Adult Disability Care in Gainesville, FL: In-Home Support

Local figures

Disability Care for Adults in Gainesville, FL: the local picture

9.0%

of residents aged 18 to 64 have a disability (9.6% in Alachua County)

2,860

residents aged 18 to 64 have difficulty doing errands alone

11%

of households have no vehicle (8.4% in Alachua County)

29

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Gainesville ZIP codes in their service area

About 9,749 Gainesville residents aged 18 to 64 report a disability (9.0%; 9.6% in Alachua County).

2,860 of them have difficulty doing errands such as shopping or visiting a doctor alone, the kind of help a support caregiver gives.

11% of Gainesville households have no vehicle (8.4% in Alachua County); say in your posting if you need a caregiver who drives.

Gainesville compared with Alachua County and Florida

Census figure	Gainesville	Alachua County	Florida
Residents 18 to 64 with a disability	9.0%	9.6%	10%
Residents 18 to 64 with difficulty doing errands alone	2.6%	3.4%	3.6%
Households with no vehicle	11%	8.4%	6.0%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	18%	17%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,429	$59,422	—

Older residents in towns around Gainesville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Disability (18 to 64)
Alachua, FL	9.7 mi	2,107	9.0%
Newberry, FL	15 mi	1,005	11%
High Springs, FL	17 mi	1,058	11%
Williston, FL	21 mi	658	15%
East Bronson, FL	21 mi	339	26%
Starke, FL	23 mi	797	16%

Home health agencies serving Gainesville

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Gainesville, FL	3.5 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(352) 376-3221
Aveanna Home Health	Gainesville, FL	3.5 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(352) 331-3280
Trilogy Home Healthcare	Ocala, FL	37 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(352) 236-6095
Amedisys Home Health	The Villages, FL	57 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(352) 391-1416
Florida Homecare Specialists Inc	Lady Lake, FL	58 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(352) 753-2206

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

What it covers

What a disability support caregiver can help with

Personal care, on the person’s terms
Cooking, shopping and housekeeping
Getting to work, school, appointments and activities
Keeping routines the person sets

Cost

What disability care for adults costs in Gainesville

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,036 monthly median income of Gainesville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. 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 disability support caregiver

Many state Medicaid programs let adults with disabilities direct their own care: they, or a representative, hire and supervise the caregiver.

Questions worth asking: Have you supported adults with a disability like mine (or my family member’s)? How do you support someone to do things themselves? Can you drive to work, school or day programs? More in our disability care for adults guide.

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

Questions

Disability Care for Adults in Gainesville: common questions

How much does disability care for adults cost in Gainesville?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,036 monthly median income of Gainesville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

Can an adult with a disability hire their own caregiver?

Yes. Many state Medicaid programs offer self-direction, where the person or a representative hires and supervises the caregiver. Our guide How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO covers Florida.

More near Gainesville

More senior care near Gainesville

Disability Care for Adults in nearby cities

Other care in Gainesville

More for Gainesville families

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.

In-Home Support for Adults With Disabilities in Gainesville, FL