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Free personalized senior living guidance for families
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Florida · Everything here is free · Reviewed July 2026
If you or someone you love is getting older and the money for care just isn't there, please take a breath. You've come to the right place, and Florida has real, free help ready for you.
Not sure where to start? Call for free1-800-963-5337This is your one-call starting line, run by the Department of Elder Affairs. It connects you to your local Aging and Disability Resource Center for in-home care, benefits, and services — all free. This same line reaches SHINE for Medicare help.
Sorting out senior care and public benefits can feel like a maze of agencies, forms, and phone trees — and it's even harder when you're stressed and just want your family to be safe. This page pulls Florida's most useful free resources together and explains them in plain words.
You don't need to have all the answers before you call. Just start with one number below. The people who answer are there to help you, not to sell you anything. Everything on this page is free.
Tap what fits. You'll jump straight to the right help — no reading through the rest.
Still not sure? Just make the call above — they'll help you figure it out. One call is a great start.
Start here for most families
Most people would rather get care at home, and Florida Medicaid can help. The Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC-LTC) program can pay for personal care, homemaker services, adult day care, home-delivered meals, and, in some cases, care in an assisted living facility — as alternatives to a nursing home.
Call and ask about long-term care to begin.
Once you're found eligible, call to choose your long-term care plan.
Florida Medicaid covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, mental health services, and long-term care. For seniors who need ongoing care, Florida runs the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC-LTC) program, which pays for nursing home care and many home- and community-based services.
A note on eligibility: Medicaid is for people with limited income and resources. The income and asset limits change every year, and long-term care has its own special rules. Please don't assume you make or own too much to qualify — call and let them check your exact situation.
Apply online through MyACCESS, by phone, or in person at a DCF Customer Service Center (call this line or the Elder Helpline to find the nearest one).
Starts the process for long-term care eligibility.
Once you're found eligible, call to choose your long-term care plan.
PACE wraps all your medical care, prescriptions, and daily support into one program so you can keep living at home instead of moving to a nursing home. Florida has a strong PACE presence, with providers such as Florida PACE Centers (Miami), Suncoast PACE (Pinellas County), Broward PACE, and MorseLife PACE (Palm Beach County), among others.
Call to check availability, or learn more online. You can also search npaonline.org/find-a-pace-program.
If you're on Medicare
Two programs can save you real money:
SHINE (1-800-963-5337) can help you apply.
Apply for the prescription drug subsidy through Social Security.
A SHINE counselor can help you apply — free.
SHINE is Florida's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), part of the Department of Elder Affairs. Trained volunteers give free, confidential Medicare counseling — comparing plans, understanding bills, applying for cost-saving programs, and spotting fraud. They sell nothing and have nothing to gain from your decisions.
Reach SHINE through the Elder Helpline (ask for SHINE), or visit the website.
Everyday essentials
Food assistance that helps pay for groceries. Apply online or call DCF ACCESS.
Coordinated through your local Aging and Disability Resource Center — call the Elder Helpline to find meals near you.
Dial 211 to find nearby food pantries.
For affordable senior housing, rent help, or utility assistance, start with:
Dial 211 to reach your local Florida 211 for housing, rent, and utility help.
Can connect you to local housing and energy assistance programs.
Guidance & protection
Florida's Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) and Area Agencies on Aging serve every county. They're your local hub for meals, transportation, caregiver support, benefits counseling, and help arranging in-home care.
One call connects you to the Aging and Disability Resource Center that serves your county.
The national service that connects older adults and caregivers to local services anywhere in the country.
Run by Bay Area Legal Services. Free legal advice for Florida residents age 60 and older on issues like benefits, housing, debt, scams, and family matters.
To report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an older adult.
If you or a loved one lives in a nursing home or assisted living facility and something is wrong, the Ombudsman is a free advocate for the resident.
A free, confidential advocate for residents of long-term care facilities.
National fallback — The Consumer Voice
A national backup resource if you need help beyond Florida's ombudsman program.
Dial 211 for help with almost any need: food, housing, utilities, transportation, and more.
A free national service that connects older adults and caregivers to local services anywhere in the U.S.
Call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337. Explain your situation and let them connect you to your local Aging and Disability Resource Center, plus SHINE for Medicare help.
Call for free1-800-963-5337It's Florida's Medicaid program — free or low-cost health coverage, including long-term care, for people with limited income and resources. Long-term care is delivered through the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program.
Generally, no. Medicare covers short-term skilled care but not ongoing long-term care. Florida Medicaid's SMMC-LTC program is what helps pay for in-home care and some assisted living services.
Quite possibly. Limits change yearly and are often more generous than people expect, especially for long-term care. Don't count yourself out — call 1-866-762-2237 and let them check.
Ask about the Medicare Savings Programs through Florida Medicaid (1-866-762-2237) and Extra Help through Social Security (1-800-772-1213). QMB can save you about $185 a month on your Part B premium.
Yes. The SMMC Long-Term Care program and PACE are designed for exactly that. Call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 to explore your options.
Yes. The Elder Helpline (1-800-963-5337), SHINE, and 211 all offer free guidance. You never pay to get pointed in the right direction.
You've already done the hardest part by reaching out — Florida's Elder Helpline and its partners will help carry the load from here. Make that first call today, and let them go to work for you.
Program details, income limits, and contact information can change. The agencies linked above can confirm the most current specifics for your situation. This page is for general information and isn't legal or financial advice.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Program details, income limits, and contact information can change — the linked agencies confirm the most current specifics.