The purpose of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs is to administer human services programs for the elderly and for developing policy recommendations for long-term care. The department is Florida's designated state unit on aging, in accordance with the federal Older Americans Act and Ch. 430, Florida Statutes.

The department's activities include the following.

• The Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services (CARES) Program is Florida's federally mandated program that is responsible for determining medical eligibility for Medicaid home and community-based services and Medicaid nursing facility services. A CARES registered nurse or assessor completes no-cost assessments for Medicaid applicants and a CARES physician or registered nurse reviews each application to determine the most appropriate level of care for the applicant. The purpose of the assessment is to identify long-term care needs and recommend the least restrictive but most appropriate placement. The program and assessment process explores all available options to nursing home placement and recommends, and may facilitate, alternative placements for individuals who are determined able to remain in the community. 
• Community and Support Services provides non-Medicaid community-based programs and oversight functions to help elders remain in their own homes and avoid institutional care. This includes services funded through Florida's federal Older Americans Act Program allotment such as adult daycare, caregiver training and support, home-delivered meals, information and referral assistance, medical transportation, shopping assistance, preventive health services, senior community service employment, and elder abuse prevention. The department also provides the Respite for Elders Living in Everyday Families Program to increase the ability of a family unit to continue to care for a homebound elderly individual by providing in-home respite care. Department staff also administer federally funded programs including the Adult Care Food Program to assist eligible adult care centers and mental health day centers in providing meals to elders and the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program to improve the nutritional health of low-income elders by providing coupons that can be redeemed for locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Additional Community and Support Services include the Home Care for the Elderly (HCE) Program and the Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) Program. HCE provides resources, such as a basic subsidy for all program participants age 60 and older in family-type living arrangements within private homes. CCE provides community-based services, such as medical supplies, emergency alert response, and therapeutic services, organized in a continuum of care to help functionally impaired elders live in the least restrictive yet most cost-effective environment suitable to their needs.
• Alzheimer's and Brain Health programs support research, services, and care for people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, as well as their caregivers. The Alzheimer's Disease Initiative provides a continuum of services to address the needs of individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, including supportive services, memory disorder clinics, and the Florida Brain Bank. Supportive services include respite care programs for caregivers available in all 67 Florida counties, as well as caregiver training and counseling. Memory disorder clinics provide comprehensive diagnostic and referral services for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The Florida Brain Bank supports ongoing research into Alzheimer's disease and related disorders and works to find a cure by collecting and studying the brains of individuals clinically diagnosed with dementia.

The department administers services through a network of 11 nonprofit area agencies on aging (AAA). These agencies advocate, plan, coordinate, and fund a system of elder support services within regions known as planning and service areas. Each AAA is designated as an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and is managed at the local level. AAAs are responsible for providing community-based care by selecting the services and providers to assist elders within each county. Through partnerships with AAAs, the department provides care to help seniors safely age with dignity, purpose, and independence. In addition, ADRCs are designed to streamline access to long-term care to make it easier for older adults and individuals with disabilities to learn about and quickly access the long-term services that best meet their needs. For example, ADRCs serve as the entry point to publicly administered long-term supports including those funded under Medicaid, the Older Americans Act, and state revenue programs.

The funding information listed below is provided by Transparency Florida. Additional funding information can be obtained on the State of Florida Fiscal Portal or by contacting the department.

Information on the department's performance may be found in its Department Overview.

OPPAGA Reports and Presentations
A complete list of OPPAGA reports and presentations is available on our website.

Other Reports
2026-2029 State of Florida Plan on Aging, Florida Department of Elder Affairs, 2025
2023 Programs and Services Handbook, Florida Department of Elder Affairs, 2023
A complete list of Florida Auditor General reports is available on its website.

Websites of Interest
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Programs for Older Adults
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Resources for Caregivers
U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging

Article IV, s. 12 of the Florida Constitution and Ch. 430 and s. 20.41, Florida Statutes

Florida Department of Elder Affairs Contact Website
Florida Department of Elder Affairs
4040 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-7000
(850) 414-2000
Website