North Florida county with historic sites and natural beauty. If you or a family member in Hamilton County needs help at home, meals, caregiver support or help with Medicare, these are the people to call.
Start Here: Your Aging and Disability Resource Center
Every Florida county is served by an Area Agency on Aging that also works as an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). For Hamilton County, that is Elder Options, which serves Planning and Service Area 3. Call it to be screened for in-home services, home-delivered meals, caregiver support and the Medicaid long-term care waitlist, or to find local programs.
Aging and Disability Resource Center · Hamilton County
Elder Options
Gainesville, FL
You can also reach it through the Florida Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337), which routes calls by county. (Source: Florida Department of Elder Affairs.)
Local Senior Services Provider in Hamilton County
Florida's Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) program pays for help at home for people 60 and older, such as case management, homemaking, personal care, respite and meals. In Hamilton County, the program is run by:
Community Care for the Elderly lead agency
Suwannee River Economic Council
Live Oak, FL
Most services start with a screening through the ADRC above, and there may be a waitlist. (Source: Elder Affairs list of CCE lead agencies, updated April 2024.)
Medicaid, PACE and Guardianship in Hamilton County
- Medicaid managed care: Hamilton County is in Medicaid Region B. Plans that include long-term care here: Florida Community Care, Humana, Simply, Sunshine, UnitedHealthcare. See Florida Medicaid managed care. (Source: AHCA.)
- PACE: no PACE program was operating in Hamilton County as of AHCA's August 2026 report. See PACE in Florida for programs coming soon. (Source: AHCA.)
- CARES assessment: the Alachua CARES office, (386) 418-6430, decides whether someone needs nursing-home level care for Medicaid long-term care or PACE. See the CARES assessment. (Source: Elder Affairs.)
- Public guardian: North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc., 850-487-4609, serves people who cannot afford a private guardian. See public guardianship in Florida. (Source: Elder Affairs.)
Complaints and Legal Help in Hamilton County
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman, North Central district: (352) 620-3088. Free, confidential help for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. See the Ombudsman Program. (Source: Elder Affairs.)
- Local legal aid for people 60 and older: Three Rivers Legal Services, 1-866-256-8091. See free legal help for seniors. (Source: Elder Affairs.)
Food Help for Seniors in Hamilton County
- Meals: home-delivered and group meals for people 60 and older are arranged through the resource center above.
- SNAP: see Florida SNAP for seniors for income limits and how to apply.
- Senior food boxes (CSFP): Second Harvest of the Big Bend, (850) 562-3033, gives a free monthly box of food to people 60 and older with limited income in Hamilton County. (Source: FDACS.)
Statewide Help Lines for Hamilton County Residents
- Free Medicare counseling (SHINE): 1-800-963-5337. Trained volunteers who do not sell plans. FloridaSHINE.org
- Florida Abuse Hotline: 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873) to report abuse, neglect or exploitation of an older adult.
- Florida Senior Legal Helpline: 1-888-895-7873 for free legal advice for people 60 and older.
- 211: dial 2-1-1 for food, rent, utility and other local help.
- Special Needs Registry: if you would need help evacuating during a hurricane, sign up with Hamilton County emergency management through the Florida Special Needs Registry.
Senior Services Listed in Hamilton County
These 30 listings are in our directory. Call ahead to confirm hours and services.
