Collier County, FL Senior Help Directory: Naples, Marco Island and Immokalee Programs for Seniors and Families (2026)

Free, plain-English help for seniors and families in Collier County, FL. Education, not advice. Verify before you rely on it.

Start here (works anywhere)

• 211 (dial 2-1-1), Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116, BenefitsCheckUp.org, Medicare 1-800-633-4227, Social Security 1-800-772-1213, VA 1-800-827-1000, Alzheimer's 24/7 Helpline 1-800-272-3900, National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-372-8311, Crisis Lifeline 988

Three local front doors: Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, 2830 Winkler Avenue, Suite 112, Fort Myers, FL 33916, main line 239-652-6900, whose Elder Helpline is 1-866-413-5337 (1-866-41-ELDER), Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Collier County Community and Human Services, case-managed intake at 239-252-CARE (2273), county Government Center 3299 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL 34112, 239-252-8999 | 2-1-1, plus United Way of Collier and the Keys directly at 239-263-4211, text your ZIP code to 898211, office 9015 Strada Stell Court, Suite 204, Naples, FL 34109, 239-261-7112.

Start with the one instruction the county itself gives you, because it saves a wasted phone call. Collier County's Services for Seniors page opens with this: "To apply for Collier County Services for Seniors call the Area Agency on Aging Help Line at (866) 413-5337. The Help Line is the central telephone number for assistance to locate local services." That is unusually direct, and it matters. Collier County government delivers a lot of senior services on the ground here, but eligibility for the aging-network programs is determined through the regional Area Agency on Aging, which sits in Fort Myers, in the next county north. That agency is the state's designated Aging and Disability Resource Center for Southwest Florida and covers Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Lee and Sarasota counties. One number, 1-866-413-5337, is where SHINE Medicare counseling is arranged, where respite and caregiver programs live, where the Medicaid long-term care track begins, and where the elder energy crisis program is administered.

The second thing to understand about Collier County is that it is really three places, and the programs know it even when the brochures do not. There is coastal Naples and Marco Island, among the wealthiest addresses in Florida. There is Golden Gate and East Naples, where most of the working population lives. And there is Immokalee, a farmworking community roughly forty miles inland with its own food pantries, its own Salvation Army service center, its own housing authority headquarters and its own mobile pantry schedule. Several of the programs below have separate Immokalee locations, and a few, like the Collier County Housing Authority, are actually headquartered there rather than in Naples. When you call, say which part of the county you are in. It changes the answer more often than you would expect.

The third thing is a pattern worth naming up front: several programs that serve Collier County are administered from outside it. LIHEAP, the energy bill program, is run by an agency headquartered in Polk County with no service delivery site in Collier. Weatherization is run out of Florida City, on the far side of the state. The Area Agency on Aging is in Fort Myers. None of that means you cannot get help. It means the phone and the online application are your tools, and it means that "just go down to the office" is often not an option. Plan accordingly.

Two more numbers belong on the refrigerator. The Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873 takes reports of suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult, 24 hours a day. And the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-888-831-0404 is who you call about a nursing home, assisted living facility or adult family care home, rather than that facility's own management. Collier County also publishes a Florida Public Guardian office at 239-417-1040 and an Alzheimer's Support Network at 239-262-8388.

Property tax relief (apply with the Collier County Property Appraiser, 239-252-8141, 3950 Radio Road, Naples)

Florida seniors apply for property tax relief through the county Property Appraiser, not the Tax Collector. In Collier County that office is at 3950 Radio Road, Naples, FL 34104, phone 239-252-8141.

Standard Homestead Exemption (statewide). You must hold legal or equitable title on January 1 and in good faith make the property your permanent residence. The Property Appraiser describes the benefit as "a reduction of up to $25,000 from the assessed value of the property for all taxing authorities, and an additional exemption on the assessed value above $50,000." The office states that new applications for the current year must be made prior to March 1. Filing also starts the Save Our Homes assessment cap, which over ten or fifteen years is usually worth more than any exemption on this page.

