If you’re caring for an aging parent or relative at home, you know how quickly the expenses can add up. Groceries, medical supplies, and other everyday needs can put extra pressure on your household budget.
Florida has a program that may help.
The Home Care for the Elderly (HCE) program provides a standard $160 monthly subsidy to approved caregivers who help eligible adults age 60 and older remain at home instead of moving into a nursing home.
The money is paid directly to the caregiver, but it’s meant to help cover the older adult’s living and care expenses. It’s not a salary for the caregiver’s time.
Some families may also qualify for additional assistance with medical supplies, equipment, and services.
Here’s how the program works.
What Does Home Care for the Elderly Provide?
Florida’s Home Care for the Elderly program offers two types of financial assistance.
Basic Monthly Subsidy
The basic subsidy is a standard $160 per month, paid to the approved caregiver once authorized in the older adult’s care plan.
This money helps cover the older adult’s support and maintenance expenses, including:
- Food and housing
- Clothing and personal necessities
- Medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance
- Other eligible everyday living expenses
The payment helps families manage the costs of keeping an older loved one at home. It is not an hourly wage or payment for the caregiver’s labor.
Special Subsidy
Some participants may also qualify for additional financial assistance through a special subsidy.
Depending on the person’s assessed needs and program approval, this assistance may help cover:
- Incontinence supplies
- Medications and medical supplies
- Wheelchairs and other assistive devices
- Ramps and accessibility modifications
- Nutritional supplements
- Home health aides or nursing services
Unlike the basic subsidy, special assistance varies according to the participant’s needs and the services authorized.
These additional payments are not guaranteed. A case manager may help coordinate care and determine which services or supplies can be approved.
Who Qualifies for Home Care for the Elderly?
HCE is designed for older Florida residents who need support to remain safely at home.
Requirements for the Older Adult
The person receiving care must:
- Be at least 60 years old.
- Be a Florida resident.
- Be assessed as being at risk of nursing home placement.
- Meet the program’s financial eligibility requirements.
- Have an approved adult caregiver who lives with them and can provide or help arrange necessary care.
Florida uses the financial standards associated with its Medicaid Institutional Care Program (ICP).
According to the state’s eligibility rules, people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or qualify through certain Medicare Savings Programs, including Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) or Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), may also meet the financial eligibility requirement.
You can learn more about SSI in our guide to Supplemental Security Income and who can qualify.
The program also evaluates the older adult’s care needs. Being 60 or older and having a limited income does not automatically guarantee approval.
Requirements for the Caregiver
The approved caregiver must generally:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Live in the same home as the older adult.
- Be willing and able to provide supervision, assistance, or help arrange necessary care.
- Meet the program’s caregiver approval requirements.
The caregiver may be a family member, friend, or another responsible adult.
The program expects an appropriate caregiving arrangement that provides ongoing support, including suitable backup care when necessary.
Caregivers who are not related to the older adult may also need to complete a Level II background screening, subject to applicable requirements and exceptions.
Is There a Waitlist?
There may be.
Florida’s HCE program operates with limited funding, so eligible families may have to wait before assistance becomes available.
Applicants are evaluated based on their circumstances and care needs, but meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee immediate enrollment.
If you’re interested, it’s worth contacting your local aging services agency to ask whether HCE is accepting new participants.
You can also ask whether there is a waiting list and what happens after your initial screening.
How Do You Apply?
The best place to start is through Florida’s aging services network.
Visit the Florida Department of Elder Affairs’ HCE page for official program information and guidance on contacting the Elder Helpline or your local Aging and Disability Resource Center.
When you contact the agency, explain that you’re interested in Home Care for the Elderly (HCE) and that you provide care for an older adult living in your home.
The agency can explain the current application process and help determine whether your household may qualify.
Be prepared to discuss:
- The older adult’s age and Florida residency.
- Their income, resources, and any SSI or Medicare Savings Program benefits.
- Their health and daily care needs, including why they may be at risk of nursing home placement.
- Your caregiving arrangement, including who lives in the home and who provides assistance.
The agency may request documentation and arrange an assessment before determining eligibility.
If approved, the basic subsidy must be included in the participant’s authorized care plan before payments begin.
You can also ask whether the older adult may qualify for additional services through Florida’s Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) program.
CCE is a separate program that may provide in-home support and other assistance. Learn more in our guide to Florida’s Community Care for the Elderly program.
Relief Recap
Caring for an older loved one at home can be expensive, especially when you’re covering everyday necessities and medical supplies.
Florida’s Home Care for the Elderly program may help by providing a standard $160 monthly subsidy to an approved caregiver for the older adult’s support and maintenance. Some participants may also qualify for additional assistance with medical equipment, supplies, or services.
The program serves eligible Florida residents age 60 and older who are at risk of nursing home placement, meet financial requirements, and have an approved adult caregiver living with them.
Funding is limited, so assistance may not be available immediately.
If you’re caring for someone who may qualify, visit the Florida Department of Elder Affairs’ HCE page and contact your local aging services agency to ask about eligibility, enrollment, and current availability.
