In-Home Care in Florida

Florida is one of the most popular states in the union for seniors. Nearly 21% of the state’s 21 million people are seniors aged 65 and over. The Florida Department of Elder Affairs administers dozens of programs just for seniors, programs that include nutrition, mental health, companionship and home energy assistance. Home care in Florida costs seniors an average of $4,004 a month, which is well under the national average cost of $4,290 a month.

This guide is for seniors and their loved ones, who may be looking for in-home care in the state of Florida, and who need help understanding their options and knowing what to expect. Read through the information below to learn about financial assistance in Florida, as well as for leads on other free and low-cost resources seniors need in the state.

The Cost of In-Home Care in Florida

In-Home Care Costs in Nearby States

Seniors in Florida can expect to pay an average of $4,004 a month for in-home care. This is a couple of hundred dollars less a month than the $4,290 seniors pay nationwide. According to the 2019 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, the cost of in-home care is somewhat lower in the states closest to Florida. In Georgia and South Carolina, for example, seniors pay an average of $3,813 a month for in-home care. Alabama seniors pay $3,394 a month, on average, while in-home care costs $3,432 a month in Mississippi.

Cost of Other Types of Care in Florida

In-home care is close to the middle range of costs for senior care in Florida. Home health aide services in Florida are also close in price, at an average of $4,195 a month. Less expensive options in the state are assisted living, which costs an average of $3,500 a month, and adult day care, which averages $1,473. More expensive types of senior care include skilled nursing. Semi-private rooms at a skilled nursing facility in Florida average $8,547 a month.

The Cost of In-Home Care in Florida’s Top Cities

The cost of in-home care varies by nearly $600 a month between the most and least expensive major cities in Florida. Among the five most populous urban areas in the state, Jacksonville and Tallahassee are the most expensive for in-home care, at $4,195 and $4,185, respectively. Miami is by far the least expensive large city in Florida for in-home care. Seniors in the Miami-Dade metro area pay just $3,623 a month for this service, or $381 less than the state average cost of $4,004 a month.

Financial Assistance for In-Home Care in Florida

Project R.E.L.I.E.F.

Project R.E.L.I.E.F. (Respite for Elders Living in Everyday Families) expands respite care for caregivers of seniors who live on their own or with their families. The purpose of the program is to improve the ability of families to care for senior loved ones who live on their own or in a family home. The program recruits a corps of volunteers across all adult age ranges, as well as some minimally paid caregivers, who can visit eligible seniors in their homes and provide respite care beyond the relatively basic provisions of state programs.

The Project R.E.L.I.E.F. program is administered by local Area Agencies on Aging, and its services are provided at no cost to seniors. The intent is to help reduce the number of seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia who need institutional care in a Medicaid-funded facility.

Who Is Eligible?
Every Area Agency on Aging in Florida has slightly different criteria for participation in Project R.E.L.I.E.F., and so it is always best to get definitive information about eligibility directly from the agency staff. In general, seniors who participate in the program must be Florida residents aged 60 and above, have a financial need and be at risk of needing institutional care without the assistance of the program.

How to Apply
Florida seniors and loved ones who wish to apply for Project R.E.L.I.E.F. can do so by contacting their region’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). More information about in-home respite care can be found at the website of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative

The Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative (ADI) provides both research and family-focused services for seniors in Florida living with various forms of dementia. The family services wing of the program pays for short-term respite care in the home and at local facilities for seniors with dementia. One offering is the Extended Respite program, which provides for up to 30 days of respite care in a local residential memory care facility.

ADI provides several services seniors living with dementia may find useful. Some services are offered at no cost, while others are available for a limited co-payment. ADI senior services include:

• Case manager support
• Counseling and support groups for both formal and informal caregivers
• Caregiver training and education
• Diagnostic and referral services for suspected dementia
• Adult day care
• Emergency respite care
• Medical supplies and some equipment
• Nutritional supplements and vitamins
• Non-emergency medical transportation

Who Is Eligible?
To enroll in the program, applicants must be Florida residents aged 18 or over, and must have a diagnosis of one of a limited number of conditions:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Multi-Infarct dementia (MID)
• Pick’s disease (Frontotemporal dementia or FTD)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Huntington’s disease
• Lewy Body disease
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

ADI does not exclude applicants based on income, though seniors with a financial need are given priority placement on the waiting list for services. Beneficiaries with higher income or asset amounts may be required to cover a co-payment to receive services. Seniors eligible for the program can reside in an assisted living or another residential care facility, though priority is given to applicants who live at home or with relatives.

How to Apply
To apply for ADI, seniors or their loved ones can inquire at a local memory care clinic that is enrolled in the program. Applications are also handled by the Area Agencies on Aging. Applications can be requested by phone by calling (800) 963-5337.

Community Care for the Elderly

Florida Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) helps over 42,000 Florida seniors remain safely in their homes with direct caregiver support and a list of other services that includes transportation and adult day care. Funds are available as a subsidy that allows seniors to self-direct their care by hiring the caregiver of their choice. Allowable caregivers include friends, family and adult children of seniors enrolled in the program.