Now the senior exemptions, and here is where Collier County is genuinely better than most of Florida, so it is worth the paperwork. Florida law lets each county and each city decide by local ordinance whether to grant one or both additional homestead exemptions to low-income seniors. Plenty of Florida counties adopted only the smaller one, and some set it far below the maximum. Collier adopted both.

Exemption one, up to $50,000. The Property Appraiser's own page says it plainly: "Effective January 1, 2000, the Collier County Board of Commissioners and the Naples City Council approved, by ordinance, this additional homestead exemption. The amount of the exemption specified will not exceed $50,000." Note that two separate governments adopted it, the county and the City of Naples, which matters because of how these exemptions work.

Exemption two, the whole assessed value, for long-term residents. The same office describes the 2012 constitutional amendment this way: it "allows an additional homestead tax exemption that will be equal to the assessed value of homestead property with a just value less than $250,000, if the owner is over 65 years of age, has proven household income did not exceed the yearly income requirements and affirms their permanent residence has been on the same property for at least 25 years," and then states that "this amendment was adopted by Collier County to provide a further reduction in your portion of county taxes." For a long-tenured owner of a modest home, that is not a trim off the bill. That is the county portion gone.

What both of them require. You must own and reside on the property as of January 1 of the tax roll year, meet the requirements for the regular homestead exemption, be 65 years of age on or before January 1 with proof of age, and meet the household income limit. For 2026 the limit is $38,686, measured against 2025 adjusted gross income for the entire household. The Florida Department of Revenue publishes that figure annually and adjusts it for the cost of living: it was $37,694 for 2025 and $36,614 for 2024. You complete form DR-501SC, the Sworn Statement of Adjusted Gross Income of Household.

Read this deadline twice, because it is not the one you have been told. For the regular homestead exemption the deadline is March 1. For the senior exemption, the Collier County Property Appraiser states that the application "must be supported by copies of federal income tax returns for the prior year and any wage and earnings statements for each member of the household, and must be submitted by June 1, of each year." If you are past March and someone told you that you missed it, call 239-252-8141 before you accept that.

Two mechanics that save people trouble later. First, once you initially qualify, annual re-application is not required as long as you still meet the income limit. The office mails renewing recipients the state-determined income limit by the end of January each year, and if your household income goes over it you must notify the Property Appraiser in writing by May 1 of that tax roll year. Random audits are conducted under Florida statute, so that written notice is not a formality. Second, if you do not file a federal tax return, you supply copies of all end-of-year income statements instead.

The limit on all of it, and the question to ask about your specific address. The Florida Department of Revenue states that these exemptions "apply only to the tax millage a county or city levies when it adopts a local ordinance and do not apply to the millage of school districts or other taxing units." So they never touch the school portion of your bill. The Property Appraiser names the Collier County Board of Commissioners and the Naples City Council as the adopting governments. It does not name Marco Island or Everglades City. Rather than guess whether your city adopted one, do this: give the Property Appraiser your exact street address and ask which taxing authorities appear on that specific bill and which of them granted a senior exemption. That is a two-minute call that decides whether the exemption is worth several hundred dollars or several thousand.

One rumor to put down. If you heard that Florida was about to exempt seniors from property taxes entirely, that was SB 272 (2026), which would have provided a total exemption from ad valorem taxation other than school district levies for qualifying people 65 and older. It died in the Senate Finance and Tax Committee on March 13, 2026. The rules above are the rules that apply now.

Finally, the program almost nobody mentions: tax deferral. The Collier County Tax Collector, main office at the Government Center, 3291 Tamiami Trail East, phone 239-252-8171, administers homestead tax deferral. The office states that "any person entitled to claim Homestead Exemption may qualify to defer a portion of their property taxes or non-ad valorem assessments based on the applicant's household income," that taxes "may be deferred in their entirety" if household income is under $10,000, and that an applicant "over 70 years of age and has an annual income of less than $12,000" may defer the entire amount. The deadline for filing is March 31 of each year. Understand what you are signing, though. The Tax Collector states that an approved deferral "would become a first lien on the property and you MUST furnish fire insurance coverage with a loss payable clause to the Tax Collector." Deferral stops an immediate cash crisis. It is not forgiveness, and the balance is still owed. Ask the office to walk you through the current income thresholds before you file, since the underlying statute has been amended over the years.

