The short answer: If you care for an aging parent, spouse or other relative in Florida, you do not have to do it alone. Free or low-cost help, including breaks from caregiving (respite), training, counseling, support groups and supplies, is available through your local Area Agency on Aging. Some caregivers can also be paid. One phone call starts it all: the Florida Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337).
The National Family Caregiver Support Program in Florida
This federal program, paid for by Title III-E of the Older Americans Act, is run in Florida by the Department of Elder Affairs through the 11 Area Agencies on Aging, which contract with local providers. (Source: Florida Department of Elder Affairs.)
Who it helps
- Adult family members who care for someone 60 or older at home or in the community.
- Grandparents and other relatives 55 or older raising children 18 and younger, or children of any age with disabilities.
What it offers
- Information, and help getting services
- Individual counseling, support groups and caregiver training
- Respite care, so you can take a break
- Supplemental services such as home improvements, chore help and medical supplies
- Transportation, material aid and legal assistance
Find your Area Agency on Aging on your county page.
Respite Care for Caregivers in Florida
Respite gives a family caregiver time off while someone else provides care, for a few hours, a day or longer. Florida offers it through several programs. (Source: Elder Affairs.)
- National Family Caregiver Support Program respite, described above.
- RELIEF (Respite for Elders Living in Everyday Families) provides in-home respite beyond what other programs offer, including evenings and weekends, for families caring for a homebound older adult.
- Alzheimer's Disease Initiative (ADI) respite for caregivers of adults 18 and older with probable Alzheimer's disease or a related memory disorder: in-home respite, adult day care, emergency respite and extended respite of up to 30 days. ADI also offers case management, caregiver counseling, support groups, training and specialized medical supplies.
- Medicaid long-term care plans can provide caregiver respite, caregiver training and in-home caregiver services to enrolled members when the plan approves them, and can help find a new caregiver if you can no longer provide care.
Not sure whether it is memory loss? Florida's Memory Disorder Clinics evaluate people of any age who may have Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder. (Source: Elder Affairs.) For specialized residential care, see our guide to memory care in Florida.
Can You Get Paid to Care for a Family Member in Florida?
There is no single state program that pays every family caregiver, but these can:
Medicaid long-term care: the Participant Direction Option
If your relative is enrolled in Florida's Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program, they may be able to use the Participant Direction Option to hire and direct their own caregivers, including family members, friends or neighbors, for services such as personal care and homemaker help. (Source: AHCA.) Your relative must first qualify for the program and get off its waitlist. See our guide to Florida Medicaid long-term care for the 2026 limits and steps.
Home Care for the Elderly (HCE)
HCE supports people 60 and older living in a family-type arrangement in a private home instead of a nursing home. It provides a basic subsidy for the older adult's support and maintenance, including some medical costs, and may provide a special subsidy for services or supplies. (Source: Elder Affairs.) Our in-home care guide covers who qualifies.
Caring for a veteran
The VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers can pay a monthly stipend to the primary family caregiver of a veteran who has a VA disability rating of 70 percent or higher, needs at least six months of continuous in-person personal care, and is enrolled in VA health care. Primary caregivers may also get health coverage through CHAMPVA if they have no other coverage, at least 30 days of respite a year, counseling, training, and legal and financial planning help. (Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.) Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
Take Care of Yourself, Too
- Ask for a screening early. Many caregiver services have limited space, so get on the list before you reach a breaking point.
- Get your legal papers in order. The Florida Senior Legal Helpline at 1-888-895-7873 gives free legal advice to people 60 and older who meet an income test, and the National Family Caregiver Support Program includes legal assistance. If your relative can no longer make decisions and has no one to help, see public guardianship in Florida.
- Check benefits your relative may be missing, such as SNAP food assistance and other senior citizen benefits.
- Watch for abuse and exploitation. If you suspect someone is harming or taking money from your relative, report it to the Florida Abuse Hotline. For a full list of help, see senior and disabled services in Florida.
- Plan for emergencies. If your relative would need help evacuating in a hurricane, sign them up for the Florida Special Needs Registry.
Questions About Caregiver Support in Florida
Can I get paid to take care of a family member in Florida?
Sometimes. If your relative is enrolled in Florida Medicaid's long-term care program, the Participant Direction Option lets them hire family members, friends or neighbors as paid caregivers. The Home Care for the Elderly program provides a subsidy to help support an older adult living with family. If you care for a veteran with a VA disability rating of 70 percent or more, the VA's family caregiver program can pay the primary caregiver a monthly stipend.
How do I get respite care in Florida?
Call the Florida Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337). Respite is offered through the National Family Caregiver Support Program, the RELIEF program for evening and weekend respite, the Alzheimer's Disease Initiative for memory disorders, and Medicaid long-term care plans. Your local Area Agency on Aging can tell you what is available and whether there is a wait.
Who qualifies for the National Family Caregiver Support Program?
Adult family members who care for someone 60 or older at home or in the community, and grandparents or other relatives 55 and older who are raising children 18 and younger, or children of any age with disabilities.
Is there help for caregivers of someone with Alzheimer's or dementia?
Yes. Florida's Alzheimer's Disease Initiative offers respite for caregivers of adults 18 and older with probable Alzheimer's disease or a related memory disorder, including in-home respite, adult day care, emergency respite and extended respite of up to 30 days, plus caregiver training, counseling and support groups.
Disclaimer: This guide is general information. Programs have eligibility rules and limited funding, and availability varies by county. Your Area Agency on Aging decides what you qualify for.