Fort Meade, Florida

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) for Home Care in Fort Meade, FL

Hands-on personal care at home from a certified nursing assistant, for families who want state-certified training. Post what you need in Fort Meade for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

A younger man supporting an older man's arm as they walk through a bright living room
Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Fort Meade, FL: the local picture

6+
Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles
718
certified beds in the 6 nearest nursing homes
$16.25
median hourly wage of home care aides in Florida (BLS, May 2025)
$15.00
Florida minimum wage per hour

The nearest Medicare-certified nursing homes to Fort Meade are Bartow Center in Bartow (8.1 mi), Vivo Healthcare Wauchula in Wauchula (15 mi), Scott Lake Health And Rehabilitation Center in Lakeland (16 mi). Nursing homes employ many of the area’s CNAs, and CNAs who want home care work often come from them.

Aides in Florida earn a median $16.25 an hour (BLS, May 2025, home health and personal care aides). Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

Fort Meade has about 249 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Fort Meade compared with Polk County and Florida

Census figureFort MeadePolk CountyFlorida
Residents 85 or older4.8%2.1%2.6%
Residents 65+ with a disability44%32%31%
Residents 65 or older25%20%21%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone35%24%25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)18%12%12%
Households with no vehicle14%5.4%6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$32,736$50,939—

Older residents in towns around Fort Meade

TownDistanceResidents 65+Residents 85+
Bartow, FL8.4 mi3,376576
Alturas, FL9.2 mi8519
Crooked Lake Park, FL14 mi35226
Wahneta, FL14 mi3840
Highland City, FL14 mi1,94156
Eagle Lake, FL15 mi21715

Nursing homes near Fort Meade

Nursing homeTownDistanceCMS overall ratingCertified bedsPhone
Bartow CenterBartow, FL8.1 mi2 of 5120(863) 533-0578
Vivo Healthcare WauchulaWauchula, FL15 mi2 of 579(863) 773-3231
Scott Lake Health And Rehabilitation CenterLakeland, FL16 mi2 of 5120(863) 500-4015
Lake Wales Health And Rehabilitation CenterLake Wales, FL17 mi1 of 5100(863) 676-1512
Highlands Lake CenterLakeland, FL17 mi2 of 5179(863) 646-8699
Groves CenterLake Wales, FL17 minot rated120(863) 676-8502

Home health agencies serving Fort Meade

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Centerwell Home HealthLakeland, FL15 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(863) 648-9118
Medical Services Of America Home HealthTampa, FL37 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(813) 626-9888
Origin Home Health CareApollo Beach, FL37 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(813) 641-0500
Trilogy Home HealthcareTampa, FL40 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(813) 963-1200

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

What it covers

What a nursing assistant can help with

  • Bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting
  • Safe transfers, repositioning and walking
  • Help with eating and fluids
  • Taking and noting vital signs if asked
Cost

What CNAs costs in Fort Meade

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 52% of the $2,728 monthly median income of Fort Meade 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 nursing assistant

To be certified, a nurse aide completes a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, and passes a competency exam (42 CFR 483.152). The state then lists them on its nurse aide registry, which you can search online in most states.

Questions worth asking: Which state certified you, and is it current? Where have you worked as a CNA? Are you comfortable with lifts, catheters and incontinence care? More in our nursing assistants guide.

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

Questions

Nursing Assistants in Fort Meade: common questions

What nursing homes are near Fort Meade?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Bartow Center in Bartow (8.1 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Vivo Healthcare Wauchula in Wauchula (15 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Scott Lake Health And Rehabilitation Center in Lakeland (16 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Fort Meade?

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 52% of the $2,728 monthly median income of Fort Meade 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 a CNA give medication?

Generally no. A CNA can remind someone to take medication. Giving medication is usually reserved for licensed nurses, or for aides with a separate state medication certification.

More near Fort Meade

More senior care near Fort Meade

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.

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