Food

Collier County Senior Nutrition and Activity Program, for people 60 and older. The county operates congregate nutrition sites that serve a meal each weekday alongside activities and nutrition education, and it delivers meals to seniors who are homebound or too ill to attend. The four sites the county publishes are:

• Ekos Cadenza Senior Living Community, 8455 Rattlesnake Hammock Rd., 239-252-1460
• Beraca Church, 905 Roberts Avenue, Immokalee, 239-450-2331
• Collier Senior Center at Golden Gate, 4898 Coronado Parkway, 239-252-4195
• Goodlette Arms, 950 Goodlette Rd. N., 239-252-4195

Home delivered meals come two different ways here, and the difference is worth understanding. Collier County runs a Frozen Home Delivered Meal Program, reached at 239-252-2273. Separately, the county's own 311 knowledge base states that "St. Vincent DePaul oversees the Meals on Wheels Program for a daily delivered meal" and gives 239-775-1667. St. Vincent de Paul, at 4451 Mercantile Avenue, Naples, describes its route as the largest privately funded Meals on Wheels operation in Collier County, delivering close to 50,000 meals a year without government funding. A privately funded program sets its own eligibility and is not bound by the federal priority lists, so if one route says no or puts you on a wait, ask the other. Frozen weekly delivery and a hot daily meal are also just different things, and which one fits depends on whether someone can safely use a microwave.

Food pantries, as Collier County publishes them. The county maintains a current list, which is the reason the hours below are worth trusting more than a search result:

• Harry Chapin Food Bank, Collier County Center, 3940 Prospect Ave #101, Naples 34104, 239-334-7007, Mon to Fri 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Serves all of Collier through partner agencies, with an online Food Locator by ZIP code.
• Catholic Charities of Collier County, Family Resource Center, 3174 Tamiami Trail E, Naples 34112, 239-794-0059, Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• St. Matthew's House, Community Choice Pantry, 4535 Domestic Ave, Naples 34104, 239-774-0500, Mon to Thu 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., third Thursday until 6 p.m. Appointment and photo ID required.
• St. Vincent de Paul Society, Choice Pantry, 4451 Mercantile Ave, Naples 34104, 239-775-1667, Mon, Wed, Fri 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Tue and Thu 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• The Salvation Army, Naples Family Service Center, 3180 Estey Ave, Naples 34104, 239-210-4016, Mon to Fri 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
• Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, 2221 Corporation Blvd, Naples 34109, 239-259-5188, weekdays 10 a.m. to noon by appointment, Saturday 9 a.m. to noon drive-thru.
• Tree of Life Food Pantry, 2132 Shadowlawn Drive, Naples, 239-530-2200, second and fourth Saturday 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. Pre-registration required.
• Meals of Hope mobile pantry, 239-537-7775, Tuesdays 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at rotating locations including the YMCA of Collier County.

Immokalee: Amigos en Cristo / Amigos Center, 106 S 2nd St, 239-437-6727, weekdays roughly 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | The Salvation Army Immokalee Service Center, 415 Commerce Ave #3, 239-657-2199 | Meals of Hope mobile pantry, 1800 Farm Worker Way, Thursdays 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Marco Island: Our Daily Bread, 1450 Winterberry Dr, 239-259-5188, weekdays 10 a.m. to noon by appointment, Saturday drive-through 9 a.m. to noon, plus a mobile pantry at 1101 N Collier Blvd on the first and third Wednesdays, 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. Serves Marco Island, Goodland, Isles of Capri and the surrounding area.

