I. What You Should Know About Home Care in Brandon, FL
Located in southwest Florida and about 20 minutes east of Tampa, the city of Brandon is home to 114,626 people, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. Roughly 15,000 of those residents are 65 years of age or older. Florida is a famously popular retirement state for seniors, as its property tax breaks, lack of an individual-level income tax and lower-than-average sales tax rate help older Americans hang on to more of their income. In Brandon, costs for housing are 8% below national averages as well.
Brandon’s warm weather is a particularly appealing draw for aging adults. Although the summers can get a bit humid, the average highs stay between 71 and 91 degrees Fahrenheit all year long, and the sun shines 245 days out of the year — considerably higher than the national average of 205.
If you make your home in Brandon, you’ll also enjoy proximity to Tampa General Hospital, ranked as one of the top five medical facilities in Florida by U.S. News & World Report. It also ranks among the nation’s top 30 medical facilities in numerous specialties, including orthopedics, gastroenterology, and diabetes.
II. What You Should Expect to Pay for Home Care in Brandon, FL
In its 2021 Cost of Care Survey, Genworth Financial reports that Brandon’s average monthly home care cost is $4,767. Home health care is slightly more expensive at $4,862. Since the two services have significant overlap, prices are occasionally identical but home health care, as the more medically complex option, is usually the more expensive option.
The survey bases the above prices on a 44-hour work week for the caregiver. Not all seniors need that amount of help, and some need a little more. You can estimate your particular monthly rate by considering how many hours of caregiver support you’ll schedule. Per Genworth’s data, home care averages $25 an hour, and home health care averages $25.50 an hour.
The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities
Across Florida, the average cost for both home care and home health care is $4,767. Nationally, fees are slightly higher, averaging $4,957 a month for home care and $5,148 a month for home health care. Elsewhere in Florida, average prices peak in Naples at $5,720 a month for home care and $5,577 a month for home health care. Crestview residents pay $5,005 for home care and $5,053 for home health care. In Miami, prices drop to $4,195 and $4,385.
The Cost of Home Care Compared to Other Senior Living Options
There are a couple of long-term care options cheaper than in-home care. Adult day care is a relatively inexpensive choice at $2,123 a month, though it doesn’t provide the individual-level support of in-home care. Assisted living, which runs $3,350 a month, may be a good option for seniors who prioritize social activity. Nursing home care, which is best for seniors who need 24/7 medical supervision, is thousands of dollars more than all other local options, averaging $8,927 a month.
III. How to Find Home Care in Brandon, FL
Finding a home care provider for yourself or a loved one can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Below, we explain the process of how to find a home care provider in 5 simple steps. Use the infographic below to help guide your search for in-home care in Brandon, FL.
IV. Home Care Resources for Seniors in Brandon, FL
Hillsborough County Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (EHEAP)
What You Should Know
This federally funded program ensures Florida seniors retain access to air conditioning and heating even if they have trouble paying their energy bills. Through the EHEAP, you can get financial help with repairing or replacing old HVAC equipment, removing outstanding energy charges from old accounts and supplementing your heating and cooling system with items such as box fans and space heaters.
Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for the EHEAP, you’ll need to be a U.S. citizen and Hillsborough County resident at least 60 years of age, and your income must be below certain limits. You’ll also need to provide recent documentation of an overdue and unpaid energy bill.
How to Get Started
Stop in the Lee Davis Community Resource Center at 3402 N. 22nd Street in Tampa, or give its staff a call at (813) 272-5220.
Gulfcoast Legal Services (GLS)
What You Should Know
Low-income seniors can get free help with various legal issues through this long-established pro bono firm. GLS lawyers can help seniors stay in their homes longer by challenging foreclosure and eviction notices; they can also help seniors save more money by defending them against wage garnishment and debt collection attempts.
If you need help drawing up legal documents such as living wills, assistance in updating powers of attorney or filing housing discrimination complaints, GLS lawyers can assist you as well.
Who Is Eligible?
Adults 60 years of age and up, as well as disabled adults of any age, are eligible for GLS support. The firm doesn’t set any hard income limitations but does not accept every case and prioritizes applications by the level of need.
How to Get Started
The closest GLS office to Brandon is about 30 minutes south at 18238 U.S. 301 S. in Wimauma. Stop by in person or give them a call at (727) 821-0726.
Senior Connection Center (SCC)
What You Should Know
The SCC, located less than 15 minutes away from Brandon in Tampa, is the key organization responsible for connecting the area’s older population with programs and initiatives designed to improve their quality of life. Its array of services includes emotional support groups for seniors, their family members and their caretakers; the SCC also works to identify and stop elder abuse in individual and community care settings.
The SCC also offers access to live-service online classes through a partnership with GetSetUp. Through these expert-led classes, you can learn about age-appropriate exercise, get nutrition tips for healthy aging and socialize with other southwest-Florida seniors.
Who Is Eligible?
The SCC serves adults 60 and up who are Hillsborough County residents and four other southwest Florida counties. In some cases, caregivers of such seniors are also eligible for SCC services.
How to Get Started
Call the SCC’s Elder Helpline at (800) 963-5337 or stop in the Tampa office located at 8928 Brittany Way.
Hillsborough County Senior Meal Services
What You Should Know
The county runs a home-delivered meals program for older residents who need nutritional support. While there’s no cost for this service, it bases eligibility on financial need.
Who Is Eligible?
Homebound adults 60 years of age or older who have difficulty affording or preparing their own meals are eligible for the home-delivered meals program. If you’re not homebound but meet other criteria, you can still participate in the free weekday congregate meal program held in the county’s 10 dining activity centers.
How to Get Started
Call the Hillsborough County Aging Services Customer Care Team at (813) 272-5250.
Florida Alliance for Assistive Services & Technology (FAAST)
What You Should Know
You can borrow many kinds of convenient assistive devices, including walkers, hearing aids, specially designed computer input devices and electronic magnifiers from this statewide loan locker for no cost. Some items are available for 15-to-35-day loans, while others are available for as long as you need to keep using them. You can receive most of FAAST’s items through the mail and can even set up in-person product demonstrations with its staff to help you get a sense of how particular technologies can help improve your quality of life.
In addition to its lending library, FAAST also runs a New Horizon Loan Program that allows seniors with a low credit score to purchase their own new medical equipment. With approval, they can use this loan program to buy assistive home modifications such as bathroom grab bars and vehicle upgrades, including lifts and ramps. This loan program is friendly to those on fixed incomes and can provide up to $40,000 in assistance.
Who Is Eligible?
The service is completely free for Florida residents who live with a disability.
How to Get Started
Contact FAAST’s state offices at (844) 353-2278 or email [email protected]. Some product demonstrations take place in Tampa General Hospital; call (813) 844-7591 for details.