The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Fort Walton Beach, FL for 2024

Located in the northwest corner of Florida in Okaloosa County, Fort Walton Beach is a small city that’s known for its white sand beaches and abundance of urban amenities. The city is home to just under 21,000 residents, and nearly one-fifth are seniors aged 65 and older, which matches the percentage of seniors statewide. Genworth’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey shows that seniors in Fort Walton Beach pay an average of $4,481 per month for home care, which doesn’t include medical services. Comprehensive emergency and acute medical care is available locally at the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, which is equipped with a specialized stroke care unit, cardiology department and rehabilitation clinic.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the Fort Walton Beach area – complete with services offered and reviews from families who’ve actually used the service. In addition to our in-depth provider listings, we’ve compiled resources to help seniors and their families to access all the tools they need to age in place safely and gracefully.

Genworth Financial’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey shows that, on average, home care in Fort Walton Beach costs $4,481 per month. This matches the nationwide median, and is $286 above Florida’s statewide average. Home care rates in Florida vary widely depending on the location. Seniors in nearby Panama City pay around $4,624 per month, while in the state capital, Tallahassee, rates are lower at $4,124. In neighboring Pensacola, in-home care costs an average of $4,277 per month, while in Orlando, rates run around $3,813.   

In Fort Walton Beach, home care and home health care services share an average cost of $4,481, while assisted living costs slightly less at $4,375 per month. Nursing home care is the most expensive option, with rates for a semiprivate room running around $7,908 per month. Local adult day health care cost data isn’t available, however, the statewide average of $1,408 per month indicates it’s likely the lowest-priced option.  

Given the high cost of in-home care, many people use one or more forms of financial assistance to cover the expenses. Below, we explain some of the most common sources of financial help for paying for in-home care. If none of these options are available to you, you can reach out to your Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about local resources.

Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-Term Care Insurance covers expenses related to senior care, including in-home care. Depending on the policy type, beneficiaries may receive a cash payment to use towards long-term care or reimbursement for qualifying long-term care expenses. Note that there are limitations- typically a maximum benefit of $150 per day- and exact coverage terms vary depending on the exact policy, so always check the details.

Medicare: Medicare does not cover in-home care because it is classified as custodial, or non-medical, care. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, which offer expanded benefits, may cover in-home custodial care.

Medicaid: Medicaid coverage of in-home care varies between different states because it is not a federally mandated benefit. Currently, all states cover some in-home care either through their standard Medicaid or a waiver program. The specific coverage rules are set individually by each state.

Veterans’ Benefits: The Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly cash payment that beneficiaries can use to pay for senior care, including in-home care services. To qualify for A&A, Veterans must already receive the VA pension and meet several additional requirements, including needing assistance with the activities of daily living.Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more.

Reverse Mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are federally insured loans that are available to homeowners age 62 and over. Reverse mortgages allow you to access a portion of your home’s equity in cash, tax free. Many seniors use reverse mortgages to finance their care expenses, including in-home care. Note that although there are no monthly payments due on reverse mortgage loans, borrowers do have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.