Regarding long term care options, rather than depending on one person's good or bad opinions, or on your neighbor's cousin's boyfriend's sister, it's best to get information from the horse's mouth. The Florida Department of Elder Affairs funnels state and federal funding to 11 area agencies on aging in Florida. The Area Agency on Aging for Marion, Lake, and Sumter counties is called Elder Options (area agencies have different names). Their website is agingresources.org. The helpline number is 800-262-2243. Elder Options provides information and referral services at no cost to the caller. They do not sell anything, nor do they get compensation for a referral. They also provide training for caregivers, Medicare orientation, etc. One of the goals is to provide elder care services in the least restrictive and lowest cost settings. Note that Medicare does NOT pay for long term nursing home care. It does pay for skilled nursing care at home or in a hospital or nursing facility, but skilled nursing is limited and has restrictions. Long term care is normally provided in a nursing home, an assisted living facility, or with an overlay of community services at home (whether the person lives alone or in a family setting). The Florida website provides information at
State of Florida.com | Florida Seniors Guide.
The area agency can also inform you regarding Medicaid long term care services, a federal/state funded program of financial assistance to people below certain poverty and asset standards. Another source of information is in the website for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs mentioned above. There is also a screening program called CARES which screens patients regarding their need for long term care services. The following quote is from the Fl Department of Elder Affairs web site:
"Florida residents seeking Medicaid assistance for home and community-based services, or nursing homes, must meet both medical and financial eligibility requirements. The Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services (CARES) Program is responsible for determining medical eligibility (level of care) for home and community-based Medicaid waiver programs and Medicaid nursing home services."