Senior Care Resources in Highlands County (Sebring, Avon Park & Lake Placid), Florida

Highlands County in the Heartland has about 36% of residents 65+ and many seasonal residents. It's served by Senior Connection Center (Tampa) and is in Medicaid region D.

Sebring is a little over two hours from Cape Coral without traffic, so some Highlands families look to Southwest Florida when adult children live in Lee or Charlotte County.

Senior Connection Center (Tampa) is the Aging and Disability Resource Center for Highlands County (Planning and Service Area 6). Direct line (813) 740-3888, toll-free (800) 336-2226. Website.

The ADRC is the front door for Medicaid long-term care screening, caregiver support, Older Americans Act meals (group and home-delivered), local transportation referrals and senior center listings. Statewide Elder Helpline: 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337).

SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) offers free, unbiased Medicare and Medicaid counseling through the Department of Elder Affairs and your local Area Agency on Aging. Call 1-800-963-5337 or request a local counselor at floridashine.org.

Highlands County is in Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Region D. Assisted living is a covered service in the SMMC Long-Term Care program for people 65+ (or 18+ with a disability) who are Medicaid-eligible and found by CARES to need nursing-home level of care.

1. Call Senior Connection Center for screening and wait-list placement.
2. When released from the wait list, CARES assesses medical need and DCF reviews finances.
3. If approved, AHCA mails a packet to choose a long-term care plan.

Hospitals serving the area include:

• AdventHealth Sebring

Search all licensed hospitals, nursing homes and ALFs in Highlands County on Florida HealthFinder.

CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey reports Florida statewide medians of $5,610/month for assisted living and $10,342/month for a semi-private nursing home room. We don't list a Highlands-specific figure because we couldn't verify one; ask each facility for written pricing.

• If your loved one lives at home and needs help with medications, oxygen or electricity-dependent equipment, register with the Florida Special Needs Registry (registration doesn't guarantee a shelter spot).
• Find your county emergency management office at FloridaDisaster.org/counties.
• Keep a 30-day medication supply, medication list, ID and insurance cards ready (Florida Department of Health guidance).
• Residents of assisted living facilities rely on the facility's emergency plan — ask to see it, including backup power.

• Look up the license and inspection reports on Florida HealthFinder.
• Get the monthly price in writing and ask exactly what's included vs. extra.
• Ask about staffing overnight, medication management and who handles medical visits.
• Ask whether Medicaid is accepted and how private-pay residents transition to Medicaid.
• Ask about dementia: which needs they can manage and when a resident would need memory care.
• Ask for the hurricane plan and backup power details.
• Visit at mealtime and talk to residents and families.

Love ALF is not located in Sebring. Our two homes are in Cape Coral, Lee County — about 98 road miles and roughly 2 hr 14 min from Sebring without traffic (OpenStreetMap routing estimate). For families relocating a loved one closer to relatives in Southwest Florida, here's what we offer:

• Two family-owned homes with 12 beds each, shared rooms — licensed by Florida AHCA (#13519 and #13758), opened 2020 and 2021
• $3,200/month all-inclusive; advanced care such as diabetes management up to $3,500; no move-in fee beyond the first month
• Medicaid accepted
• Help with daily living, medication management, 3 meals plus a snack (dietitian-planned), activities, 24-hour care
• Nurse practitioner, podiatrist, cosmetologist; OT-led care strategies; bilingual English/Spanish staff
• 2 free rides a day to doctor appointments within 10 miles of the home; hurricane backup power
• Manageable dementia welcome (no memory care unit)

See cost, services, Love ALF – SW 34th St, Love ALF II – SW 7th Pl, and our Lee County Medicaid guide.

Call (239) 544-5928 to schedule a tour. Se habla español — ask for Cindy Garcia.

All Florida senior care resource pages

• U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts — Persons 65 years and over, percent (Florida counties)
• Florida Dept. of Elder Affairs — Aging and Disability Resource Centers
• Florida Dept. of Elder Affairs — Elder Helpline by county
• Florida SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders)
• AHCA — New SMMC Regions (A–I, effective Feb. 2025)
• AHCA — SMMC Long-Term Care Recipient FAQs
• CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey — state medians
• CMS Care Compare hospital listing (via Fonteum Florida inventory)
• Florida Special Needs Registry (Florida Dept. of Health)
• Florida Division of Emergency Management — county emergency management contacts
• Florida HealthFinder (AHCA) — facility search & inspection reports
• Drive estimates: OpenStreetMap / OSRM routing (free-flow, no traffic)

Facts checked October 2026. Phone numbers and programs can change — confirm with the agency.