The sunny city of New Port Richey is located in the Tampa region near beautiful beaches, shopping and dining amenities and health care facilities. It has a large 65+ community that makes up well over a quarter of the population of 17,000 people. It’s one of the cheapest places to live in Florida and in the Tampa metro, making it a budget-friendly option for retirement. The region has a subtropical climate and has year-round daytime temperatures ranging from 70-90 degrees, and it gets about 51 inches of rain and no snow annually.
New Port Richey is home to Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, a 154-bed facility that specializes in cardiology and orthopedic care and provides emergency care, telehealth services and senior health services. The number of doctors per capita is low relative to the typical U.S. city, which may impact wait times to see primary and specialty care providers. A reliable public transportation system serves the region, making it easy to attend medical appointments and take care of errands without a private vehicle. The city also has a senior center that provides social services and recreational activities, as well as several nonprofit agencies and programs that exclusively serve seniors, making it a great option for obtaining in-home care.
According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, agencies in the region charge $4,767 for home care, which includes services such as companionship and light housekeeping. Home health care, which includes specialized skilled nursing services such as chronic disease management and medication administration, is a little costlier at $4,862 per month.
The monthly care costs are based on hourly monthly rates of $25 for home care and $25.50 for home health care and assume 44 hours of care per week. Your monthly rates for home-based care may be considerably higher or lower than the regional average, depending on the scope of your care needs and whether you supplement paid services with low-cost community-based care or help from families.
In New Port Richey, respective home care and home health care rates average $4,767 and $4,862 per month. Local home care rates are equal to the state average of $4,767, but home health care costs exceed the state’s overall average of $4,767. Nationally, respective care costs come in at $4,957 and $5,148. In North Port, monthly care costs are higher, with seniors paying $5,720 for both levels of care. In Lakeland, home care agencies charge $4,576, and those that provide home health care charge $4,481. Homosassa Springs is a cost-effective option, with seniors paying $4,273 for home care and $4,559 for home health care.
Home care in New Port Richey costs $4,767 per month, and home health care is a little more expensive at $4,862. Seniors seeking more affordable monthly care may consider adult day care, which lets older adults live at home and get care in a daytime community center for $2,123 per month. Those who opt for assisted living pay $3,350 for monthly care, housing and meals. Home-based care is affordable compared to nursing home placement, which costs $8,927 monthly.
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 New Port Richey, FL.
What You Should Know
The Pasco County Senior Services division operates the local Meals on Wheels service, which may help older adults maintain their health and food security and avoid community placement. Through this nonprofit program, older adults who are otherwise unable to obtain healthy meals can arrange for daily home-delivered meals. Along with home-delivered meals, the division operates eight congregate meal sites throughout the county, including the Southgate Dining Site in New Port Richey. The organization also provides pet food deliveries for seniors who have companion pets but are unable to afford their food.
Who Is Eligible?
Meals on Wheels services are available to New Port Richey aged 60 and over who are unable to prepare their own meals.
How to Get Started
Home-delivered meals are in high demand, so you may be placed on a wait list if you’re eligible for services. To get more information on the program, including availability for regular services or home-delivered pet food, contact the main office at (727) 834-3340.
What You Should Know
The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas is an independent nonprofit organization that supports seniors’ independence and safety at home. It partners with several local agencies to provide free and low-cost home-delivered and congregate meals, food assistance resources and food pantries. It can help you access affordable transportation for medical appointments and errands, and it promotes safety at home through home repair and modification services and fall prevention courses. The agency also has free resources for unpaid caregivers, including training courses and access to programs that provide free respite care.
Who Is Eligible?
Services through the Area Agency on Aging are available to all area residents aged 60 and over. You may have to meet additional functional or income-related eligibility criteria to qualify for certain programs.
How to Get Started
The agency has a free helpline you can call at (800) 963-5337 for one-on-one help with finding services and programs to meet your needs. The helpline is staffed on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff is available to provide services in English and Spanish, and translation services for other languages can be arranged. Alternatively, you can email the helpline via this form.
What You Should Know
Mid Florida Community Services, Inc., is the local Community Action Partnership for the New Port Richey region. It has a variety of supportive programs and services for low-income seniors in the region, including the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, which helps individuals pay their utility bills and avoid service disruptions. Seniors can get additional help with bills and housing payments through the Emergency/Support Services program, which provides emergency assistance with prescription medication and basic medical care, utility bills, car repairs and rent and mortgage payments. The organization also operates the Weatherization Assistance Program, which improves your home’s comfort and energy efficiency through basic measures such as installing weatherstripping and repairing HVAC equipment.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligibility criteria for these programs vary, but in general, your household income must be within certain limits. Some programs are also limited to those aged 60 and over.
How to Get Started
To begin the process of getting services through this organization, you can call the New Port Richey office at (727) 857-5495.
What You Should Know
The Claude Pepper Senior Center provides a range of health and wellness services to older adults in the region, serving as a single access point for services that may help you remain in your home. It hosts the CARES Senior Health Clinic, which is staffed with volunteers who are current or retired health care professionals. The clinic serves those aged 55 and over who don’t have health insurance and provides general physical exams, some primary care services, chronic illness monitoring and referrals for free and low-cost services in the community. The senior center also has day services to supplement paid home care services, which may help you reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Who Is Eligible?
Activities and health and wellness services through the Senior Center are available to New Port Richey residents aged 55 and over.
How to Get Started
To learn more about these services or to get information on upcoming activities, you can call the center at (727) 844-3077.
What You Should Know
Gulf Coast Jewish and Family Services is a local nonprofit organization that helps older adults and those with disabilities remain in their own homes. Through its Community Care for the Elderly program, it provides care coordination services for homemaker services, personal care, home-delivered meals and transportation. Through CHATS, it provides friendly phone calls to help older adults avoid loneliness and isolation. It provides monthly subsidies to help qualified individuals pay for home care services, and it provides direct services such as housecleaning, laundry, companionship and meal preparation on a fee-for-service basis.
Who Is Eligible?
Those aged 60 and over are eligible to obtain services through Gulf Coast JFS. Some programs have additional eligibility guidelines related to functional abilities and income.
How to Get Started
You can obtain services through Gulf Coast JFS by calling the main office at (727) 479-1800.