In-Home Care in Florida

Florida’s well-deserved reputation as a great place to retire probably explains why an increasing number of seniors are moving there. The 2020 Census revealed over 4.5 million of its residents are aged 65+, an increase of almost 1.25 million since 2010. The Sunshine State doesn’t tax its residents’ incomes, allowing seniors to hold on to more of their pensions, Social Security benefits and other earnings. It also boasts many nationally ranked medical facilities, such as the Mayo Clinic-Jacksonville and Adventhealth Orlando.

With so many seniors choosing to live there, it isn’t surprising Florida has numerous in-home care and home health care agencies dedicated to helping them age comfortably. In-home care is a nonmedical service focused on custodial services and companionship, which typically includes light housekeeping and assistance with personal care. Home health care adds basic medical support to those services, often delivered by skilled nurses and occupational therapists. Florida’s average monthly fee for both options is $4,767.

This guide explains what in-home care offers seniors who want the advantages of care services without relocating to an institution. It also covers likely costs and how Medicare and Medicaid can help, in addition to listing some senior-friendly resources.

Florida’s in-home care costs published in the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, are a pleasant surprise. On average, the typical Floridian pays $190 per month less than the typical American, who pays $4,957. Costs don’t compare so well with neighboring states, however. For example, Alabama and Mississippi both average $3,813 per month, Louisiana costs $3,623 and South Carolina averages $4,433. Despite this, Florida is the only one of the six states not to tax incomes, which may offset its costlier in-home care fees.

Many factors influence in-home care fees, including location. In Crestview, the average is $5,005, while in Jacksonville, it’s a more welcome $4,481. The Villages can be costly, with fees averaging $5,720, while Sebastian, although above the state median, is more affordable, at $5,100. Seniors in and around Punta Gorda can expect to pay about $4,767 for in-home care, while their peers down in Naples typically pay $953 more per month. It’s possible to find significantly below-average costs too, such as in Miami, where they’re around $4,195 — an annual savings of $6,864 when compared to the state’s median fee.

Prices for different care types are mostly dictated by the level and quantity of services and the provider’s costs. This is why Florida’s adult day health care facilities, with lower overhead per senior, can offer care for $1,517 per month. Compare this with in-home care and home health care agencies, whose fees average $4,767. They provide one-on-one care within the senior’s home and, in the case of home health care, qualified professionals to deliver limited medical support. Assisted living is more affordable at $4,000 per month because all services are contained within one location. Nursing homes typically charge $8,654, reflecting narrower staff-to-resident ratios and care administered by physicians and skilled nurses.

Medicaid doesn’t directly cover home care costs but the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program can. Its purpose is to provide all the assistance a senior would receive in a nursing home but within their own home, including non-medical services. Another waiver, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, also aids seniors at home by combining elements of Medicaid and Medicare to cover all care needs.

The Home Care for the Elderly waiver provides a basic subsidy to all applicants and tailored subsidies to cover needs specific to each senior enrolled in the program. The final waiver is Community Care for the Elderly, which is available to all seniors whose needs fall within its scope, although it is primarily focused on those at risk of elder abuse.

Seniors without Medicaid should apply via ACCESS Florida or visit their nearest ACCESS Florida Service Center to apply in person. Alternatively, they can call (850) 300-4323 to request an application form, which should be completed and mailed to their nearest ACCESS center.

What Information You Will Need

You’ll need to provide evidence to support your application. This typically includes Social Security and Medicare cards as proof of identity, wage stubs and 60 months of bank statements as proof of income and life insurance policy numbers. You may also need to provide property deeds and pre-need burial contract documents.

In general, Medicare does not cover the cost of non-medical home care. That being said, there are situations in which Medicare provides some coverage for medical home care, referred to as “Home Healthcare.” There are several eligibility restrictions for coverage, including that individuals must be homebound and have a referral from their doctor specifically for home healthcare services.

Below is an overview of some of the skilled medical professionals whose in-home services are typically covered by Medicare – for more in-depth information, refer to our Guide to Home Healthcare.

• Physical Therapists: Physical therapy is used to help patients recover from injuries (broken bones, knee injuries, etc.), treat ongoing conditions such as arthritis, and assist in recovery from surgeries and procedures such as a knee or hip replacement.
• Visiting Nurses: Licensed nurses can provide a number of medical services for those who don’t need to stay in the hospital, but do need regular medical services such as wound care, changing feeding tubes, etc.
• Occupational Therapists: Occupational therapists help seniors regain or maintain the ability to accomplish normal, daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, eating, and other daily activities.
• Speech Therapists: Speech therapists help seniors who are struggling to adequately communicate due to a stroke, dementia, or any other cause regain the ability to functionally communicate using a variety of means. Additionally, speech therapists help to keep seniors independent by modifying diets, teaching special techniques to swallow safely, and retraining associated muscles.

As mentioned above, in-home care is distinctly different from home healthcare. But, there can be some overlap in services between the two types of care. So, while Medicare doesn’t cover non-medical in-home care, there are in-home care services that may be covered in special circumstances when they’re provided in conjunction with home healthcare (such as an occupational therapist helping with eating or dressing)

To find quality home care providers near you, simply input the zip code or city where you would like to start your search. We have an extensive directory of home care agencies all across the nation that includes in-depth information about each provider and hundreds of thousands of reviews from seniors and their loved ones.