Parkinson's Care in Lakeland, FL: In-Home Caregivers

Local figures

Parkinson’s Care in Lakeland, FL: the local picture

23%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (21% in Polk County)

8.2%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (6.9% in Polk County)

25,793

residents 65 or older (22% of Lakeland)

70

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

5,679 Lakeland residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (23%; 21% in Polk County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

2,004 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (8.2%).

Medicare lists 70 home health agencies serving Lakeland ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

Lakeland compared with Polk County and Florida

Census figure	Lakeland	Polk County	Florida
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	23%	21%	20%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	8.2%	6.9%	7.6%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	7.0%	6.5%	6.4%
Residents 65 or older	22%	20%	21%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	24%	25%
Households with no vehicle	7.4%	5.4%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,328	$50,939	—

Older residents in towns around Lakeland

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Combee Settlement, FL	3.1 mi	679	28%
Crystal Lake, FL	3.6 mi	630	18%
Fussels Corner, FL	5.7 mi	1,904	17%
Lakeland Highlands, FL	6.8 mi	2,431	20%
Kathleen, FL	6.8 mi	992	25%
Medulla, FL	6.9 mi	1,674	17%

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
Making Memories Home Health Inc	Tampa, FL	34 mi	4.5 of 5	—	(813) 931-0015

Nursing homes near Lakeland

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lakeland Hills Center	Lakeland, FL	1.0 mi	2 of 5	120	(863) 688-8591
Vivo Healthcare Lakeland	Lakeland, FL	1.1 mi	1 of 5	185	(863) 688-5612
Charming Lakes Rehab	Lakeland, FL	1.2 mi	2 of 5	120	(863) 682-7580

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 caregiver experienced with Parkinson’s can help with

Medication reminders on the schedule the doctor set
Help walking, turning and getting up safely
Dressing and buttons when hands are stiff or shaky
Meals prepared the way the care team advises

Cost

What Parkinson’s care 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 caregiver experienced with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease affects more than 1.1 million people in the U.S., and nearly 90,000 are diagnosed each year, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. Its Helpline, 1-800-473-4636, answers questions from people with Parkinson’s and their families.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone with Parkinson’s? What helped most? How do you keep medication reminders exactly on time? How do you help someone who freezes while walking? More in our parkinson’s care guide.

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

Questions

Parkinson’s Care in Lakeland: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care 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.

What should a Parkinson’s caregiver know?

Look for someone who has helped people with stiffness, slowness or tremor, keeps a strict routine, and knows safe transfers. Ask for a reference from a family of someone with Parkinson’s.

More near Lakeland

More senior care near Lakeland

Parkinson’s Care 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 Parkinson’s Care in Lakeland, FL