Home Care in Kissimmee, FL

Situated in central Florida just south of Orlando, Kissimmee is the seat of Osceola County. The city is home to nearly 73,000 residents, including approximately 8,726 seniors aged 65 and older. If you’re looking for a hot, sunny place to retire to, you’ll appreciate the fact that Kissimmee sees about 232 sunny days each year, and even during the winter, the temperature rarely falls below 49 degrees.

Kissimmee sits just a short drive southeast of Lake Buena Vista and the massive Walt Disney World Resort, which makes the area popular with tourists and fun-loving locals alike. In addition to offering easy access to a number of theme parks and shopping areas, Kissimmee is known for its world-class health care facilities, including the 404-bed Osceola Regional Medical Center. In addition to providing 24/7 emergency care, the center features a comprehensive stroke center, heart and vascular institute, orthopedics and spine services, and a dedicated women’s health program. Kissimmee’s central location, extensive amenities and low home care rates make it an ideal destination for retirees.

Genworth Financial’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey shows that the monthly average for home care in Kissimmee is $3,813. Home health care, which adds some limited in-home medical services, also costs $3,813 per month.

The rates listed by Genworth are based on 44 hours of care weekly, which may be more or less support than you need. You can estimate your monthly home care costs by multiplying the number of hours of care you expect you’ll need each month by the average hourly rate in Kissimmee, which is about $20.

The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities

At an average of $3,813 per month, Kissimmee’s home care and home health care rates are among the most affordable in Florida. In nearby The Villages, both types of in-home care cost around $4,124 per month, while rates in Palm Bay are even higher at $4,385 for either service. Just south of Kissimmee in Lakeland, home care costs an average of $3,956, while home health care is costlier at $4,195.

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.

Minor Home Repairs for Seniors

What You Should Know
The Minor Home Repairs for Seniors program can provide you with up to $10,000 worth of minor home repairs. This award is delivered as a non-repayable grant, and can be used towards urgent home repairs needed to make your home safe and livable.

Repairs this program covers include remediation of electrical hazards, plumbing and sewage system repairs, hot water tank replacement, and roof repairs. You can also use the grant money to make your home accessible as you age by adding a wheelchair ramp, lowering the height of your kitchen counters or installing a raised-height toilet.

Who Is Eligible?
You may be eligible for a one-time minor home repair through the Minor Home Repairs for Seniors program if you are aged 62 or older and you have owned and occupied your Kissimmee home for at least one year. You must also meet current income limits, which are set at 80% or below the median income set by Osceola County’s Housing and Urban Development department.

How to Get Started
To apply for assistance through the Minor Home Repairs for Seniors program, you’ll need to provide copies of your last two tax returns, photo identification, and your mortgage deed. For more information, contact the Osceola County Housing and Community Services office at (407) 742-8400.

ACCESS LYNX 

What You Should Know
LYNX is the regional public transit provider for central Florida, and the LYNX service area includes Kissimmee. All LYNX buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts, and seniors aged 65 and older qualify for half-priced fares.

If you cannot use the regular fixed-route public transit service due to a permanent or temporary disability, you can apply to use ACCESS LYNX, the federally-mandated ADA-compliant paratransit service for Kissimmee. ACCESS LYNX is a reservation-based, shared-ride service that you can use to travel to destinations throughout Osceola County, including medical appointments, social engagements and shopping trips.

Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible to use ACCESS LYNX, you must complete a written application form to confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements. You may also need to have your disability verified by your primary medical provider, and you could be asked to complete an in-person functional assessment.

How to Get Started
To learn more about ACCESS LYNX and other public transit services in Kissimmee, call LYNX at (407) 841-5969.

Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program for the Elderly

What You Should Know
The Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program for the Elderly, EHEAP, is a federally funded program that helps eligible seniors aged 60 and older pay their energy bills.

The program provides eligible seniors with an emergency grant for up to $3,500 per year for use towards heating and/or cooling expenses. Cash from this program can be applied towards past due or delinquent energy bills, to make a deposit to connect or restore energy services, and to pay disconnection and reconnection fees on overdue energy accounts.

Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for funds through EHEAP, you must be a senior aged 60 or older who lives in Osceola or Orange County. You must also meet the current income limits for the program, which are adjusted on an annual basis, and your household must be either disconnected or at risk of disconnection due to nonpayment of your energy bills.

How to Get Started
The Osceola County EHEAP program is administered through the Osceola Council on Aging. To learn more about EHEAP, call (407) 846-8532.

Osceola County Meals on Wheels

What You Should Know
If you have trouble shopping for groceries and preparing your own meals, you may be interested in signing up for Meals on Wheels, a low-cost home meal delivery service.

The Osceola County Meals on Wheels program provides participants with two home-delivered meals each weekday. The meals are delivered just before noon and include a hot lunchtime meal and a cold supper. Each meal includes one-third of the recommended daily nutritional values for seniors, and meals are low in sodium and sugar.

Who Is Eligible?
To sign up for Meals on Wheels, you need to be a housebound senior aged 60 and older. There are no income requirements, and you’ll be asked to contribute towards the cost of your meals if you’re able to. The full cost of two home-delivered meals is $10 per day, and some limited subsidies are available for those who cannot afford the full meal cost.

How to Get Started
For more information about Meals on Wheels service in Kissimmee, call (407) 847-2144.

Osceola County Veterans’ Services Office

What You Should Know
The Osceola County Veterans’ Services Office works to ensure that all Osceola veterans and their dependents receive their maximum available entitlements through county, state and federal programs. Some of these programs, such as the VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits, can be used towards in-home care costs.

All services provided by the office are delivered at no cost to veterans and their families, and the office is staffed by an accredited County Veteran Service Officer.

Who Is Eligible?
If you are a veteran, survivor or dependent living in Osceola County, you’re eligible for free services through the Veterans’ Services Office.

How to Get Started
For more information, call the office at (407) 742-8455.