SNAP. Collier County publishes 239-332-2822 for DCF food stamps on its Services for Seniors page and 850-300-4323 on its rent and utility assistance page. Both are Department of Children and Families lines. If one has a wait, try the other. Seniors are frequently eligible for SNAP even with a modest Social Security check, because medical expenses can be deducted, and the amount is often larger than people assume.

Energy and utility help

First, know your utility. Collier County households are served by Florida Power and Light or by Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC), and the county's own energy assistance document checklist asks specifically for "FPL or LCEC Electric Bill." Which one you have changes who you call about hardship programs and payment arrangements.

Second, and this is the part to read carefully, the elder energy program's local intake is genuinely unsettled right now. Two Collier County pages currently say different things, and rather than pick one and hope, here is exactly what each says.

• Collier County's Social Services Programs page states: "The Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP) is no longer managed by Collier County. For utility assistance, please contact the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) administered by The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. (ALPI)."
• Collier County's affordable housing site still describes EHEAP in full, states it "is available to households who have a delinquent electric bill and an adult 60 years or older who resides in the home," adds that it "can also assist with the repair and replacement of air conditioning to an elderly household who is a homeowner," and gives in-person intake at the Community and Human Services office on Airport Road South in Naples, phone 239-450-2114 or dial 311.
• The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida lists EHEAP among its own programs across its seven counties, which include Collier, at 1-866-413-5337.

What to actually do: call the Elder Helpline at 1-866-413-5337 first, because the Area Agency is the entity that administers EHEAP regionally and will know who is taking Collier applications this month. Then call 239-450-2114. If someone will take the application, the air conditioning benefit alone makes it worth pursuing in this climate.

Regular LIHEAP for Collier County is run by The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. (ALPI), and this is where the "administered from outside the county" pattern bites hardest. ALPI's corporate office is at 300 Lynchburg Road, Lake Alfred, FL 33850, phone 863-956-3491. It states the program "is only available in the following counties: Collier, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Martin, Polk and St. Lucie." But its published service delivery sites are in Avon Park, Lake Alfred, Winter Haven and Fort Pierce. There is no ALPI walk-in site listed in Collier County. The practical route is the online application through Florida Commerce, or the phone. Collier County also lists Macedonia Baptist Church at 239-262-4877 as a local source of LIHEAP assistance, which is worth a call if you need a human in the room.

Free weatherization is a separate program and it is not means-tested the same way. Centro Campesino administers the Weatherization Assistance Program for Collier County along with thirteen other counties, from 35801 SW 186th Avenue, Florida City, FL 33034, phone 305-245-7738. Household income may not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level, and the program gives priority to residents 60 and older, people with disabilities, families with young children and households with a high energy burden. Covered work includes weatherstripping, caulking, insulation, window and door replacement, attic ventilation, solar screens, and repair or replacement of inefficient heating, cooling and water heating equipment. It is provided at no cost to eligible homeowners and tenants. In a county where the summer electric bill is the whole problem, a free air conditioning repair through weatherization is often the more permanent fix than a one-time bill payment.

When the money has to come today, call 2-1-1 or 239-263-4211. Collier County's rent and utility assistance list also names Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice at 239-455-2655, St. Vincent de Paul at 239-775-1667 or 239-775-2907, and The Salvation Army at 239-210-4016. These funds move month to month, and 2-1-1 keeps the live list of which ones still have money.

Medicare, Medicaid, prescriptions

SHINE is Florida's free Medicare counseling program, and in Collier County it runs through the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida. Counselors are trained volunteers who are not affiliated with any insurance company or agency, which is the entire point of the program: nobody in that conversation earns a commission on what you choose. Call 1-866-413-5337 for a counselor, the current in-person schedule or an upcoming webinar. Collier County's own Services for Seniors page lists that same number for SHINE.

Ask SHINE to screen you for the programs that pay the premiums, not just to compare plans. The Area Agency separately administers MIPPA, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act program, which exists specifically to find low-income seniors who are eligible for help with Medicare costs and are not getting it. The Medicare Savings Programs can cover the Part B premium, which is real money back in a monthly Social Security deposit, and Extra Help reduces prescription costs. A very large share of the people eligible for these never apply, usually because nobody told them the programs exist.

