Senior and Disabled Services in Florida

This guide is for older adults, adults with disabilities and the family members who help them. It explains what help exists in Florida, who can get it and how to apply, and it points you to the one phone call that starts most of these services. Where a state page does not list a price or a rule, we say so instead of guessing.

What is an Aging and Disability Resource Center?

An Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is a local Florida agency that serves as a single point of contact for seniors, adults with disabilities, and caregivers. Staff explain available services, screen for eligibility, and connect you with programs such as in-home care, meals, and transportation.

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs says its 11 Area Agencies on Aging act as ADRCs. They give information and referrals, process eligibility screenings and manage the waitlists for key long-term care programs. You reach yours by calling the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337). (Source: Florida Department of Elder Affairs.)

Types of Senior and Disabled Services Available in Florida

In-Home Help and Personal Care

Help at home can include personal care, homemaker help, home health aides and nursing. Two state programs for people 60 and older are Community Care for the Elderly (CCE), which serves older adults who are functionally impaired, and Home Care for the Elderly (HCE), which pays a monthly subsidy to a caregiver who lives with the older adult. (Sources: CCE, HCE.) For costs, agencies and how to choose one, read our guide to home care for seniors in Florida.

Medicaid Long-Term Care and Waiver Programs

Florida's Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC) program is the largest source of paid help at home. Health plans must offer at least 26 services, including personal care, attendant care, therapy, home modifications, meal delivery, transportation and caregiver training. You can qualify at age 65 or older, or at 18 and older if you qualify for Medicaid because of a disability. You must also be found to need a nursing facility level of care. (Source: Florida Department of Elder Affairs.)

People with developmental disabilities, such as autism, cerebral palsy or Down syndrome, have a separate path: the iBudget Medicaid waiver run by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. It has a waitlist, so apply early. Call 1-866-273-2273 or visit apd.myflorida.com. (Source: Agency for Health Care Administration.)

Meals and Nutrition

The Older Americans Act pays for group meals and home-delivered meals for people 60 and older in all 67 counties. About 300 dining sites serve lunch and offer a chance to meet people. Home-delivered meals go first to seniors who are frail, homebound or isolated. (Source: Florida Department of Elder Affairs.) Food benefits like SNAP are covered in our guide to Florida senior assistance programs.

Transportation

Florida's Transportation Disadvantaged program coordinates rides for people who cannot drive or afford a ride because of a disability, income or age. Each county has a Community Transportation Coordinator who screens riders. Medicaid health plans also cover rides to covered medical visits. Compare every option, including county paratransit, in our guide to elderly transportation services.

Adult Day Care and Respite for Caregivers

Adult day programs give an older adult a safe place to spend the day while a caregiver works or rests. Respite means a break for the caregiver, either at home or at a day program. The National Family Caregiver Support Program offers information, counseling, support groups, training and respite, and the state's Alzheimer's Disease Initiative adds respite and support for families of people with dementia. (Sources: Florida Department of Elder Affairs, caregiving, ADI.) Read about the daily reality in our article on dementia caregiving, and see memory care in Florida.

Housing and Home Modification Help

Rent help comes from subsidized and income-based housing, which we cover in our guide to subsidized senior housing in Florida. Home changes such as ramps and grab bars can be paid through programs like Medicaid long-term care and Home Care for the Elderly if you qualify. For low-cost safety ideas, see home safety tips for aging in place.

Medical Equipment and Assistive Technology

The Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST) lets you try assistive devices at regional demonstration centers and borrow them for up to 30 days. It also works with Centers for Independent Living to reuse and repair used equipment. (Source: FAAST.) Wheelchairs, walkers and similar items may also be covered through Medicaid long-term care or Medicare when they are medically necessary. Ask your doctor and your plan.

How to Apply, Step by Step

1. Call your local ADRC. Dial the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) to be connected to the Aging and Disability Resource Center for your county. A family member or friend can call for you.
2. Complete the screening. A staff member asks about your age, health, daily needs and income. For Medicaid long-term care, this is a phone screening. It helps the ADRC decide which programs fit and how urgent your need is.
3. Get assessed if you are referred. Programs that need a closer look will schedule an assessment. For Medicaid long-term care, the Department of Elder Affairs' CARES unit decides whether you need a nursing facility level of care.
4. Ask about the waitlist. If a program is full, ask to be placed on the waitlist and ask how people are chosen from it. Call back if your health or your caregiver's situation changes.
5. Gather your documents. Have photo ID, proof of age, Social Security and Medicare or Medicaid cards, proof of income and bank balances, and a list of your doctors and medicines. Your ADRC will tell you what else it needs.

For Medicaid long-term care, the first step is a phone screening with your ADRC. People are released from the waitlist based on need, not on how long they have waited. (Source: AHCA.)

Find Your Local ADRC by Region

Florida is divided into 11 Planning and Service Areas (PSAs). Find your county below, then call the agency or the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER. The Department of Elder Affairs also keeps a list of ADRCs. Phone numbers and websites change, so confirm them on the agency's site.

You can also browse local providers in our Florida senior resource directory, or read about health programs for older adults and senior citizen benefits in Florida.