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Compassionate home care in Alachua County

Trusted, background-screened caregivers, honest Florida Medicaid guidance, and flexible private-pay care for Alachua County families, all coordinated by Cottage's Florida care team.

  • Florida Medicaid at little to no cost for those who qualify
  • A loved one may be hired and paid to provide the care
  • Private pay can begin in as little as 24 hours
  • Free eligibility review — we handle the paperwork
Call (786) 899-46735.0 rating from South Florida families

Request care in Alachua County

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North Central Florida home care

Local, trusted care across Alachua County

Cottage Home Care helps seniors and adults across Alachua County stay right where they feel most themselves, at home in the heart of North Central Florida, instead of moving into a nursing home or assisted living facility. Whether a loved one lives near the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, out in the rolling farm country around Newberry and Alachua, or in a quiet neighborhood near Paynes Prairie, our caregivers provide personal care, companionship, homemaking, and specialized memory care so daily life stays safe, familiar, and comfortable.

From your very first phone call, our Florida care team walks you through Florida Medicaid and the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program (SMMC-LTC), a statewide benefit that reaches families throughout Alachua County. We explain what the program covers, help you understand whether a loved one may qualify, and handle the paperwork with you at no cost. In many cases a qualified family member or close friend can even be hired and paid to provide the care, and every Cottage caregiver is trained and thoroughly background-screened before they ever step through your door.

If you would rather not wait on an eligibility determination, our private-pay option lets care begin quickly, often within about 24 hours. You choose the schedule that fits your family, whether that is a few hours a day, overnight support, or full live-in care, with the flexibility to adjust as needs change across the seasons in Gainesville, High Springs, Archer, and the rest of the county.

From Gainesville and Alachua to Newberry, High Springs, Archer, Hawthorne, Micanopy, and Waldo, Cottage Home Care brings trusted, in-home support to families across Alachua County.

Cities we serve in Alachua County

  • Gainesville
  • Alachua
  • Newberry
  • High Springs
  • Archer
  • Hawthorne
  • Micanopy
  • Waldo
  • La Crosse
Why Cottage Home Care

Why Alachua County families choose us

  • Statewide Florida Medicaid that reaches Alachua County

    Cottage's offices are in South Florida, but the SMMC-LTC program we help families access is a statewide Florida Medicaid benefit, so Alachua County residents in Gainesville, Newberry, Hawthorne, and beyond receive the same coordinated in-home care and support. Our Florida care team manages everything remotely and locally through trained caregivers, no local storefront required.

  • We handle the Florida Medicaid paperwork for you at no cost

    Navigating SMMC-LTC eligibility, enrollment, and long-term care approvals can feel overwhelming for a North Central Florida family juggling work and caregiving. Our team reviews your situation, explains the qualifications, and completes the applications with you free of charge, so Alachua County families spend their energy on their loved one instead of on forms.

  • A family member can be the paid caregiver

    Through Florida's participant-directed Medicaid options, a qualified spouse, adult child, or trusted friend in Alachua County can often be hired and paid to care for your loved one. That means a familiar face already known and loved, from a home in Micanopy to an apartment near UF in Gainesville, can provide the daily support while getting compensated for their time.

  • Private pay that starts fast

    For families who do not qualify for Medicaid or simply want to begin now, our private-pay care can often start within about 24 hours anywhere in Alachua County. Choose hourly, overnight, or live-in support with no eligibility wait, and adjust the schedule as your loved one's needs change in High Springs, Archer, Waldo, or Alachua.

Two paths to home care in Florida

Most Florida families use Medicaid to cover home care. Others start privately within 24 hours. One free call and we’ll tell you which path fits — no obligation.

Most families qualify
Medicaid

Florida Medicaid Home Care

Statewide Medicaid Managed Care — Long-Term Care (SMMC-LTC)

$0out-of-pocket for those who qualify

Florida Medicaid covers in-home care at no cost for eligible seniors. Through the Participant Directed Option, a family member can even be hired and paid as the caregiver.

