Home Health Aides in Fort Walton Beach, FL

Local figures

Home Health Aides in Fort Walton Beach, FL: the local picture

16

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Fort Walton Beach ZIP codes in their service area

$16.25

median hourly wage of home care aides in Florida (BLS, May 2025)

4,152

residents 65 or older (20% of Fort Walton Beach)

40%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Okaloosa County)

16 Medicare-certified home health agencies list Fort Walton Beach ZIP codes in their service area; the highest-rated are below, and 5 of those list home health aide services. Agency aides are usually part of care a doctor orders. For help beyond those visits, families hire an aide directly.

Home health and personal care aides in Florida earn a median $16.25 an hour (BLS, May 2025), with the middle half between $15.16 and $17.25.

Fort Walton Beach has about 4,152 residents aged 65 or older, 40% of whom report a disability.

Fort Walton Beach compared with Okaloosa County and Florida

Census figure	Fort Walton Beach	Okaloosa County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	35%	31%
Residents 65 or older	20%	17%	21%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	1.7%	2.6%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	23%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.1%	8.0%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	15%	12%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$69,031	$72,832	—

Older residents in towns around Fort Walton Beach

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Ocean City, FL	1.3 mi	828	35%
Wright, FL	1.8 mi	3,854	36%
Mary Esther, FL	2.4 mi	875	48%
Lake Lorraine, FL	3.5 mi	1,214	37%
Eglin AFB, FL	4.9 mi	73	0.0%
Hurlburt Field, FL	5.8 mi	0	—

Medicare-certified home health agencies serving Fort Walton Beach

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Shalimar, FL	3.3 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(850) 862-3240
Mission Home Health LLC	Pensacola, FL	35 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(850) 972-0311
Stat Home Health Florida Panhandle LLC	Pensacola, FL	36 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(850) 857-1889
Peoples Home Health LLC	Pensacola, FL	36 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(850) 696-0911
Centerwell Home Health	Pensacola, FL	36 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(850) 434-8662
Angels Care Home Health Of The Emerald Coast	Fort Walton Beach, FL	0.5 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work	(850) 862-5424
Ascension At Home	Pensacola, FL	34 mi	4 of 5	—	(850) 266-7235
Amedisys Home Health	Pensacola, FL	35 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	—

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

What it covers

What a home health aide can help with

Bathing, grooming, dressing and toileting
Transfers, walking and positioning
Meals and help with eating
Medication reminders

Cost

What home health aides costs in Fort Walton Beach

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 24% of the $5,753 monthly median income of Fort Walton Beach 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 home health aide

Federal rules require home health aides who work for Medicare-certified agencies to complete at least 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, or pass a competency evaluation (42 CFR 484.80). Many states add their own requirements.

Questions worth asking: Where did you train, and can I see the certificate? Have you worked for a home health agency? Which transfers and equipment are you trained on? More in our home health aides guide.

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

Questions

Home Health Aides in Fort Walton Beach: common questions

Which home health agencies serve Fort Walton Beach?

Medicare lists 16 certified agencies whose service area includes Fort Walton Beach ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (4.5 of 5), Mission Home Health LLC (4.5 of 5), Stat Home Health Florida Panhandle LLC (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides cost in Fort Walton Beach?

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 24% of the $5,753 monthly median income of Fort Walton Beach 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.

What is the difference between a home health aide and a CNA?

Both are trained in personal care. A certified nursing assistant (CNA) has passed a state exam and is on the state nurse aide registry, and often works in nursing homes and hospitals. A home health aide is trained for care in the home. Neither does skilled nursing.

More near Fort Walton Beach

More senior care near Fort Walton Beach

Home Health Aides in nearby cities

Other care in Fort Walton Beach

More for Fort Walton Beach 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.