I. What You Should Know About Home Care in Jacksonville, FL
Spanning some 840 square miles, Jacksonville is the nation’s largest city by area, and with 911,000 residents, including more than 122,000 seniors, it’s Florida’s most populous city. If you’re looking for an attractive retirement destination with plenty of amenities and supportive services, Jacksonville is a great choice. It’s been named one of America’s most livable cities and one of its top retirement destinations.
Thanks to the city’s desirable location in northwest Florida, Jacksonville has a very pleasant climate. You can expect summer highs around 90 degrees, winter lows in the mid-40s and 221 days of sunshine. These conditions make it easy to enjoy the area’s many amenities, which include 22 beaches and more than 400 parks that are part of the nation’s largest municipal recreation system. The community also has nearly two dozen golf courses and country clubs.
Although Jacksonville offers everything from professional sports to world-class art at institutions like the Cummer Museum of Art, the cost of living is slightly lower than the state and national average. Plus, the state’s lack of income tax can help you stretch your money further, which is important if you need to budget for in-home care and other supportive services.
II. What You Should Expect to Pay for Home Care in Jacksonville, FL
According to data from the Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey, home care agencies in the Jacksonville metropolitan area charge approximately $23 per hour, which is slightly lower than the national average and slightly more expensive than other parts of the state. Since the study assumes that seniors require 44 hours of weekly care, this means that you’ll spend roughly $4,385 per month for in-home chore assistance or $4,433 per month for home health care, including skilled therapy and help with IV medications.
The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities
If you live in Jacksonville, you’ll pay approximately $4,385 per month for in-home care and $4,433 per month for in-home medical care. This is slightly higher than the state medians of $4,195 and $4,290, respectively, and they’re slightly lower than the national averages of $4,481 and $4,576. Jacksonville is more expensive than other metropolitan areas in northern Florida. In Gainesville and Deltona, in-home care starts at $4,004 per month, while seniors in Tallahassee pay $4,124.
The Cost of Home Care Compared to Other Senior Living Options
If you need help with day-to-day activities, home care can provide good value, but there are alternatives. Daytime recreation programs typically cost $1,408 per month. Assisted living facilities charge $4,150 per month, including room and board, which is slightly lower than the national average. Home care prices start at $4,385 for nonmedical services, such as help with housekeeping and errands. With added medical services, prices increase to $4,433 per month. However, in-home care still costs about half as much as skilled nursing, which has an average of $8,638 per month.
III. How to Find Home Care in Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, FL
ElderSource
What You Should Know
ElderSource is a federally designated public service agency that serves more than 12,000 clients in Jacksonville and surrounding communities every year. It offers informational services and referrals, including Medicare insurance counseling to help you compare plans and understand your coverage, including benefits that can pay for home medical care, home-delivered meals and other supports. The agency also offers comprehensive needs assessments to help residents qualify for Medicaid waivers for home- and community-based services, such as the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long Term Care Program.
Who Is Eligible?
You may be eligible for free services if you’re disabled, aged 60 or older or care for an older adult in the greater Jacksonville area. The ElderSource Institute offers healthy aging programs for adults starting at age 50. The organization serves seniors in seven counties across northeast Florida.
How to Get Started
To learn more about the programs and services offered by this Area Agency on Aging, call the ElderSource helpline at (888) 242-4464. Staff members are on hand to take your call from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
City of Jacksonville Senior Services Division
What You Should Know
Jacksonville operates 20 senior centers and provides a variety of supportive services to help you maintain your independence. In addition to offering low-cost meals and various social and recreational activities, you can contact your local senior center to schedule counseling sessions and nutritional consultations or to request help with errands and household chores, including grocery shopping. Its Independent Living Program provides free training, volunteer opportunities and in-home respite care, and it also manages the area’s senior volunteer and foster grandparent programs that give older adults a way to stay active in the community.
Who Is Eligible?
You can participate in these programs and take advantage of other services offered by the Senior Services Division, such as low-cost transportation, if you live in Jacksonville and are aged 60 or older.
How to Get Started
You can learn more about these programs by calling (904) 255-5400. The agency’s website features additional information as well as a Senior Services Directory that provides a comprehensive look at available resources.
Aging True
What You Should Know
For more than 50 years, Aging True has provided community-based services to support Jacksonville residents interested in independent, home-based aging. This nonprofit organization is an accredited home health care agency. It offers care coordination and case management services as well as emergency response systems, support groups, mental health counseling, bill payment assistance and transitional care for seniors who are leaving the hospital or another health care facility. Additionally, its Meals on Wheels program provides nutritious entrees and sides to more than 800 homebound seniors every day.
Who Is Eligible?
Aging True focuses on serving seniors aged 60 and older in Duval and Clay counties. Home care, meal deliveries and related services may have medical and financial needs requirements.
How to Get Started
To request assistance for yourself or a loved one, call Aging True at (904) 807-1203. Its main office in Jacksonville is open from 8:30 a.m. until 5p.m. Monday through Friday.
Hart Felt Ministries
What You Should Know
Since its founding in 2003, Hart Felt Ministries has helped more than 1,200 seniors in the Jacksonville area. Its network of professionally trained, background-checked volunteers provides friendly home visits, companionship and phone-based reassurance calls. Volunteers help with errands, housekeeping and minor home repairs or upgrades, such as wheelchair ramp construction, that can allow you to stay in your own home. It also provides emergency financial assistance for seniors who need immediate funds to pay for medical care, critical home repairs and utility bills.
Who Is Eligible?
Free services are available to area seniors who are aged 70 or older and have a chronic medical condition or permanent disability. If you’re interested in applying for emergency financial assistance, you must provide income information. There are no other financial requirements.
How to Get Started
If you need help with home repairs, yard work or weekly errands, call Hart Felt Ministries at (904) 861-2799 to get started.
Jacksonville Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program
What You Should Know
Available through the city’s Independent Aging Program, this home energy assistance program is open to local households that have at least one member aged 60 or older. Households that are behind on their payments, at risk for disconnection or facing a utility-related emergency may be eligible for up to $600 in financial assistance twice per year. Payments are made directly to the family’s utility provider and are valid for gas and electric bills and other utilities.
Who Is Eligible?
You may qualify for Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly if you’re aged 60 or older and your household earns no more than 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. Proof of income and financial assets is required for each member of the household. The utility bill does not need to be in your name.
How to Get Started
To see if you qualify for this program, call the Senior Services Department at (904) 630-2489.