In-Home Care for Veterans in Merritt Island, FL

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in Merritt Island, FL: the local picture

2,104

veterans aged 65 or older (22% of residents 65+)

9,659

residents 65 or older (28% of Merritt Island)

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Brevard County)

20%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (26% in Brevard County)

About 2,104 Merritt Island residents aged 65 or older are veterans (22% of that age group; 22% in Brevard County), out of 3,771 veterans of all adult ages in town.

35% of all residents 65 and older report a disability (33% in Brevard County); ask the VA whether a veteran’s needs qualify for its home care programs before you hire privately.

Merritt Island compared with Brevard County and Florida

Census figure	Merritt Island	Brevard County	Florida
Residents 65+ who are veterans	22%	22%	15%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	33%	31%
Residents 65 or older	28%	24%	21%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	26%	25%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	24%	21%	20%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.2%	8.1%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$75,371	$58,980	—

Older residents in towns around Merritt Island

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
Cocoa Beach, FL	3.3 mi	4,128	23%
Rockledge, FL	3.9 mi	7,233	21%
Viera East, FL	4.0 mi	3,985	37%
Viera West, FL	5.9 mi	4,051	20%
Cocoa West, FL	6.7 mi	859	27%
Cocoa, FL	7.1 mi	4,259	25%

Hospitals near Merritt Island

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Cape Canaveral Hospital	Cocoa Beach, FL	4.2 mi	3 of 5	(321) 799-7111
Viera Hospital	Melbourne, FL	7.1 mi	5 of 5	(321) 434-9000
Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital	Melbourne, FL	12 mi	3 of 5	(321) 752-1200

Straight-line miles from the center of Merritt Island. 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 Merritt Island

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 22% of the $6,281 monthly median income of Merritt Island 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 Merritt Island: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care cost in Merritt Island?

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 22% of the $6,281 monthly median income of Merritt Island 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 Merritt Island

More senior care near Merritt Island

Veterans’ Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in Merritt Island

More for Merritt Island 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.