24-Hour Home Care in Lakeland Highlands, FL

Local figures

24-Hour Home Care in Lakeland Highlands, FL: the local picture

8.0%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.5% in Polk County)

286

residents 85 or older (2.4% of all residents)

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Polk County)

$80,152

median yearly income of households headed by someone 65+

195 Lakeland Highlands residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (8.0%; 6.5% in Polk County), and 480 have serious difficulty walking. Round-the-clock care is usually for people who need hands-on help at any hour.

About 286 residents are 85 or older (2.4% of the population).

If you are weighing home care against a nursing home, the nearest Medicare-certified ones are Scott Lake Health And Rehabilitation Center in Lakeland (0.3 mi) and Highlands Lake Center in Lakeland (2.7 mi).

Lakeland Highlands compared with Polk County and Florida

Census figure	Lakeland Highlands	Polk County	Florida
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.0%	6.5%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	20%	21%	20%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	5.3%	6.9%	7.6%
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	2.1%	2.6%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	18%	24%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.4%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$80,152	$50,939	—

Older residents in towns around Lakeland Highlands

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Medulla, FL	1.8 mi	1,674	5.0%
Fuller Heights, FL	3.6 mi	1,741	6.0%
Mulberry, FL	4.2 mi	1,496	10%
Highland City, FL	4.4 mi	1,941	7.9%
Willow Oak, FL	5.1 mi	462	1.7%
Crystal Lake, FL	6.3 mi	630	2.1%

Home health agencies serving Lakeland Highlands

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Lakeland, FL	3.7 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(863) 648-9118
Southeast Homecare	Tampa, FL	26 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(813) 452-6155
Medical Services Of America Home Health	Tampa, FL	26 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(813) 626-9888
Trilogy Home Healthcare	Tampa, FL	28 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(813) 963-1200
Origin Home Health Care	Apollo Beach, FL	31 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(813) 641-0500

Nursing homes near Lakeland Highlands (to compare)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Scott Lake Health And Rehabilitation Center	Lakeland, FL	0.3 mi	2 of 5	120	(863) 500-4015
Highlands Lake Center	Lakeland, FL	2.7 mi	2 of 5	179	(863) 646-8699
Bridgewalk On Harden Health And Rehabilitation, Ll	Lakeland, FL	3.7 mi	1 of 5	120	(863) 648-4800
Florida Presbyterian Homes Inc	Lakeland, FL	5.2 mi	4 of 5	68	(863) 688-5521

Straight-line miles from the center of Lakeland Highlands. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a 24-hour caregiver can help with

Someone awake and on duty at all hours
Personal care, meals and medication reminders through the day
Help at night without relying on one tired caregiver
Written handover notes between shifts

Cost

What 24-hour home care costs in Lakeland Highlands

24-hour care is 168 paid hours a week. At $16.25 an hour (the Florida median aide wage) that is about $11,830 a month in wages before any overtime, 177% of the $6,679 monthly median income of Lakeland Highlands households headed by someone 65+. Rates are agreed with each caregiver. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a 24-hour caregiver

24-hour care is the most hours a family can arrange at home, and the most costly. Each caregiver works a set shift, often two 12-hour or three 8-hour shifts a day, so nobody works all night after working all day. Minimum wage and overtime rules apply to each caregiver you employ directly; for workers who live in the home see DOL Fact Sheet 79B.

Questions worth asking: How do you hand over to the next caregiver? Can you work fixed shifts on the same days each week? Have you worked on a team caring for one client? More in our 24-hour home care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

24-Hour Home Care in Lakeland Highlands: common questions

How much does 24-hour home care cost in Lakeland Highlands?

24-hour care is 168 paid hours a week. At $16.25 an hour (the Florida median aide wage) that is about $11,830 a month in wages before any overtime, 177% of the $6,679 monthly median income of Lakeland Highlands households headed by someone 65+. Rates are agreed with each caregiver. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

How many caregivers does 24-hour care take?

A week has 168 hours. If each caregiver works about 40 hours, that is four or five people, plus someone to cover sickness and holidays. Fewer caregivers means very long weeks for each of them.

More near Lakeland Highlands

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Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.