Medicaid and long-term care. Collier County publishes 239-332-2822 for Medicaid. For long-term care specifically, Florida splits the decision between two agencies, and knowing that saves months: the Department of Elder Affairs determines whether you meet the level of care through CARES, and the Department of Children and Families determines financial eligibility through ACCESS. For someone not already in a nursing home, the process starts with a call to the Aging and Disability Resource Center, which here is the Elder Helpline at 1-866-413-5337. The Area Agency lists the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long Term Care Program among the programs it helps people reach. Start that call earlier than feels necessary. The functional assessment and the financial determination run on their own timelines, and there is often a wait list between eligibility and enrollment.

Medicare itself is 1-800-633-4227, 24 hours a day, TTY 1-877-486-2048.

Home repair and safety

Collier County's SHIP owner-occupied rehabilitation program is the main door, and its terms are better than most. The county offers interest-free, deferred loans up to $50,000 to eligible homeowners in unincorporated Collier County, the City of Naples, the City of Marco Island or Everglades City for repairs to single-family homes, townhomes or condominium units. Deferred is the word that matters: unlike emergency repair loans in some neighboring counties, this does not put a monthly payment on a fixed income. Mobile homes built prior to July 13, 1994 do not qualify. There is also a separate roof replacement program, also a deferred, interest-free loan, for Collier County residents whose primary home needs a new roof, subject to program and income criteria.

Contact Collier County Community and Human Services, 2671 Airport Road South, Naples, FL 34112, phone 239-450-2114, email housing.info@collier.gov. Funding runs in annual cycles, so if applications are closed when you call, ask when the next cycle opens and what you can gather in the meantime. The county's public notice for the 2025 to 2026 cycle put the state SHIP allocation at roughly $3,026,000, with homeowner strategies including purchase assistance, housing rehabilitation, and demolition and replacement of manufactured homes, serving households up to 120 percent of area median income. That AMI ceiling is higher than people assume, and in a county with Collier's incomes it is worth checking rather than self-disqualifying.

Free weatherization, covered in the energy section above, is the other half of this. Centro Campesino, 305-245-7738, priority to applicants 60 and older, no cost.

And the pay-off letter detail, for families settling an estate or selling: if a Collier County loan is already on the property, the county directs payoff requests to a specific staff line at 239-252-2339. That is the sort of thing that holds up a closing when nobody knows to ask.

Rent, housing, emergency cash

Collier County Housing Authority is headquartered in Immokalee, not Naples, which surprises people. Main office: 1800 Farm Worker Way, Immokalee, FL 34142, 239-657-3649, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed noon to 1. TTY 800-955-8771. The Section 8 office is separate and is in Naples: 5286 Golden Gate Parkway, Suite 2, Naples, FL 34116, 239-732-0732. The authority runs Housing Choice Vouchers, farm worker housing, low-income housing and Horizon Village. Housing Choice Voucher wait lists in Florida open and close without much notice and are frequently closed, so ask specifically when the list is expected to open and whether there is a preference category you fall into, rather than assuming a closed list means never.

For affordable rentals, Collier County points residents to Florida Housing Search at 1-877-428-8844, and the county's own housing site publishes a rental apartment inventory.

For emergency rent and utilities, the county's published list is Catholic Charities 239-455-2655, St. Vincent de Paul 239-775-1667 or 239-775-2907, The Salvation Army 239-210-4016, and United Way at 2-1-1 or 239-263-4211.

For county social services generally, including medication assistance, Collier County Community and Human Services takes case-managed applications at 239-252-CARE (2273). Be ready for a real document list: four weeks of income proof or a benefits letter, Social Security cards and identification for everyone in the household, two documents proving Collier County residency, proof of assets, insurance policies and, where relevant, a letter from Medicaid stating denial of services. The county also states that to receive support "the resident must not be eligible for other assistance programs," so the case manager will screen you for everything else first. That is not a brush-off. It is how the program is written.

