Community Care for the Elderly provides community-based services to assist seniors aged 60+ at risk of nursing home placement to remain in their homes or the home of a caregiver rather than relocating to an institution because of unmet personal care needs. Clients must be homebound and live in the community, but require help from others to cope with the normal demands of daily living. A co-payment fee is charged for all services received based on the client's ability to pay. A case manager is assigned to each client. Examples of services provided are adult day care, case management, emergency alert response, home delivered meals, home nursing, and nutrition counseling.

History

In 1973, the Florida Legislature demonstrated its commitment to meet the special needs of Florida 's aging citizens by passing the Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) Act. This Act was amended in 1976, authorizing the funding and implementation of demonstration projects to determine acceptable and cost-effective ways of keeping elderly persons in their own homes to prevent, postpone or reduce inappropriate or unnecessary institutional placements.

Community Care for the Elderly provides community-based services organized in a continuum of care to assist elders, aged 60+, at risk of nursing home placement to live in the least restrictive environment suitable to their needs.

In 1980, the Legislature amended the CCE Act and expanded CCE from a demonstration project to a statewide program for functionally impaired older people. The bill provided for the development of at least one community care service system in each district.

Individuals must be functionally-impaired and age 60 or older. "Functionally impaired," according to the Community Care Act, refers to persons who are homebound and live in the community, but require help from others to cope with the normal demands of daily living.