  • Little to no cost for qualifying families
  • A family member can be paid to be the caregiver
  • We handle the eligibility paperwork — free
  • Serving Miami-Dade, Broward & Palm Beach
Start in ~24 hours
Private Pay

Private Pay Home Care

Flexible care with no Medicaid paperwork or waiting

24 hrsand care can begin — no eligibility wait

Choose the schedule you need — hourly, overnight, 24-hour, or live-in care anywhere in South Florida — and we match a trusted caregiver right away.

  • Start right away — no eligibility wait
  • Flexible hourly, overnight & live-in plans
  • Change or scale your hours anytime
  • Clear hourly rates — no hidden fees

Not sure which path is right for your family? We’ll walk you through both — free, with no obligation.

Ready to find the right home care in Florida?

Complete home care, across all of Florida

From everyday personal care to specialized memory support, our South Florida caregivers deliver personalized care at home — through Florida Medicaid or private pay, we’ll help you find the right fit.

  • Personal Care

    Bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and everyday mobility support.

  • Companion Care

    Companionship, supervision, errands, and genuine emotional support.

  • Alzheimer's & Dementia

    Specialized, patient memory care delivered in familiar surroundings.

  • Homemaking

    Light housekeeping, laundry, and home-cooked meal preparation.

  • 24-Hour & Live-In

    Around-the-clock and live-in care for higher-need routines.

  • Medicaid & Private Pay

    Free help with SMMC-LTC eligibility, or flexible private-pay plans.

Statewide service areaOur offices — Miami & Fort Lauderdale
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration LicensedCHAP CertifiedLicensed Home Care AgencyCHAP Seal of AccreditationHIPAA CompliantFlorida Agency for Health Care Administration LicensedCHAP CertifiedLicensed Home Care AgencyCHAP Seal of AccreditationHIPAA CompliantFlorida Agency for Health Care Administration LicensedCHAP CertifiedLicensed Home Care AgencyCHAP Seal of AccreditationHIPAA Compliant

Trusted by South Florida families

Real reviews from the families we care for across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.

Elena R.Verified
Cottage made it so easy to arrange care for my mother. Our caregiver treats her like family, and I finally have peace of mind knowing she is safe at home.
Miami, FL
Marcus G.Verified
From the first call, the team was warm and organized. They matched us with a caregiver quickly and the care has been outstanding every single day.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Carmen S.Verified
After my husband’s surgery we needed help fast. Cottage handled everything and the caregivers were compassionate, punctual, and truly skilled.
West Palm Beach, FL
David L.Verified
Being able to be paid to care for my dad through the Medicaid program changed everything for our family. Cottage walked us through every step.
Hollywood, FL
Rosa N.Verified
The team went above and beyond to make sure I understood every option. Patient, kind, and genuinely caring — five stars without hesitation.
Hialeah, FL
Elena R.Verified
Cottage made it so easy to arrange care for my mother. Our caregiver treats her like family, and I finally have peace of mind knowing she is safe at home.
Miami, FL
Marcus G.Verified
From the first call, the team was warm and organized. They matched us with a caregiver quickly and the care has been outstanding every single day.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Carmen S.Verified
After my husband’s surgery we needed help fast. Cottage handled everything and the caregivers were compassionate, punctual, and truly skilled.
West Palm Beach, FL
David L.Verified
Being able to be paid to care for my dad through the Medicaid program changed everything for our family. Cottage walked us through every step.
Hollywood, FL
Rosa N.Verified
The team went above and beyond to make sure I understood every option. Patient, kind, and genuinely caring — five stars without hesitation.
Hialeah, FL

Alachua County home care — your questions answered

Quick answers about Florida Medicaid, private pay, and getting started with in-home care in Alachua County.

Yes. We coordinate in-home care throughout Alachua County, from Gainesville and Alachua to smaller communities like Newberry, High Springs, Archer, Hawthorne, Micanopy, Waldo, and La Crosse. While Cottage's offices are in South Florida, our Florida care team and background-screened caregivers support Alachua County families countywide.

Get in touch

Visit our Miami & Fort Lauderdale offices

Stop by, call, or send us a message. Our local team is here to answer your questions and help you get started.

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