One quiet program worth knowing about before you need it. Collier County Human Services provides indigent cremation for low-income residents who cannot afford final disposition for a relative. The person must have died in Collier County, must not have had life insurance, and household income must not exceed 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The program does not cover a funeral, viewing or memorial service. The county lists 239-252-8441 for cremation services. Nobody wants to make that call, and knowing it exists in advance is a kindness to whoever eventually has to.

Transportation

Collier Area Transit (CAT) gives a straight fifty percent discount at 65 and older, and also to Medicare cardholders, the disabled community, students and active or retired military. ID is required.

| Fare | Full | Reduced | | --- | --- | --- | | One-way | $2.00 | $1.00 | | Day pass | $3.00 | $1.50 | | 15-day pass | $20.00 | $10.00 | | 30-day pass | $40.00 | $20.00 | | Marco Express one-way | $3.00 | $1.50 | | Marco Express 30-day | $70.00 | $35.00 |

Transfers within 90 minutes are free on both fare levels.

Here is the requirement that trips people up, and it repeats every year. You cannot simply claim the reduced fare in the app. CAT states that to receive reduced fares or discounted passes you must stop by one of its transfer stations and show identification. If you buy through the Transit app, the rideCAT app or the website, set up the account first and then go show ID in person. The entitlement is then placed on your account for one year, and CAT states that "identification must be shown in-person annually to continue the Reduced or Discounted entitlement." Put that renewal on the calendar, because the fare quietly reverts to full price otherwise.

CATConnect is the door-to-door paratransit service, 239-252-7272. Eligibility requires a completed application with information provided by a licensed medical professional, and riders may qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act or under the Transportation Disadvantaged program. Conditional eligibility exists for people who can use the fixed-route bus in some circumstances but not others, which is worth asking about directly rather than assuming it is all or nothing. If you are moving to Collier County from another state and were certified there, CAT offers a 21-day temporary certification while your application is processed. CAT customer service is 239-252-7777.

Non-emergency medical transportation under Medicaid runs through the state's Transportation Disadvantaged contract locally, so if the trip is to a Medicaid-covered appointment, ask your Medicaid managed care plan first before paying a fare.

Legal help

Start with the Florida Senior Legal Helpline, 1-888-895-7873. It is funded by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and managed by Bay Area Legal Services, and it provides free legal advice and brief services by telephone to Florida residents age 60 and older for civil, not criminal, matters. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Income guidelines apply. Collier County publishes this same number on its Services for Seniors page as the "Florida Senior Legal Hotline." When representation in court is necessary, the helpline refers to local providers.

Locally, Legal Aid Service of Collier County is at 4436 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL 34112, phone 239-775-4555. Its work includes eviction and foreclosure defense, unsafe or unlawful housing conditions, and public benefits, with services for people over 59 among its focus areas. Free to those who qualify.

For a facility problem, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-888-831-0404 is a separate and free advocate for residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family care homes. Use it before you escalate with the facility itself, not after.

For suspected exploitation, the Florida Abuse Hotline is 1-800-962-2873, 24 hours a day. Financial exploitation of an older adult is reportable, and in a county with Collier's concentration of retiree wealth it is a live risk rather than a theoretical one. The National Elder Fraud Hotline is 1-833-372-8311. For guardianship questions, Collier County lists the Florida Public Guardian office at 239-417-1040.

Caregiver support

Baker Senior Center Naples, 6200 Autumn Oaks Lane, 239-325-4444, is the most substantial local resource for dementia caregivers, and it serves adults over 60 in Collier and southern Lee counties. Its Dementia Respite program is built for people experiencing memory loss, offering cognitive stimulation, social activity and exercise in a supervised setting, and it is explicitly designed to give the caregiver a four-hour break. The center also runs geriatric case management, emotional support, a food pantry, and free caregiver support groups on Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 to 2:25 p.m. for anyone caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, with no advance registration required. A support group you can walk into without a phone call first is a genuinely low barrier, and it is often the fastest way into everything else the center offers.