The list of services provided by CCE is extensive. Covered services include:

• Adult day care
• Case manager services
• Chore assistance
• Companionship care
• Disposable medical supplies
• Emergency alert response equipment
• Emergency home repairs
• Meals delivered to the home
• In-home nursing care
• Professional legal assistance
• Medication management assistance
• In-home and community respite care
• Shopping assistance
• Non-emergency medical transportation booking and payment
• Counseling services for seniors, family members and caregivers

Who Is Eligible?
Seniors aged 60 and over may be eligible for CCE if they have been diagnosed with a functional impairment that makes living alone difficult or dangerous. Priority is given to seniors referred by Adult Protective Services as potential abuse survivors.

How to Apply
Applications for CCE are accepted through any of Florida’s 11 Area Agencies on Aging, with the statewide project funded through the Department of Elder Affairs. Seniors can apply for the program at a local Aging and Disability Resource Center, or by calling the Eldercare Helpline at (800) 963-5337.

Home Care for the Elderly

Home Care for the Elderly (HCE) provides a monthly stipend of $106 as a general benefit for seniors who need home care. Additional subsidies are available on an as-needed basis, and they can be used to pay for services that include:

• Incontinence supplies
• Medications and medical supplies
• Wheelchairs
• Assistive devices
• Ramp and other home accessibility modifications
• Nutritional supplements
• Services from a home health aide
• Home nursing

Who Is Eligible?
HCE is open to more than 150,000 Florida residents aged 60 and over who are at risk of placement in a nursing home and have an approved adult caregiver living with them and providing in-home care. Program beneficiaries must also meet the income and asset limitations set by the Institutional Care Program (ICP).

How to Apply
Seniors interested in HCE can apply through an Area Agency on Aging, which may request verification of residence, income and assets. Applications can also be requested by calling the Eldercare Helpline at (800) 963-5337.

More Ways to Pay for In-Home Care

While the above programs help many people finance in-home care, they will not cover all costs for everyone. There are other ways to pay for in-home care, including out-of-pocket arrangements with siblings, annuities, reverse mortgages, private insurance, and more. Read Caring.com’s Guide to In-Home Care Costs to learn more about these alternative payment options.

Free and Low-Cost In-Home Care Resources in Florida

Seniors in Florida have several resources available to them to help manage expenses associated with in-home care and independent aging. Available help includes energy assistance, volunteer companions and senior nutrition services.

	Contact	Services Provided
Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)	Call PACE at (855) 435-7223	Seniors aged 55 and over can combine their medical and long-term care needs through one Medicare/Medicaid provider. The program pays many of the costs of community care outside of a residential care setting.
Senior Companion Program	Call the statewide program office at (850) 414-2374	Connects volunteer companions with seniors who live at home or with family to provide no-cost transportation to and from medical appointments, shopping trips and personal errands outside the home. Volunteer companions also provide short-term respite for caregivers.
Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP)	Call for a referral to a local provider at (805) 630-2489	Provides home energy assistance for seniors in Florida who meet income and asset limitations. The program may reduce home energy bills by up to 30%, and emergency assistance to prevent disconnections is available.
Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program	Call the Program Coordinator at (850) 414-2131	Issues up to $40 in coupons for fresh produce for seniors, beginning in early April and lasting until funds are exhausted.
Senior Resource Alliance	Call the Elder Helpline at (800) 963-5337	Eligible seniors can have meals delivered directly to their homes free of cost.

In-Home Care Laws and Regulations in Florida

The Florida Division of Health Quality Assurance regulates senior care in the state. The division inspects residential care facilities and takes reports from the public about conditions at the sites it oversees. The table below contains an overview of the laws for senior home care in Florida.

Scope of Care	Home care agencies may provide assistance with activities of daily living, personal care, homemaking, companionship, respite, and any other non-skilled services that a patient may need.
Care Plan Requirements	Home care agencies must provide patients with information about their services, the identity of the person providing care and all costs and fees associated with care at least 48 hours in advance of the onset of treatment. Patients have a right to be involved in the care planning process.
Medication Management Requirements	Home care providers may, consistent with a dispensed prescription’s label or the package directions of an over-the-counter medication, assist a patient whose condition is medically stable with the self-administration of routine, regularly scheduled medications that are intended to be self-administered. Written permission is required in advance.
Staff Screening Requirements	All staff must undergo a level 2 background screening by scanned fingerprints.
Staff Training Requirements	None
Medicaid Coverage	Florida Medicaid reimburses beneficiaries for home health services rendered by a licensed, Medicaid-participating home health agency and Medicaid-enrolled or registered personal care providers.
Reporting Abuse	Abuse should be reported to the office of the Complaint Administration Unit at (888) 419-3456 or CAU@ahca.myflorida.com.

Frequently Asked Questions