I. What You Should Know About Home Care in Orlando, FL
Orlando is a vibrant city that’s home to just over 287,000 people, and about 1 in 10 residents, or 29,319, are seniors aged 65 and older. Given that an estimated 1,500 people move to the Orlando region every week and that by 2030 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 or older, it’s expected that the number of seniors in the area will continue to rise.
No matter what your interests are, there’s always plenty of activities to enjoy in Orlando. If you like spending time outside, you can explore the nearly 150 city-owned parks and gardens, many of which have shady picnic areas and level walking paths. There’s also a number of free and low-cost seniors’ programs offered by the city, including fitness classes, workshops and health-screening clinics.
Of course, Orlando is well-known for its theme parks, which are wildly popular with the young and young-at-heart. Disney Springs is a great place to grab a gourmet meal, enjoy free concerts and stroll through unique shops, while Epcot hosts a number of international festivals and seasonal events that appeal to visitors of all ages.
II. What You Should Expect to Pay for Home Care in Orlando, FL
Genworth’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey shows that the average home care and home health care rates in Orlando are $3,813 per month, even though home health care includes some limited medical services that aren’t offered through home care providers. This amount is based on 44 hours of care weekly or just over six hours each day, which works out to $20 per hour.
If you only need support for a few hours each day to help with personal hygiene, meal prep and housekeeping, your actual home care costs are likely to be far less than the monthly rate listed in the Genworth Survey.
The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities
Rates for home care and home health care in Orlando are relatively low compared to the statewide average of $4,195 and $4,290. Just east of Orlando, costs are significantly higher in Palm Bay, where seniors pay about $4,385 per month for either type of in-home care. In nearby Lakeland, rates run around $3,956 for home care and $4,195 for home health care, while seniors in The Villages pay about $4,124 for medical or nonmedical in-home assistance.
The Cost of Home Care Compared to Other Senior Living Options
Orlando’s average monthly home care and home health care rates are $113 more than assisted living, which costs around $3,700. The least expensive senior care service is adult day care at $1,408, while a semiprivate room in a skilled nursing facility, also known as a nursing home, is the most expensive type of senior care at $9,125 per month.
III. How to Find Home Care in Orlando, 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 Orlando, FL.
Remember that there’s not necessarily a right or wrong choice – it comes down to choosing a provider that you feel comfortable with and who’s capable of meeting your specific needs. No matter which provider you choose, you should always have a formal arrangement with your expectations and the payment rate in writing. Doing so will prevent confusion or potential disagreements down the line so that the focus remains on helping the person receiving care.
IV. Home Care Resources for Seniors in Orlando, FL
Orange County Parks and Recreation
What You Should Know
Orange County operates two community centers geared toward adults aged 55 and older, the Renaissance Senior Center and the Marks Street Senior Complex. Annual memberships cost $10 and include access to a number of free social and recreational activities, holiday parties and preventative health-screening clinics. You can sign up for regularly scheduled programs, enjoy drop-in games or join one of the dozens of special interest clubs.
Who Is Eligible?
To join either senior center, you need to be an Orange County resident aged 55 or older. You can also join any of the six additional Orange County recreation centers for $75 per year.
How to Get Started
To purchase a membership at the Renaissance Senior Center, call (407) 254-9070. For the Marks Street Senior Complex, call (407) 254-1066. Both centers are open seven days a week.
Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando — AniMeals on Wheels
What You Should Know
The Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the welfare of dogs and cats throughout Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. Pet Alliance offers a number of services designed to prevent the surrender of companion animals.
Services include the Pet Apartment Registry, Seniors for Seniors adoption program and AniMeals on Wheels, which delivers free pet food to senior pet owners who struggle to provide their cats and dogs with healthy food, treats and toys. This program also includes free basic vet services, such as routine vaccinations and spay/neuter operations.
Who Is Eligible?
If you’re a pet parent aged 60 or older who needs help covering the cost of your dog or cat’s food or vet care, you may qualify for free home-delivered pet food through the AniMeals on Wheels program.
If you’d like to adopt an older companion animal aged 6 and over, the Seniors for Seniors program places senior cats and dogs with older adults, and there’s no adoption fee.
How to Get Started
To apply for the AniMeals on Wheels program or learn more about adopting an older cat or dog, contact the Pet Alliance’s Orlando office at (407) 351-7722.
Bring Hope Home
What You Should Know
The Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida’s Bring Hope Home program provides vulnerable seniors, veterans and people living with disabilities with free, no-contact, home-delivered perishable and nonperishable food. This program supports food-insecure individuals who may not be able to visit a food bank or food pantry in person due to disability or lack of transportation.
Who Is Eligible?
If you’re struggling to maintain a healthy, balanced diet due to food insecurity and you’re a senior, veteran or person living with a disability or chronic illness, you may qualify for free home-delivered food through the Bring Hope Home program.
How to Get Started
To apply to the Bring Hope Home program, complete the online application form or call the Second Harvest Food Bank at (407) 295-1066.
Stepping Stone Medical Equipment Bank
What You Should Know
The Stepping Stone Medical Equipment Bank distributes durable medical devices, such as walkers, power scooters, hospital beds and raised toilet seats, to frail seniors and disabled adults in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.
All equipment supplied through the Medical Equipment Bank is either new or gently used, and used equipment is thoroughly sanitized and refurbished prior to distribution. Home delivery is available, and prices are based on a sliding scale that’s geared to your income. If you have a low income, you may qualify for no-cost new or refurbished equipment from the Bank.
Who Is Eligible?
You can purchase mobility equipment and durable medical devices through the Medical Equipment Bank if you’re a resident of Orange, Osceola or Seminole counties with a temporary or permanent mobility issue. You can also donate new and gently used walkers, transfer benches, wheelchairs and other medical equipment to the Bank.
How to Get Started
The Bank operates a showroom at 3711 Vineland Road in Orlando that’s open to the public between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also call the Bank at (407) 649-4100.
ACCESS LYNX
What You Should Know
ACCESS LYNX is the local paratransit service for Orlando. This service provides low-cost, door-to-door transportation in wheelchair-accessible vehicles to riders who can’t use the regular, fixed-route bus system due to disability.
ACCESS LYNX can also be used to help riders with disabilities travel between their home and the nearest bus stop in situations where the bus stop isn’t easily accessible to the rider.
Who Is Eligible?
If you have a temporary or permanent disability that prevents you from using the regular public bus service, you can apply to the ACCESS LYNX paratransit program.
How to Get Started
To apply for ACCESS LYNX paratransit service, you need to have your health care provider verify that you have a qualifying disability or medical condition by completing an application form and submitting it to ACCESS LYNX. For more information and assistance with the application process, you can call (407) 841-5969.