Formal Support Services

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Older Americans Act (OAA): requires a person to be 60 or older in order to receive services, but priority is given to low income, minority individuals living in rural areas. Some OAA services may have a waiting list while others do not. There is no charge, but donations are accepted. Older Americans Act Title III-C programs include congregate meals served in a group setting and home-delivered meals. Older Americans Act Title III-B services include information and referral, adult day care, chore services, homemaker, counseling, emergency alert response, legal assistance, and transportation.

The Family Caregiver Support Initiative: caregivers eligible for the program must be adults who are providing in-home care for a person over the age of 60 who needs help with activities of daily living. Services include: Information and Referral, Education, Supportive Counseling, Legal Counseling, and Financial Counseling. This program is available in Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, and Wakulla Counties. Complete the simple online form for more information. If your county is not listed for this specific program, please contact the local Senior Citizens Center for information on programs that are available to you in that county.

Community Care for the Elderly (CCE): is a Florida state-funded program that provides a case manager to assess the needs and determine what services should be provided. A person must be 60 or over and functionally impaired, needing help with the normal demands of living. There is no income or asset requirement for CCE, however, clients are assessed a co-payment that is based on their monthly income. CCE provides case management, case aide, adult day care, chore, companionship, counseling, emergency alert response, nursing, homemaker, industrial cleaning, pest control, medical therapeutic services, medication management, nutrition counseling, and other services.

The Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative (ADI): is also a Florida state-funded program. The individual must be at least 18 or older and have a diagnosis of memory or other cognitive impairment. Services include case management, caregiving training and support, case aide, and respite care in the home or in a facility.

Home Care for the Elderly (HCE): provides a small subsidy (stipend) for caregivers of seniors who are eligible for nursing home care under Medicaid but who are cared for at home. Special subsidies are available for reimbursement of supplies, equipment, and services for those who qualify.

Medicaid Waiver Program: uses federal Medicaid dollars that could have paid for nursing home care. Instead the State has a Waiver to match the federal dollars with State funding to pay for home and community based services for persons who would otherwise be in a nursing home. To be eligible for Medicaid Waiver programs, a client must meet the current income and asset requirements for Medicaid in a nursing home and must have a level of care that might require nursing home placement if home care options were not provided. This involves filing an application with the Florida Department of Children and Families and a level of care assessment by the Department of Elder Affairs CARES unit. There is also an Assisted Living for Elders Medicaid Waiver program that pays for placement in selected assisted living facilities rather than nursing home care.

Please call the Elder Helpline for more information on the above programs available in your area at 1-800-96-ELDER (3-5337).