Financial Assistance and Supportive Programs
These are a few financial assistance / supportiveprograms that can be helpful in assisting with long term care costs. Most of these programs have financial and / or medical criteria. Given that some of these programs have yearly budgetary standards or it is solely run on volunteers’, there are times that these programs will have waiting lists. It is best to call each program to get the most current and up to date information.
- Comprehensive Assessment and Review of Long Term Care Services (CARES)/ Dept. of Elder Affairs
CARES is a Medicaid Nursing Home Diversion (NHD) waiver that provides home and community-based services to functionally impaired elderly who are at risk of nursing home placement. Services include adult companion, adult day health, assisted living, case management, chore, consumable medical supplies, environmental accessibility and adaptation, escort, family training, financial assessment and risk reduction, home delivered meals, homemaker, nutritional assessment and risk reduction, personal care, personal emergency response systems, respite care, occupational, physical and speech therapies, home health and nursing facility services.
To qualify for services:
-Must be older than 65 years old
-Have a medical necessity that merits the services, or services are needed in order to keep person in the community instead of a nursing home.
-Meet the financial criteria
-Self- referrals can be made
-Be assessed by a CARES Assessor
Contact 321-690-6445 for more information or to begin the referral process.
- Community Services Counsel (CSC) / Community Care for the Elderly (CCE)/ Aging Matters
This agency is a private not for profit 501 (c)(3) corporation.Services are either free or affordably priced based on income. Funding for the CSC is provided by several community agencies and donations. The program also connects seniors who are interested in volunteering opportunities.
Some services offered are:
-Care management- Social Workers meet one on one with clients to identify each senior's needs and develop local resources to help meet those needs.
-Home Services- such as non-medical assistance, light housekeeping, meal preparation, bathing, basic companionship and respite services.
-Seniors Assistance Programs-provides minor home modifications to improve safety and security for senior home owners.Also provides for screening and assessment services, temporary in home services and legal services.
-Shared Cost Program-can assist with homemaking, personal care and other supportive services. Seniors pay a portion of the cost depending on their income and expenses.
-Senior TranServe-Transportation for non-driving seniors. Volunteers transport seniors to medical appointments, the grocery store, visits to loved ones in a hospital or rehabilitation center and trips to the pharmacy.
-Meals on Wheelsis a service that provides nutritious noon-time meals, while also providing safety checks and social interaction to homebound seniors.
-Caregiver Support - Referrals, respite, training and support groups.
-Sunflower House - Located in the Merritt Square Mall, a resource center for caregivers and seniors.
-Retired Senior Volunteer Program - Recruits and places volunteers in opportunities throughout the county.
To qualify for services:
-Must be older than 60 years old
-There is no financial criteria
-Need to be considered “homebound”
-Self-referrals can be made
-Be assessed by a Community Services Council assessor
Contact 321-639-8770 for more information.
- Veterans Assistance (VA)
There are several pensions / programs that can assist with long term care costs. The VA has a ‘Veterans Service Team’ that can assist veterans and families to assure they receive the full benefits earned by the veteran’s military service.
Some benefits to inquire about,among others are:
-Basic Pension
-Housebound Pension
-Aid and Attendance Pension
There arecriteria that need to be met; however ‘The Veterans Services Team’ can assist with this. Contact 321-633-2012 / 321-952-4700 Ext: 2012 for more information.
- Project Relief
The Brevard Alzheimer's Foundation has been under contract with the State of Florida to administer and provide services under "Project R.E.L.I.E.F." ("Respite for Elders Living in Everyday Families") since 1997.
The RELIEF program provides free in-home respite to caregivers of frail, homebound elders aged 60 and over.
The goal of the RELIEF program is to provide family caregivers a reprieve in order to allow the family unit to continue caring for a homebound elder without becoming ill themselves. RELIEF is provided by volunteers and is a free service to families. Contact 321-253-4430 for more information.
- Community Action Agency
Focus of program is to empower individuals to become self-sufficient through case management, life management training, and short term final assistance.
Emergency financial assistance is based on financial need.
Some services offered are:
-Cremation Assistance
-Mortgage/Rental Assistance
-Utilities Assistance (FPL, Water & Gas)
-Medical/Dental Payment Assistance
-Prescription Assistance
-Information and Referral
-Self-Sufficiency Program
To qualify for services:
-Must be older than 18 years old
-An application will need to be completed to determine if you qualify financially
-There is no medical criteria
-Self referrals can be made
-Be assessed by a Community Action Agency assessor
Contact 321-633-1951 for more information.