The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida carries the funded programs, all at 1-866-413-5337: respite care, both short-term and extended, for family caregivers of frail elders and people with memory disorders; home and community-based care; and Veteran-Directed Home and Community Based Services, which lets veterans of any age receive services from a caregiver of their own choosing. Florida's Alzheimer's Disease Initiative funds in-home, facility-based and emergency respite, plus caregiver counseling, support groups and training, and it is delivered through the Area Agencies on Aging. That is one phone call for several different benefits, so ask about all of them in the same conversation rather than calling back.

Florida also funds a network of 17 Memory Disorder Clinics across 13 service areas, which provide diagnostic evaluation, caregiver education and referral. We could not confirm from an official source which clinic is designated for Collier County, so rather than name one and send you to the wrong place, ask the Elder Helpline at 1-866-413-5337 or the statewide Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 which Memory Disorder Clinic serves this county. A designated clinic evaluation is a different thing from a general neurology referral, and it is worth asking for by name.

Other local numbers Collier County publishes: Alzheimer's Support Network 239-262-8388 | Parkinson's Association of Southwest Florida 239-417-3465 | Lighthouse of Collier, Center for Blindness and Vision Loss, 239-430-3934 | Naples Lion Club hearing and vision assistance 239-353-4800 | RSVP volunteer opportunities 239-252-5713 | Collier Senior Center, 4898 Coronado Parkway, Naples 34116, 239-252-4541, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The national Alzheimer's Association Helpline, 1-800-272-3900, is free, staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the year, in more than 200 languages.

Veterans and their families

Collier County Veteran Services, 2671 Airport Road South, Court Plaza, Suite 202, Naples, FL 34112, phone 239-252-8387 (VETS), fax 239-252-2870, CollierCounty.VeteranServices@collier.gov, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The county describes a team with more than twenty years of combined experience helping veterans file for disability compensation, non-service-connected pensions, appeals, burial benefits, education, health and survivor's benefits. County veteran service officers are free.

Ask specifically about VA Pension with Aid and Attendance. Collier County Veteran Services publishes packets for both Pension with Aid and Attendance and Survivors Pension with Aid and Attendance. This is the needs-based benefit that can help a wartime veteran or a surviving spouse pay for in-home care or assisted living, and it is routinely missed by families who assume that no service-connected disability means no benefit. Bring the discharge paperwork, current medical costs and financial statements to that appointment.

Something is being built here, and it is worth knowing the timeline. Collier County has dedicated 23.59 acres of the former Golden Gate Golf Course property along Collier Boulevard for a State Veterans' Nursing Home, in partnership with the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs. The county states the campus will provide skilled nursing services to veterans and, notably for families, workday respite services to their caregivers, along with a wellness center, outpatient therapy and other veteran resources. The property dedication ceremony was held January 9, 2026. This is a future facility, not a current option, so plan care for the next several years around what exists today and treat the nursing home as something to check back on.

Crisis and general lines the county publishes: Veterans Crisis Line 988, press 1, or text 838255 | Florida Veterans Support Line 1-844-693-5838 | VA benefits 1-800-827-1000 | 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411), 24 hours | Homeless Veterans Hotline 877-424-3838.

Staying at home instead of a nursing home

• The Medicaid track is the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program, and it covers care at home and in assisted living, not only in a nursing facility. Two separate determinations have to happen: CARES, under the Department of Elder Affairs, decides whether you meet the nursing-facility level of care, and ACCESS, under the Department of Children and Families, decides financial eligibility. For someone still living at home, the process starts with the Elder Helpline at 1-866-413-5337. Ask on that first call whether there is a wait list and where you stand on it.
• The PACE track is covered in its own section below and is the single most complete option for someone who qualifies.
• The track that needs no Medicaid determination at all is the Older Americans Act and state-funded network: home delivered meals, congregate meals, respite, caregiver support and home and community-based care, all reachable through the Elder Helpline at 1-866-413-5337 and through Collier County Community and Human Services at 239-252-2273. These have their own eligibility and their own wait lists, but they do not require you to spend down assets. Start here while the Medicaid process runs in parallel, rather than waiting for one before beginning the other.
• The private track is St. Vincent de Paul's Meals on Wheels at 239-775-1667 and Baker Senior Center Naples at 239-325-4444, neither of which is bound by the federal program rules. When the funded programs say no or say wait, these are the calls that sometimes say yes.