- Elder Options (Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging — DOEA PSA 3 ADRC), DOEA Florida CARES Area 3A & North Central FL Long-Term Care Ombudsman — Hamilton County Network, Assisted Living, Jasper
- FDOH in Hamilton County (#1851350409 — Special Needs Shelter), Jasper Primary Care & FQHC Network (Hamilton Primary Care, Dr. Irvin Bembry & Palms Medical), Meridian Behavioral, Local Pharmacies & Skilled Home Health Hub, Assisted Living, Jasper
- Haven Hospice — Suwannee Valley Care Center (#HOSPICE5023096) & Community Hospice & Palliative Care (#HOSPICE5024096) (Hamilton County 24/7 Hospice Network — Service Area 3A), Assisted Living, Jasper
- HCA Florida Suwannee Emergency (Live Oak), HCA Florida Lake City Hospital (#4407), Lake City VA Medical Center (#573A4 — 110-Bed CLC) & SGMC / UF Health Corridor, Assisted Living, White Springs
- Suwannee (Dowling Park / Live Oak) & Columbia (Lake City) ECC Assisted Living, Memory Care, State Veterans' Domiciliary & CMS 5-Star Skilled Nursing Corridor, Assisted Living, Jasper
- Suwannee River Economic Council, Inc. (SREC) — Hamilton County CCE In-Home Personal Care, ADI Memory Care Respite, HCE & Medicaid LTC Waiver Lead Agency (Jasper), Assisted Living, Jasper
- Suwannee Valley Nursing Center (60-Bed Skilled Nursing, Memory Care & Post-Acute Rehabilitation Facility — Jasper), Assisted Living, Jasper
- The Susan Rewis House (Hidden Oaks ALF #AL9631) & Carolyn Clanton ALF, LLC (#AL13490) — In-County AHCA Licensed Assisted Living & Limited Mental Health Homes (Jennings), Assisted Living, Jennings
- Edward Jones — US-129 Live Oak, US-41 / I-75 Lake City & SR-6 Madison CFP® Fiduciary Corridor (Travis Henry, CFP®, Seth Wilkins, CFP®, Hunter Abercrombie, CFP® & Robert Woodard, CFP®), Financial Services, Jasper
- First Federal Bank - Jasper Branch, Financial Services, Jasper
- Gunter Financial Services, Inc. (Herman Gunter III & Herman Gunter IV, CFP® — Kovack Advisors) & GulfCoast Financial Services, Inc. (John G. Kuykendall), Financial Services, Jasper
- Hamilton County Farm Bureau (Southern Farm Bureau Life Annuities), Tessa Crider Insurance Services, Harrell Insurance Agency & U.S. Life / Senior Benefits Review, Financial Services, Jasper
- Kenneth M. Daniels CPA, P.A. (Sole In-County DBPR CPA Firm), Melissa Marie Smith, CPA & H&R Block Jasper (With Collins & Co. CPAs & Powell & Jones CPAs), Financial Services, Jasper
- Moses Wealth Advisors of Raymond James (Tammy D. Hall, CPA/PFS, Clarence E. Brown III, CFP® & Charles D. Cowen Jr., CPA/CPFA) & Ameris Bank / Capital City Trust Corridor, Financial Services, Jasper
- SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) — SREC Hamilton County Senior Center & Suwannee River Regional Libraries in Jasper, Jennings & White Springs (DOEA PSA 3 — Elder Options), Financial Services, Jasper
- Suwannee River Federal Credit Union — Jasper Branch (NCUA #1086 — Sole In-County Credit Union) & I-75 Credit Union Wealth Network (VyStar CFP® & CAMPUS USA LPL Desks), Financial Services, Jasper
- Advent Christian Village (Dowling Park / Live Oak — 1,200-Acre Suwannee Riverfront Chapter 651 CCRC / Life Plan Campus & Carter/Dowling House HUD 202 Senior Apartments), Independent Living, Live Oak
- Greenhaven Apartments (37 Units), Oaktree Apartments (24 Units) & Greenbriar Apartments (24 Units) — Jasper USDA Section 515/521 & FHFC LIHTC Portfolio, Independent Living, Jasper
- Hamilton County Senior & Client Service Center — Suwannee River Economic Council, Inc. (SREC — DOEA PSA 3 Hub) & Suwannee Valley Transit Authority (SVTA), Independent Living, Jasper
- NWFRHA Jasper Public Housing & Section 8 Authority (317 3rd St NW) + Hamilton County SHIP & USDA Section 504 Senior Home Repair Network, Independent Living, Jasper
- Suwannee Springs Apartments (White Springs — 38 Units) & Hamilton Village Apartments (Jennings — 24 Units) — USDA Section 515/521 Subsidized Portfolio, Independent Living, White Springs
