Home Care in Lake Worth Beach, FL

Situated less than 65 miles north of Miami in Palm Beach County, Lake Worth Beach is known for its beautiful waterfront, thriving downtown district and historic buildings. Of the city’s 42,496 residents, just over 15% are seniors, while countywide, nearly one in four people are aged 65 and older.

Florida is one of the few states that does not levy individual income taxes, which may help you make the most of your retirement funds. In terms of health care, Lake Worth Beach has 254 licensed physicians for every 100,000 residents, more than the nationwide average of 210. Comprehensive emergency and acute health care services are readily available at a number of nearby hospitals, including at the HCA Florida JFK Hospital. Just a few miles south of Lake Worth Beach is Boynton Beach where you’ll find Bethesda Hospital East, ranked as one of the nation’s best hospitals for joint replacement and spinal surgeries.

Lake Worth Beach’s tropical climate, moderate cost of living and abundance of services make the city a great option for seniors looking to retire on Florida’s Atlantic coast.

According to the 2021 Cost of Care Survey from Genworth Financial, you can expect to pay an average of $4,195 per month for home care services in Lake Worth Beach. Home health care, which includes some limited in-home medical care delivered by a licensed medical professional, costs slightly more at $4,385 monthly.

The figures listed by Genworth are based on 44 hours of care weekly. This means that the hourly average rate for home care in Lake Worth Beach works out to $22, while home health care costs an average of $23 per hour.

Home care services in Lake Worth Beach are priced well below the statewide average of $4,767 and the national average of $4,957. Seniors in nearby Port St. Lucie pay about $4,671 per month for home care and $4,767 for home health care, while in Sebring, either type of care costs around $4,767. To the west of Lake Worth in Naples, in-home care services are much costlier at $5,720 for home care and $5,577 for home health care.

Meals on Wheels of the Palm Beaches

What You Should Know

If you have trouble shopping for groceries and cooking meals, Meals on Wheels of the Palm Beaches can help you maintain a healthy, balanced diet. This nonprofit organization delivers hot, freshly prepared noontime meals to housebound seniors and their caregivers each weekday. Volunteer drivers also conduct informal wellness checks while making their deliveries.

Each meal costs $7, and financial assistance is available for those in need. You can sign up for Meals on Wheels for as little as one month while you recover from an illness or injury, or you can use the service on an ongoing basis. The organization also operates AniMeals, a monthly pet food delivery and subsidized vet care program that helps low-income seniors take care of their companion animals.

Who Is Eligible?

Anyone aged 65 and older who’s homebound, or is the spouse or partner of a housebound senior, can apply for Meals on Wheels.

How to Get Started

To apply for Meals on Wheels in Lake Worth Beach, call (561) 802-6979.

Limited Income Senior Citizen Exemption

What You Should Know

Low-income Lake Worth Beach homeowners aged 65 and older who have a homestead exemption on their property may be eligible for an additional $25,000 exemption under a program known as the Limited Income Senior Citizen Exemption for Persons 65 and Older.

The annual income limit for 2022 was $32,561, and this limit is adjusted each year by the Florida Department of Revenue. During the application process, you’ll need to verify your income from the previous year by providing your Social Security statement or a copy of your federal tax return.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify for this property tax exemption, you must already have a homestead exemption on your property and meet the current income limit. Applications must be submitted to the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s office no later than March 1 of each year.

How to Get Started

For more information, call the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s office at (561) 355-2866.

Palm Tran Connection

What You Should Know

Palm Tran Connection is the ADA-compliant, door-to-door paratransit service for Lake Worth Beach and Palm Beach County. It operates within three-quarters of a mile of all Palm Tran bus routes. Every vehicle used by this shared-ride transportation service is wheelchair-accessible for riders who use manual or power wheelchairs, walkers and many types of medical scooters.

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can reserve your trip up to 72 hours in advance. The service operates seven days a week throughout the county, and you can bring a personal care attendant at no additional cost.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify as a Palm Tran Connection rider, you must have a temporary or permanent disability that limits your ability to use the regular fixed-route public transit system. You’ll need to verify your eligibility by completing an application form that includes documentation from your physician or another approved medical professional.

How to Get Started

To find out more about Palm Tran Connection, call (561) 649-9838, Option 7, or (877) 870-9849.

Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program

What You Should Know

Keeping up with rising home energy costs can be challenging, especially if you’re a senior living on a limited income. The Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program, EHEAP, is a federally funded initiative that can help low-income households cover home cooling and heating costs. This program is designed to prevent the loss of utility service for those who have received a final bill or disconnection notice.

EHEAP provides eligible households with home cooling and heating benefits. Applicants can request one summer benefit between April 1 and September 30 and one winter benefit between October 1 and March 31 for a maximum of $400 every 365 days.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify for EHEAP, households must include at least one member aged 60 and older, and they must meet the current income limits for the program. Applicants who are experiencing a home energy crisis and receive food stamps or are eligible for the Weatherization Assistance Program or the Community Services Block Grant automatically qualify for EHEAP benefits.

How to Get Started

For more information on EHEAP in Palm Beach County, call (561) 355-4746.

Division of Senior Services — Case Management

What You Should Know

Palm Beach County’s Division of Senior Services operates a case management program for housebound seniors who are at risk of placement in a nursing facility. Case managers work to secure community-based services and supports for frail seniors and their families to delay or prevent institutionalization and to help reduce the risk of caregiver burnout.

Case managers conduct in-home needs assessments to help seniors and their loved ones develop a plan of care. This plan may include arranging home care, applying for food stamps or other government benefits and coordinating help from paid and volunteer caregivers.

Who Is Eligible?

Any senior living in Palm Beach County can request a meeting with a Division of Senior Services case manager. Case management services may be available at no cost to low-income seniors, and private-pay services are also available.

How to Get Started

To learn more, contact the Division of Senior Services at (561) 355-4746.