always putting resources back into its programs and services, and the history tied to the University of Florida brings a real energy, because you see classes on computer skills, history, politics, philosophy, and even genealogy, along with special programs through the Institute for Learning in Retirement, where people gather to keep their minds sharp.
Oak Hammock provides a full range of living options for people 55 or older, like 269 residential units with 212 apartments and 57 villas and homes for independent living, and then there are 52 assisted living units, 12 memory care units, and the 73-bed skilled nursing center called the Health Pavilion Living. Residents with different needs find personal care, rehabilitation, and medical services like nurses, medication support, wound care, and therapies, and staff help with daily things such as dressing, bathing, and medication reminders. The monthly rates for assisted living run from $2,500 to $8,000, and a nursing home room, whether private or semi-private, ranges from $6,000 to $10,000. People can pick from different floor plans and room types, some with kitchens or kitchenettes, washers and dryers, cable TV, and all have safety features like sprinkler systems and accessible bathrooms.
The community uses a Life Care program, part of its Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) model, so people start out in independent living, but as needs change, they can move to assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing, and the financial model helps with the cost of long-term care. Oak Hammock links closely to the University of Florida, so residents can join educational and cultural events, and there's a steady schedule of classes, art, crafts, and health programs. People can use the fitness center, meditation room, hair salon and barber, community dining rooms, and outdoor spaces for walking or throwing a ball to the dog on the pet-friendly campus.
Services like meal preparation, transportation, laundry, and housekeeping are standard for everyone, and people who want extra help with dressing, grooming, bathing, or toileting get support from staff trained for these things. Medical services include podiatry, health check-ups, and therapies like speech, occupational, and physical rehab. Transportation goes to local medical facilities, and there's guest parking and Wi-Fi throughout the property.
Rooms and apartments have safety and handicap features. There are organized activities-arts, crafts, discussions, and exercise groups-and the campus map and Resident Portal help new folks find their way. Oak Hammock stays open 24/7, but the main offices are open 8:00 to 17:00 daily except Sundays. The community has a close-knit feel thanks to social, educational, and health programs, with a focus on wellness, independence, and personal growth. You'll find neighbors who've lived scholarly, interesting lives, and the pace is active but never rushed, so people can keep learning and growing together, all with the University of Florida close by. More information is available at oakhammock.org.
