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

Local figures

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

12%

of residents aged 18 to 64 have a disability (11% in Polk County)

3,237

residents aged 18 to 64 have difficulty doing errands alone

7.4%

of households have no vehicle (5.4% in Polk County)

70

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

About 8,447 Lakeland residents aged 18 to 64 report a disability (12%; 11% in Polk County).

3,237 of them have difficulty doing errands such as shopping or visiting a doctor alone, the kind of help a support caregiver gives.

7.4% of Lakeland households have no vehicle (5.4% in Polk County); say in your posting if you need a caregiver who drives.

Lakeland compared with Polk County and Florida

Census figure	Lakeland	Polk County	Florida
Residents 18 to 64 with a disability	12%	11%	10%
Residents 18 to 64 with difficulty doing errands alone	4.6%	4.5%	3.6%
Households with no vehicle	7.4%	5.4%	6.0%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	21%	28%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,328	$50,939	—

Older residents in towns around Lakeland

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Disability (18 to 64)
Combee Settlement, FL	3.1 mi	679	9.4%
Crystal Lake, FL	3.6 mi	630	16%
Fussels Corner, FL	5.7 mi	1,904	12%
Lakeland Highlands, FL	6.8 mi	2,431	7.6%
Kathleen, FL	6.8 mi	992	20%
Medulla, FL	6.9 mi	1,674	5.9%

Home health agencies serving Lakeland

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Lakeland, FL	6.8 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(863) 648-9118
Southeast Homecare	Tampa, FL	27 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(813) 452-6155
Bon Secours Home Care By Compassus	Sun City Center, FL	34 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(813) 443-5566
Medical Services Of America Home Health	Tampa, FL	27 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

Straight-line miles from the center of Lakeland. 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 Lakeland

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 $4,027 monthly median income of Lakeland 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 Lakeland: common questions

How much does disability care for adults cost in Lakeland?

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 $4,027 monthly median income of Lakeland 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 Lakeland

More senior care near Lakeland

Disability Care for Adults in nearby cities

Other care in Lakeland

More for Lakeland 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 Lakeland, FL