Serving as the statutory single point of entry to state-subsidized in-home care, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing home Medicaid benefits for Union County residents across Lake Butler (32054), Raiford (32083), and Worthington Springs (32697), Elder Options (Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc., Florida Sunbiz Document #739573, FEI/EIN 59-1777567, DOEA Planning and Service Area 3 Aging and Disability Resource Center at 100 SW 75th Street, Suite 301, Gainesville, FL 32607, (352) 378-6649 / Toll-Free Elder Helpline 1-800-262-2243 and 1-800-963-5337) coordinates directly with Union County's local Lead Agency (Suwannee River Economic Council at 665 SE 4th St, Lake Butler, (386) 496-2342) and two mandatory state regulatory authorities: (1) the DOEA Bureau of Elder Rights / Florida CARES (Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services) Area 3A Field Office (14101 NW US Hwy 441, Suite 400, Alachua, FL 32615 — just 14 miles south of Worthington Springs via SR-121/CR-235A, (386) 418-6430), whose registered nurses and assessors perform the mandatory clinical Level-of-Care (LOC) medical evaluations required for Florida Medicaid Long-Term Care Waiver enrollment or admission to Lake Butler Hospital Swing Beds (#4290) and surrounding Starke, Macclenny, Lake City, and High Springs/Gainesville nursing homes and ALFs; and (2) the Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program — North Central District Council (1515 E Silver Springs Blvd, #203, Ocala, FL 34470, (352) 620-3088 / Toll-Free 1-888-831-0404), which conducts unannounced resident-rights inspections and investigates discharge or quality-of-care complaints on behalf of Union County seniors in regional long-term care facilities (acceptsMedicaid: true).
Official Verification Sources: Elder Options (Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging — DOEA PSA 3) Official Website; Florida DOEA — CARES (Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services); Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program — North Central District Council
Issuer: Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA), Florida AHCA & U.S. Administration for Community Living
Notes: Verified 2026-10-26: (1) Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc. d/b/a Elder Options (Sunbiz Doc# 739573, EIN 59-1777567, 100 SW 75th St, Ste 301, Gainesville, FL 32607, (352) 378-6649 / Helpline 1-800-262-2243 & 1-800-963-5337) is the statutory PSA 3 ADRC administering SMMC LTC Medicaid Waiver screening for Union County (acceptsMedicaid: true). (2) DOEA Florida CARES Area 3A (14101 NW US Hwy 441, Ste 400, Alachua, FL 32615, (386) 418-6430) conducts mandatory Level-of-Care medical evaluations for Union County seniors. (3) Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program — North Central District Council (1515 E Silver Springs Blvd, #203, Ocala, FL 34470, (352) 620-3088 / 1-888-831-0404) protects resident rights across all Area 3 long-term care facilities.
Factual details and direct answers about Elder Options (Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging — DOEA PSA 3 ADRC), Florida CARES Area 3A & North Central FL LTC Ombudsman — Union County Network's services, licensing, and credentials.
How does a Union County senior apply for the Florida Medicaid Long-Term Care Waiver or schedule a mandatory CARES nursing assessment?
Seniors and family caregivers in Lake Butler (32054), Raiford (32083), and Worthington Springs (32697) must call the Elder Options (PSA 3) Elder Helpline at 1-800-262-2243 or 1-800-963-5337 (or contact the local SREC Union County Senior Center at 665 SE 4th St in Lake Butler, (386) 496-2342 Ext. 2) to complete a telephone 701S/701B intake screening. Once prioritized, a registered nurse or assessor from the DOEA Florida CARES Area 3A office in nearby Alachua ((386) 418-6430) conducts the mandatory clinical Level-of-Care (LOC) evaluation required for Medicaid coverage at home or in any regional skilled nursing or assisted living facility (acceptsMedicaid: true).
Who investigates quality-of-care or improper discharge complaints for a Union County resident placed in a regional nursing home or assisted living facility?
The Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program — North Central District Council ((352) 620-3088 or toll-free 1-888-831-0404) investigates complaints free of charge and confidentially on behalf of residents in any Area 3 skilled nursing facility, assisted living facility, or adult family care home.
Connect with complementary legal, financial, and residential providers serving seniors in Lake Butler and Union County.
Russell A. Wade III, P.A. & Dukes Legal, P.A. — Russell A. 'Russ' Wade III, Esq. & Matthew Aaron Dukes, Esq. (Lake Butler Resident Probate, Estate Planning & Real Property Counsel)
Lake Butler, Union County
(386) 496-9656
DLP Bank (Formerly Community State Bank — Lake Butler In-County Branch & Starke Charter Headquarters)
Lake Butler, Union County
(386) 496-3333
Union County Housing Authority — Public Housing & Senior Apartments (HUD PHA #FL042 — Lake Butler)
Lake Butler, Union County
(386) 496-2047
Expert guidance, benefit eligibility rules, and state protections for older Florida residents and family caregivers.
Lake Butler Hospital (Critical Access Hospital, 25-Bed Skilled Swing-Bed Rehabilitation & 24/7 Emergency Department — Lake Butler)
Lake Butler, Union County
Suwannee River Economic Council, Inc. (SREC) — Union County CCE In-Home Personal Care, ADI Memory Care Respite & Medicaid LTC Waiver Lead Agency (Lake Butler)
Lake Butler, Union County
Haven Hospice — Suwannee Valley (Lake City) & E.T. York (Gainesville) Care Centers + Community Hospice & Palliative Care (Union County 24/7 Hospice Network)
Lake Butler, Union County
FDOH in Union County & New River Community Health (FQHC), Lake Butler Medical & Rural Health Clinics, Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Palms Medical FQHC & Lake Butler Pharmacies
Lake Butler, Union 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.