Nursing homes and assisted living in Florida

If your loved one now needs help with everyday life, here we explain how senior care works in Florida, how Medicaid can help, and who to call.

What care settings are called here

In Florida, most care settings are licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), the state health agency. These are the names you will hear:

• Assisted Living Facility (ALF): a place that offers housing, meals, and personal care (help with bathing, dressing, and taking medicines). Besides the standard license, some have special licenses: ECC (Extended Congregate Care), so the person can stay even if they need more help; LNS (Limited Nursing Services), with some nursing services; and LMH (Limited Mental Health), for residents with certain mental health conditions.
• Adult Family Care Home (AFCH): a family-style home where the provider lives in the house and cares for up to 5 residents. It is the closest thing to living in a family home.
• Nursing home: a care home with nursing care 24 hours a day. It is licensed by AHCA and, if it accepts Medicare or Medicaid, it is also certified by the federal government.
• Adult day care: adult day centers; the person goes back home to sleep at night.

How Medicaid helps in Florida

The program that matters most to you is called SMMC Long-Term Care (Statewide Medicaid Managed Care, the long-term care part). It is run by AHCA and the Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA). The person enrolls in a plan that coordinates their services.

• What it can cover: help at home, meals, respite care, adult day care, services inside an ALF, and care in a nursing home. In assisted living, Medicaid pays for care services, not for rent or food.
• Who qualifies: people 65 or older (or adults with a disability) who qualify for Medicaid and who, based on an assessment by CARES (part of DOEA), need a nursing home level of care.
• Waitlist: for services at home or in the community, the first step is a phone screening with the ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource Center) in your area. Based on the priority the person is given, they are placed on the waitlist.
• Where to apply: the financial part is decided by the Department of Children and Families (DCF). You apply online at MyACCESS. If you need long-term care, check the HCBS/Waivers or Nursing Home option on the application.

To get started, call the Elder Helpline: 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337). They will connect you with the ADRC for your county. You can also read our guide Medicaid in Florida: SMMC LTC.

How much care costs in Florida

According to the CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 (data collected from July to November 2025, published in March 2026), the median costs in Florida are:

• In-home caregiver (non-medical): $32 an hour.
• Adult day center: $75 a day.
• Assisted living: $5,610 a month (private one-bedroom unit).
• Nursing home, semi-private room: $10,342 a month.
• Nursing home, private room: $12,167 a month.

These are statewide medians. Ask each place for its price list in writing.

Who to call

• Elder Helpline: 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337), the front door to the ADRC.
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: 1-888-831-0404. It guides and advocates for residents of nursing homes, ALFs, and adult family care homes.
• Eldercare Locator (national): 1-800-677-1116.

Tips for your family

• Check the license before you visit. On FloridaHealthFinder, AHCA's official search tool, you can see whether a place has a current license, what type of license it has, and its reports. Using it is a normal part of choosing a place.
• Call the ADRC early. Because there is a waitlist for community services, it's best to get the screening done as soon as possible. If your loved one's health changes (a fall, a hospital stay), ask for the screening to be updated.
• Ask about language. During your visit, ask whether there is Spanish-speaking staff on every shift and whether activities or Mass are offered in Spanish.
• On hogaresparamayores.com you can see licensed places in Florida and compare them at your own pace.

This page is for general information only and is not medical or legal advice. Medicaid rules change, so always check with DCF, the ADRC, or a professional.