Care Resource Guide
Resources to help North Florida families navigate aging and long-term care.Navigating aging, long-term care, and end-of-life planning can feel overwhelming for both the individual and the whole family. This page collects Florida elder care resources – planning guides, local care directories, government benefit links, and downloadable tools – to help families in Tallahassee and across North Florida.
The resources listed on this page are provided for informational purposes only. The Sketchley Law Firm does not endorse, promote, or recommend any provider or service listed here. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Planning Tools from Our Firm
These guides are prepared by The Sketchley Law Firm to help families stay organized and informed.
If you need any of these documents in an accessible format, please contact our office at (850) 894-0152 or info@sketchleylaw.com and we will provide one promptly.
Advance Planning Tools at a Glance
A plain-language overview of advance directives, powers of attorney, and health care documents.
Facility Evaluation Checklist
A guided checklist to help you evaluate any care facility before making a decision.
Caregiver File
What documents to gather and keep organized when managing care for a loved one.
What to Do When a Loved One Dies
A step-by-step guide to the immediate and follow-up tasks after a family member passes.
Identity Theft Prevention Guide
Practical steps to protect yourself or a loved one from identity theft and financial fraud.
10 Ways to Help a Caregiver
Simple, meaningful ways friends and family can support a caregiver in their life.
From the CFPB
Co-branded by The Sketchley Law Firm
For Power of Attorney Agents
For agents managing money for a parent, spouse, or other principal under a power of attorney. Covers duties, recordkeeping, and how to spot exploitation.
For Guardians of Property
For court-appointed guardians managing money for an adult under guardianship. Covers fiduciary duties, accounting, and court reporting.
For Representative Payees
For Social Security representative payees and VA fiduciaries managing benefits for someone else. Covers eligible expenses, recordkeeping, and reporting.
For Living Trust Trustees
For trustees managing a revocable living trust. Covers trustee duties, recordkeeping, and obligations to beneficiaries.
Finding Local Care Providers
Looking for a home health agency, assisted living facility, nursing home, or hospice organization in your area? Florida Health Finder is the state’s official directory of licensed care providers. You can search by location, filter by facility type, and review inspection records and quality ratings – all in one place.
Recommended Resource
Florida Health Finder
Search for licensed home health agencies, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, adult day care centers, and more. Includes inspection history and quality scores for nursing homes.
For nursing home quality comparisons, Medicare’s Care Compare tool is also an excellent resource.
Government & Benefits Resources
Looking for current Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security figures? See our Important Numbers page updated every year.
Legal & Financial Assistance
- Social Security Administration – retirement, disability, and survivor benefits
- Florida Courts Self-Help Center – legal forms and guidance
- The Florida Bar – lawyer referral and consumer resources
- Florida Bar Foundation – Legal Aid Directory – find free and low-cost legal help
- Legal Services of North Florida – free civil legal aid for the Tallahassee area
- Veterans Administration – veteran benefits and services
- Center for Medicare Advocacy – national nonprofit, Medicare rights and access
- Florida Legal Services Legal Aid Programs – statewide legal aid directory
- Justice in Aging – national nonprofit, elder economic security and rights
Health & Long-Term Care
- Medicare – federal health insurance information and care provider search
- Florida Medicaid / ACCESS Florida – apply for Medicaid and public benefits
- Florida Department of Elder Affairs – state agency for elder services and programs
- Florida Health Finder – facility search and inspection records
- SHINE – free Medicare and insurance counseling for Florida residents
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman – advocate for nursing home and ALF residents
Disability & Special Needs Resources
Florida Agencies
- Agency for Persons with Disabilities – services and support for Floridians with disabilities
- Florida Developmental Disabilities Council – advocacy and resources for individuals with developmental disabilities
- Florida’s Voice on Developmental Disabilities – news and advocacy for the DD community
- Disability Rights Florida – legal advocacy for Floridians with disabilities
Financial Planning for Disability
- ABLE United – Florida – tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities
- Social Security Disability – SSDI and SSI information and applications
- Healthcare.gov – health coverage options under the Affordable Care Act
Elder Rights & Protection
Report Abuse & Fraud
- Florida Adult Protective Services – report abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult
- Seniors vs. Crime – Florida AG – elder fraud prevention and reporting assistance
- FTC ReportFraud – report federal consumer fraud and scams
- FBI Elder Fraud – report elder fraud to federal authorities
- Office of the Attorney General – Florida AG consumer protection and elder fraud resources
Professional Resources
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys – find a NAELA member attorney
- Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys – Florida-specific elder law attorney directory
Tallahassee & Big Bend Area Resources
Local organizations serving Leon County and surrounding communities.
Care & Support Services
- Area Agency on Aging of North Florida – (850) 488-0055 – care coordination, caregiver support, and benefits counseling
- Elder Care Services – Big Bend – (850) 921-5554 – in-home services, adult day stay, and elder rights
- The Alzheimer’s Project – (850) 386-2778 – local dementia support and education
- Tallahassee Senior Center – (850) 891-4000 – city-operated senior services and programs
- StarMetro Dial-A-Ride – (850) 891-5199 – paratransit service for eligible riders
County & Regional Resources
- North Florida Office of Public Guardian – (850) 888-2820 – public guardianship for Leon and surrounding counties
- Gadsden County Senior Citizen Foundation – (850) 627-9758 – serving Gadsden County
- Wakulla Senior Center – (850) 926-7145 – serving Wakulla County
From Our Blog
Articles to help you understand your options and plan with confidence.
Guide to Special Needs Trusts in Florida
Most government benefit programs for people with disabilities come with a hard asset limit. For Supplemental Security Income, that ceiling is $2,000. For Medicaid, the rules vary but the threshold is similarly low. A person who receives an inheritance, a lawsuit settlement, or a generous gift can lose those benefits the...
Gifts That Matter: 8 Tech Gadgets That Help Seniors Maintain Their Independence
The holidays are a time to spend with family. For many of us, they are also a time when we notice that our aging loved ones might be struggling a bit more with their independence than they were last year. As elder law attorneys, we often help families plan for the legal side of...
A Guardian’s Toolkit
Being a guardian is a significant responsibility. It requires dedication, patience, and a strong understanding of their role. To help guardians understand and navigate their duties, various resources are available. Here is a breakdown of some of those resources: Legal Resources Attorney: A qualified attorney specializing...
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