Every Glades County senior in Moore Haven (33471), Buckhead Ridge (34974), Lakeport (33471), Ortona (33471), Palmdale (33944), Muse (33935), and the Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation enters Florida's state-funded long-term care system through three statutory Planning and Service Area 8 (PSA 8) agencies: (1) Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, Inc. (AAASWFL) at 2830 Winkler Avenue, Suite 112, Fort Myers, FL 33916 (Elder Helpline Toll-Free: 1-866-413-5337 / Statewide 1-800-96-ELDER [1-800-963-5337]; Admin Phone: (239) 652-6900; active Florida 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, Sunbiz Doc# 744232 [legacy cross-ref #743164], FEI/EIN 59-1905519; CEO Maricela Morado), serving all seven counties of DOEA PSA 8 (Glades, Hendry, Lee, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, and Sarasota) as the statutory Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) that performs mandatory telephone DOEA 701S intake screenings and priority scoring for the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC) Waiver waitlist, Older Americans Act (OAA) caregiver grants, and SHINE Medicare counseling; (2) DOEA CARES Area 8 (Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services) at the State Regional Service Center, 2295 Victoria Avenue, Suite 232, Fort Myers, FL 33901 ((239) 278-7210), whose registered nurses and clinical assessors review the physician's AHCA Form 5000-3008 and conduct mandatory pre-admission Nursing Facility Level of Care (LOC) certifications for Glades County applicants entering SMMC LTC Medicaid or any regional nursing home; and (3) Southwest Florida District Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council, co-located at 2295 Victoria Avenue, Suite 152 / 232, Fort Myers, FL 33901 ((239) 338-2563 / Statewide Toll-Free 1-888-831-0404, ltcombudsman@elderaffairs.org), investigating resident rights and quality-of-care complaints across all regional nursing homes and ALFs alongside the Florida Abuse Hotline (1-800-962-2873), Glades County Sheriff's Office Senior Outreach in Moore Haven ((863) 946-1600), and Glades County Social Services (500 Ave J SW, Courthouse, Moore Haven, (863) 946-6013) (acceptsMedicaid: true).
Official Verification Sources: Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida (AAASWFL) — Elder Helpline & PSA 8 ADRC; Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) — CARES Area 8 Directory; Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program — Southwest Florida District Council
Issuer: Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA), Florida AHCA & U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL)
Notes: Verified 2026-10-26 via DOEA & Florida Sunbiz: AAASWFL (#744232 / #743164, CEO Maricela Morado), DOEA CARES Area 8 ((239) 278-7210), and the Southwest Florida District Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council ((239) 338-2563 / 1-888-831-0404) govern all state-funded long-term care intake, clinical LOC certifications, and facility ombudsman oversight for Glades County.
Factual details and direct answers about Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida (DOEA PSA 8 ADRC #744232 — 1-866-413-5337), DOEA CARES Area 8 ((239) 278-7210) & Southwest Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council (1-888-831-0404)'s services, licensing, and credentials.
What are the exact steps for a Glades County senior to apply for the Florida Medicaid Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC) program?
There are three required tracks: (1) Call the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida Elder Helpline at 1-866-413-5337 to complete the DOEA 701S screening and get placed on the SMMC LTC waitlist; (2) Once released from the waitlist (or immediately if already in a hospital or nursing home), a DOEA CARES Area 8 nurse ((239) 278-7210) completes the medical Level of Care (LOC) assessment along with your doctor's signed AHCA Form 5000-3008; and (3) Submit the financial Medicaid application to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) ACCESS Florida (1-850-300-4323 or myflfamilies.com).
Can a Glades County senior use their Region 8 SMMC LTC Medicaid plan at an assisted living facility or nursing home in a neighboring county?
Yes. Because Glades County has zero in-county ALFs or nursing homes, DOEA CARES Area 8 and SMMC LTC managed care plans (Sunshine Health, Simply Healthcare, and Humana Medical Plan) routinely authorize out-of-county placements in Hendry County (Clewiston and LaBelle, also in Region 8), Lee County (Lehigh Acres and Fort Myers, also in Region 8), as well as neighboring Okeechobee County (Grand Oaks of Okeechobee and Okeechobee Health Care Facility) and Highlands County (Lake Placid).
Who should a Glades County family call if a relative in a nearby nursing home or assisted living facility is facing an unfair discharge or poor care?
Call the Southwest Florida District Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council at (239) 338-2563 or the statewide toll-free Ombudsman line at 1-888-831-0404. Certified state ombudsmen provide free, confidential investigation and resident rights advocacy across all nursing homes and assisted living facilities serving Glades County families.
Connect with complementary legal, financial, and residential providers serving seniors in Moore Haven and Glades County.
Glades County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Probate & Guardianship Division (Hon. Tami Pearce Simmons, County Judge Hon. William K. Dorman III, Municipal/County Counsel Steven A. Ramunni, Esq. & Richard W. Pringle, Esq., & 20th Circuit Public Guardian Patrick C. Weber, Esq.)
Moore Haven, Glades County
(863) 946-6010
First Bank — Moore Haven In-County Branch & Clewiston Headquarters (with Seacoast National Bank & SouthState Bank, N.A. Depository & Trust Network)
Moore Haven, Glades County
(863) 946-1515
Glades County Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher & Regional Public Housing Network — Glades County Community Services (Moore Haven), Hendry County Housing Authority (HUD PHA #FL123), Fort Myers PHA (#FL009), Lee County PHA (#FL128) & Pahokee PHA (#FL080)
Moore Haven, Glades County
(863) 946-6004
Expert guidance, benefit eligibility rules, and state protections for older Florida residents and family caregivers.
Applying for Medicaid Long-Term Care in Florida →
Step-by-step guide to DOEA 701S screening, DOEA CARES Area 8 medical certification, and DCF financial eligibility.
Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Guide →
How the Southwest Florida District Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council protects Glades County seniors in regional care facilities.
Glades County Immediate US-27 South & SR-80 West Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living & Adult Day Care Hub — Vivo Healthcare Clewiston (155 Beds, AHCA #1092096), LaBelle Health and Rehab Center (93 Beds, AHCA #1333096) & Family Home Adult Care (AHCA #9676)
Moore Haven, Glades County
Glades County Hospital, Swing-Bed Rehab & Emergency Care Hub — Hendry Regional Medical Center (Clewiston — 12 Mi. S), HCA Florida Raulerson Hospital (Okeechobee — 10 Mi. NE of Buckhead Ridge) & AdventHealth Lake Placid (25 Mi. N)
Moore Haven, Glades County
Hope Connections (Hope Healthcare #759968) — Glades County DOEA PSA 8 Lead Agency for CCE, ADI, HCE, Meals on Wheels & Moore Haven Senior Center
Moore Haven, Glades County
Glades County AHCA-Licensed Hospice, Inpatient Respite & Palliative Care Hub — Hope Hospice (PSA 8 #5010096), Hospice of Okeechobee Hamrick Home (34974 #5026096), Good Shepherd Hospice (#5028096) & VITAS
Moore Haven, Glades County
Disclaimer: This directory listing is for informational purposes only. Florida Senior Support does not endorse or guarantee the quality of services. Please verify information and services directly with the organization.