- Suwannee Valley Resort, White Springs RV Park & Kelly's RV/MH Park (White Springs) + Palms & Pines MHC/RV Park (Jennings) — FDOH Chapter 513 Network, Independent Living, White Springs
- 3rd Judicial Circuit Elder Law Section & Lake City US-41 / I-75 Corridor Counsel — Robinson, Kennon & Kendron, P.A. (John J. Kendron, Esq.), Morgan & Getzan, PLLC (Roberta O. Getzan, Esq.), Darby, Peele & Green, PLLC, Feagle & Feagle, P.A. & The Decker Law Firm, P.A., Legal Services, Lake City
- DOEA PSA 3 Florida Bar Board Certified (B.C.S.) Elder Law & Wills, Trusts & Estates Specialists (I-75 South Hub) — The Miller Elder Law Firm (Shannon M. Miller, Esq., B.C.S.), Law Office of Marilyn C. Belo, LL.M., B.C.S. (VA Accredited #13759) & White, Griffis & Littell, PLLC (Richard M. White, Jr., LL.M., B.C.S.), Legal Services, Gainesville
- Hamilton County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Probate, Guardianship & Official Records Division (Hon. W. Greg Godwin — with North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc.), Legal Services, Jasper
- Hamilton County Veterans Service Office (CVSO Jonathan C. Law, Jr.) — Accredited VA Aid & Attendance, PACT Act & Survivor DIC Benefits Advocacy, Legal Services, Jasper
- Madison SR-6 / I-75 West & FL/GA Border Probate & Estate Corridor — Davis, Schnitker, Reeves & Browning, P.A. (Clay A. Schnitker, Esq. & George T. 'Tommy' Reeves, Esq., B.C.S. — Dual FL/GA Licensed) & Hardee Law Firm, PL (Cary A. Hardee II, Esq.), Legal Services, Madison
- Rhett Bullard, P.A. (John Rhett Joyner Bullard, Esq. — Jasper City Attorney & HCDA Counsel) & Live Oak US-129 South Probate, Trust & Title Corridor — Sellers, Taylor & Morrison, P.A., Hill Law & Title, PLLC, The Chauncey Law Firm, P.A. & Hal A. Airth, Esq., Legal Services, Live Oak
- The Law Office of Ralph R. Deas, P.A. & Law Office of James E. 'Jay' Willingham, Jr., Esq. (with Rickerson Legal, P.A. — Resident Jasper Probate, Wills, Estate Planning & Real Property Counsel), Legal Services, Jasper
- Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. (TRLS) — Hamilton County, 3rd Judicial Circuit & DOEA PSA 3 (Elder Options) Title III-B Senior Legal Helpline (with SREC Jasper Senior Center Outreach), Legal Services, Jasper
Guides for Hamilton County Seniors and Families
- In-home care for seniors in Florida: costs, types of care and help paying
- Florida senior assistance programs for food, housing, health and transportation
- Senior citizen benefits in Florida and how to apply
- Subsidized senior housing: Section 202, vouchers and how to apply
- Transportation for seniors, including Medicaid rides and paratransit
- Senior and disabled services in Florida: who to call and how to apply
- Florida Medicaid long-term care: 2026 limits and the waitlist
- Family caregiver support: respite and ways to get paid
- How to report elder abuse
- Medicare Open Enrollment 2027: October 15 to December 7
Questions About Senior Services in Hamilton County
Who do I call for senior services in Hamilton County?
Start with Elder Options, the Aging and Disability Resource Center for Hamilton County, at 352-378-6649, or call the Florida Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337. They screen for in-home help, meals, caregiver support and Medicaid long-term care, and connect you to local providers.
Who provides in-home help for seniors in Hamilton County?
The state's Community Care for the Elderly program in Hamilton County is run locally by Suwannee River Economic Council (386-362-4115). Services such as case management, homemaking, personal care and home-delivered meals usually start with a screening through the Aging and Disability Resource Center.
Where can Hamilton County seniors get free Medicare help?
Florida SHINE offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling from trained volunteers. Call 1-800-963-5337 to reach the SHINE program for Hamilton County through your Aging and Disability Resource Center.