In-Home Care for Veterans in Lakeland Highlands, FL

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in Lakeland Highlands, FL: the local picture

423

veterans aged 65 or older (17% of residents 65+)

2,431

residents 65 or older (20% of Lakeland Highlands)

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Polk County)

18%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (24% in Polk County)

About 423 Lakeland Highlands residents aged 65 or older are veterans (17% of that age group; 15% in Polk County), out of 967 veterans of all adult ages in town.

28% of all residents 65 and older report a disability (32% in Polk County); ask the VA whether a veteran’s needs qualify for its home care programs before you hire privately.

Lakeland Highlands compared with Polk County and Florida

Census figure	Lakeland Highlands	Polk County	Florida
Residents 65+ who are veterans	17%	15%	15%
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	32%	31%
Residents 65 or older	20%	20%	21%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	18%	24%	25%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	20%	21%	20%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.4%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$80,152	$50,939	—

Older residents in towns around Lakeland Highlands

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
Medulla, FL	1.8 mi	1,674	24%
Fuller Heights, FL	3.6 mi	1,741	17%
Mulberry, FL	4.2 mi	1,496	13%
Highland City, FL	4.4 mi	1,941	19%
Willow Oak, FL	5.1 mi	462	17%
Crystal Lake, FL	6.3 mi	630	6.8%

Hospitals near Lakeland Highlands

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Lakeland Regional Medical Center	Lakeland, FL	7.9 mi	1 of 5	(863) 687-1100
Bartow Regional Medical Center	Bartow, FL	9.5 mi	3 of 5	(863) 533-8111
South Florida Baptist Hospital	Plant City, FL	12 mi	3 of 5	(813) 757-1200

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

What it covers

What a caregiver for a veteran can help with

Company and help around the house
Personal care: bathing, dressing, toileting
Rides to VA and other appointments
Meals and medication reminders

Cost

What veterans’ home care costs in Lakeland Highlands

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 21% of the $6,679 monthly median income of Lakeland Highlands 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 for a veteran

The VA’s Homemaker and Home Health Aide program sends a trained aide, supervised by a registered nurse, to help eligible veterans with daily activities at home. The Aid and Attendance benefit adds monthly payments to a VA pension for veterans who need help with daily activities. The VA Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for veterans before? Can you drive to the VA medical center or clinic? Are you comfortable with the paperwork VA programs need? More in our veterans’ home care guide.

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

Questions

Veterans’ Home Care in Lakeland Highlands: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care cost in Lakeland Highlands?

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 21% of the $6,679 monthly median income of Lakeland Highlands 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.

Does the VA pay for in-home care?

For eligible veterans, VA programs such as Homemaker and Home Health Aide care can provide help at home, and Aid and Attendance can add to a VA pension. Ask the VA about eligibility; the Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274 (caregiver.va.gov).

More near Lakeland Highlands

More senior care near Lakeland Highlands

Veterans’ Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in Lakeland Highlands

More for Lakeland Highlands 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.