Updated September 11, 2026 · About a 5-minute read
Families may use “personal care home” as a general description for a residential setting that helps with daily needs. Florida’s official terminology is different. The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) licenses qualifying settings as assisted living facilities, commonly called ALFs. Florida ALFs range from very small homes to large communities and are designed to provide personal care in a home-like, less restrictive setting.
A directory listing, business name, or advertisement does not prove that a home is licensed. Before choosing care, confirm the facility through Florida’s official records and make sure its license, specialty services, and current status match the resident’s needs.
Standard and specialty assisted living licenses
AHCA states that an ALF with a Standard license provides routine personal care services. A qualifying facility may also hold one or more specialty licenses:
- Limited Nursing Services (LNS): Allows certain nursing services for residents whose needs do not require continuous, 24-hour nursing supervision.
- Extended Congregate Care (ECC): Allows additional supportive and nursing services intended to help eligible residents age in place when the facility can safely meet their needs.
- Limited Mental Health (LMH): Required when an assisted living facility serves one or more residents who meet Florida’s definition of a mental health resident.
The presence of a specialty license does not show that every service is available to every resident. Ask the facility to explain what it is currently licensed, staffed, and equipped to provide for the prospective resident.
How to verify a Florida home
Use the FloridaHealthFinder Assisted Living Facility Comparison Tool, operated by the State of Florida.
- Search by facility name, location, ZIP code, county, or other available filters.
- Confirm that the facility name and street address match the home you are considering.
- Review the license status, administrator, owner, number and type of beds, and any specialty licenses shown.
- Open available inspection reports, complaint information, sanctions, deficiencies, and emergency actions.
- Compare what appears in the state record with what the home has told you.
- Ask the home to explain any expired, missing, inconsistent, or unresolved information before signing an agreement.
FloridaHealthFinder says its comparison information is updated nightly. Licensing and operating information can still change, so recheck the facility near the planned move-in date.
Questions to ask before choosing a home
- Is the facility’s AHCA license currently active, and does the licensed address match this location?
- Does the home operate under a Standard license only, or does it also hold LNS, ECC, or LMH specialty licenses?
- Can the home safely meet the resident’s current and reasonably anticipated needs within its licensed scope?
- What is the licensed bed capacity, and how many residents currently live here?
- Who is available overnight, and how are falls and emergencies handled?
- How are medications administered, documented, reviewed, and reordered?
- Which services are included in the base price, and which services or care levels cost extra?
- Can we review the resident contract, complete fee schedule, residents’ rights, discharge policy, and refund policy before signing?
- How does the home respond when a resident’s condition changes or after a hospital visit?
- What did the facility change after its most recent inspection or complaint investigation?
- May we speak with current residents or families who have agreed to be references?
Visit in person when possible. Observe cleanliness, food, staffing, accessibility, resident engagement, noise, safety practices, and how staff speak with residents. A directory page, website, or telephone conversation cannot replace an in-person review.
Complaints, resident advocacy, and urgent concerns
AHCA says concerns about care or services in an assisted living facility can be reported to its Complaint Administration Unit at 1-888-419-3456. Facility information and complaint resources are available through AHCA and FloridaHealthFinder.
The Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for residents of assisted living facilities and other long-term-care settings. It identifies, investigates, and helps resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents. Assistance is available toll-free at 1-888-831-0404.
Known or suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect of a vulnerable adult can be reported to the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873. If someone is in immediate danger or needs emergency help, call 911 first.
How to use this directory
PersonalCareHomes.net is an independent directory, not a placement agency, health care provider, licensing authority, or legal service. A listing does not mean that we verified, endorsed, or recommended the home. Information may come from public records or the provider and can become outdated.
Use this directory to identify possible homes, compare the information available, and use listed contact options. Then independently verify licensing, services, staffing, availability, pricing, inspection history, and suitability before making a decision.
Browse personal care homes in Florida or review our questions to ask when touring a personal care home.
Official Florida sources
- Florida AHCA: Assisted Living Facility
- FloridaHealthFinder Assisted Living Facility Comparison Tool
- FloridaHealthFinder Assisted Living Consumer Guide
- Florida AHCA Assisted Living Unit
- Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
- Florida DCF: How to Report Adult Abuse
This guide is educational and is not medical or legal advice. Rules and facility information can change; use the official resources above for current information.