- SpaceCoastCenter for Independent Living
This agency provides services that enable people with disabilities to live independently within their homes and community.
Some services offered:
- Counseling/Guidance
-Transportation
- Transition Services
- Leisure/Recreation
- Referral Source
To qualify for services:
-Must be older than 18 years old
-There is no financial criteria
-Must have a disability
-Self-referral only (Program wants person to take initiative and make appointments for themselves.)
-Be assessed by an intake person to determine that all criteria are met.
Contact- 321-633-6011 for more information.
- Vocational Rehabilitation
Services are geared toward assisting an individual, who has a physical or mental impairment which results in a substantial impedimentto obtain and/or maintain employment. In the South Office they have orientation to the different services available every Tuesday and Thursday. Call 321- 984-4869for more details.
Services offered:
-Counseling/Guidance
- Medical Services
- Therapy Services
- Adaptive Aids
- Vocational Assessment
- Vocational Training
- Employment Services
- Supported Employment
- Job Coaching
- Career Mentoring
- Post Secondary Education
- Referral Source
- Transition Services
To qualify for services:
-Mostly geared towards those older than 18 years old; they do have services for adolescents.
-Services are either free or on a sliding scale fee which is based on income.
-Have a physical or mental impairment which constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to obtain and/or maintain employment.
-Can be self- referred or referred by an agency.
-There are time constraints- it is important to complete and obtain any necessary documents.
-Wait lists are determined by level of need and disability.
For more information contact:
Titusville- 321- 383-2775
Cocoa- 321- 690-3280
South- 321- 984-4869
- Center for Visually Impaired (CVI)-
CVI is a non-profit United Way organization who reaches out to blind and visually impaired individuals by providing a variety of services to foster independence, improve quality of life, and enable this population to realize their full potential. There is no charge for the service to qualified individuals.
Services Offered:
-Counseling/Guidance
- Adaptive Aids Leisure/Recreation
-Referral Source
-independent Living,
-Computer Training,
-Orientation & Mobility,
- Low Vision Therapy,
-Support Groups
To qualify for services:
-Can be any age
-Visually impaired with 20/70 or worse in best eye with best correction or a field less than 20 degrees.
-Can be self referred
Contact 321-631-9791 for more information
- Brevard Association for the Advancement of the Blind (BAAB)
BAAB is a non-profit, all volunteer organization that provides services free of charge to anyone who is legally blind (defined as 20/200 or less), visually impaired, as well as physically handicapped people with reading disabilities who are unable to use printed material due to physical limitations.
Programs offered:
-A Program for Independent Living (PIL) - teaches daily living skills to the recently blinded. Classes include support group discussion, personal and household management, orientation and mobility, sensory development, personal hygiene, communication skills and labeling, and leisure activities. Classes meet once a week for nine weeks.
-BAAB's trained volunteers’ record reading material for the Florida Division of Blind Services, and have an annual contract with the Library of Congress to record "Talking Books" magazines, text books and more.
-Other materials of educational and recreational value are available in Braille and large print.
To qualify for services:
-Can be any age
-There is no financial criteria
-Be legally blind (defined as 20/200 or less)
-Can be self-referred
- Brain Bank
The Florida Brain Bank was created in 1987 and is supportedby the Department of Elder Affairs through its Alzheimer's Disease Initiative.
Families of loved ones with dementia obtain two significant service benefits from the brain bank:
- A diagnostic confirmation of the disease written in clear, understandable terms; and
- Involvement in variable research activities both inside and outside of Florida.
Participants must be pre-registered
It is important to plan ahead as a comprehensive application must be completed and medical records must be collected, especially from the neurologist and/or other specialists who made the initial diagnosis.
This process takes time, but the information is necessary for the neuropathologist to determine the final diagnoses in each case and also to provide supporting information for research. Upon the death of the patient, a final pathology report will be provided to the family, and the patient's physicians and the brain tissue will become available to researchers worldwide.
At present, the only way to get an accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or related dementia disorders is a brain autopsy at the time of death. The diagnoses are a critical piece of your family's medical history and will become important to your children and grandchildren as new treatments become available.
There is no cost for the autopsy or research.
Please contact our Brain Bank Coordinator for more information. They will be glad to answer any questions you may have to help you feel "right" about your decision.
Contact: / Martha Purdy, LCSWBrainBankCoordinator
Alzheimer Resource Center
1506 Lake Highland Drive
Orlando, Florida32803
407-843-1910 Ext. 308 or 800-330-1910 Ext. 308