The short answer: senior care, or elder care, is help for an older adult who can no longer manage some daily tasks safely alone. In Florida it comes in seven main forms, from a caregiver at home for a few hours a week ($32 an hour) to assisted living ($5,610 a month) to a nursing home ($10,342 a month for a shared room). (Source: CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025.) Medicare covers short-term medical care, not long-term help with daily living. For free advice and screening for programs that help pay, call the Florida Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337).
Types of Senior Care Services, Compared
Florida median costs below are from the CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025. For comparison, the national medians are $35 an hour for in-home care and $6,200 a month for assisted living.
Which Kind of Care Fits?
- Safe at home but needs some help with cleaning, meals, bathing or getting to appointments: start with in-home care, plus transportation services and meals.
- Recovering from a hospital stay, surgery or illness: ask the doctor about home health care, which Medicare covers when you are homebound and a doctor orders it. (Source: Medicare.gov.)
- A family caregiver needs a break, or the person should not be alone during the day: look at adult day care and respite in our family caregiver support guide.
- Needs help every day and would be safer with people around: compare assisted living and other senior living options.
- Has Alzheimer's disease or another dementia and may wander or need constant supervision: see memory care in Florida and how to choose a memory care facility.
- Needs nursing care around the clock: a nursing home. Medicare covers only a short skilled nursing stay after a qualifying hospital stay, not long-term custodial care. (Sources: Medicare.gov, skilled nursing; Medicare.gov, long-term care.)
- Needs a nursing home level of care but wants to stay home: check whether PACE serves your county, and get screened for Medicaid long-term care.
How to Pay for Senior Care in Florida
- Medicaid long-term care pays for care at home, in assisted living and in nursing homes for people who need a nursing home level of care and meet income and asset limits. Home and community care has a waitlist, so get screened early. See Florida Medicaid long-term care and the CARES assessment.
- State programs such as Community Care for the Elderly and Home Care for the Elderly help people 60 and older stay at home. They are reached through your Area Agency on Aging. See senior and disabled services.
- Medicare pays for medical care, including home health care and short skilled nursing stays. Medicare Savings Programs can pay premiums for people with limited income.
- Veterans benefits, long-term care insurance and private savings cover much of the rest. Our senior citizen benefits guide lists other help.
Where to Start: Free Help in Every County
- Call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337. It routes you to your local Aging and Disability Resource Center, which screens for programs and gives referrals. Each county page lists the local agency and phone number.
- Check licenses. Look up any home health agency, assisted living facility, adult day care center or nursing home on FloridaHealthFinder.gov for license status and inspection reports.
- Know who to call with a problem. The long-term care ombudsman helps residents of assisted living and nursing homes, and you can report suspected elder abuse to the Florida Abuse Hotline.
- Find local providers in our senior services directory.
Questions About Senior Care in Florida
What does senior care mean?
Senior care, also called elder care, is help for older adults who can no longer do some everyday tasks safely on their own. It ranges from a few hours a week of help at home to full-time care in a nursing home. The main types in Florida are in-home care, home health care, adult day care, assisted living, memory care, nursing homes and PACE.
How much does senior care cost in Florida?
According to the CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, Florida's median costs are about $32 an hour for in-home care, $75 a day for adult day care, $5,610 a month for assisted living, and $10,342 a month for a shared nursing home room. Costs vary by area and by how much help is needed.
Does Medicare pay for senior care?
Medicare pays for medical care, including part-time home health care and a short skilled nursing facility stay after a qualifying hospital stay. It does not pay for long-term custodial care, such as help with bathing and dressing, when that is the only care you need. Medicaid and private funds pay for most long-term care.
Where do I start if a parent needs care in Florida?
Call the Florida Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337). It connects you to your local Aging and Disability Resource Center, which can screen your parent for state programs and the Medicaid long-term care waitlist and refer you to local providers.
How do I check if a senior care provider is licensed in Florida?
Search the provider on FloridaHealthFinder.gov, run by the Agency for Health Care Administration. It shows license status and inspection reports for home health agencies, nurse registries, assisted living facilities, adult day care centers and nursing homes.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, financial, or legal advice. Readers should consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical concerns, a financial advisor for financial planning, and an attorney for legal matters. The resources and programs mentioned are subject to eligibility requirements and availability, which may vary. While we strive for accuracy, the information provided may not reflect the most recent updates. Always verify details with official sources or professionals before making decisions based on this content.