PACE

PACE, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, is real in Collier County and it has people in it. That is not true everywhere in Florida, so it is worth stating plainly. Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration, in its February 2026 PACE monthly report, lists Hope PACE as Operational in Collier County, with an initial AHCA approval date of April 12, 2012, 120 slots approved and 120 funded, and 89 enrollees as of the first of the report month, plus 104 unique individuals served across the fiscal year. Neighboring Glades and Hendry counties are listed with no PACE agency at all.

PACE combines Medicare and Medicaid into one program that provides medical care, an adult day center, therapy, prescriptions, transportation to appointments and in-home support, all coordinated by one team, for people who need a nursing-facility level of care but want to stay at home.

The center serving this county is the Hope PACE Center at 13020 Livingston Road, Naples, FL 34105. Hope PACE states the minimum age is 55, that you must be a resident of Charlotte, Collier or Lee County, and that enrollees must be able to live safely at home with the additional services the program provides. Call the enrollment line at 239-985-6400, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Two practical notes. First, with 120 funded slots and 89 people enrolled, there was room in this program as of the most recent published report, which is a much better position than a waiting list. Call rather than assume it is full. Second, PACE is usually a Medicare and Medicaid program, though private pay is possible, so start the Medicaid long-term care process through the Elder Helpline at 1-866-413-5337 at the same time you call Hope PACE, rather than finishing one before starting the other.

Before hurricane season, do this one thing

Collier County Emergency Management maintains a Special Needs Registry for people who cannot safely stay home during an emergency and have no other sheltering options. You should pre-register if you are medically stable but need help with daily tasks or rely on electronic medical equipment. The registration criteria the county publishes are: individuals needing care beyond basic first aid, individuals dependent on electricity or oxygen, and medically stable individuals with disabilities requiring assistance. Registering also enrolls you in ALERT Collier for emergency notifications.

Four details the county states that people routinely get wrong:

1. Registration must be completed annually. A form filed three years ago is not a current registration.
2. Completing the registry does not guarantee placement in a special needs shelter. All registrations are reviewed by medical professionals and may be verified with your provider, and depending on your needs you may be directed to a general shelter, a special needs shelter or a medical facility.
3. Residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities should not register, because those facilities are required to provide care during emergencies.
4. Pets are allowed only in designated shelters. Service animals are permitted at all shelters under ADA guidelines.

The county names Palmetto Ridge High School as the special needs shelter location and is candid about conditions: food and water provided though special diets may not be accommodated, basic medical monitoring only with no complex medical care, limited sleeping space that may be a cot or a chair, backup electricity for essential equipment, and conditions that may be crowded, noisy and short on privacy. Bring what you need.

Contact the Special Needs Shelter Program, Collier County Emergency Management, 8075 Lely Cultural Pkwy, Suite 445, Naples, FL 34113, phone 239-252-3603. Registration forms are published in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. Collier County's Services for Seniors page lists 239-252-3608 for emergency special needs disaster registration, so if one line does not answer, try the other.

Frequently asked questions

Dad is 78, has owned the same house in East Naples since 1994 and lives on Social Security. What is he actually entitled to? Possibly the largest property tax break on this page, and he should call this week. He is over 65, he has been in the same permanent residence for more than 25 years, and if his household adjusted gross income for 2025 was $38,686 or less he may qualify for the long-term residency exemption, which the Collier County Property Appraiser describes as "equal to the assessed value of homestead property with a just value less than $250,000," adopted by Collier County "to provide a further reduction in your portion of county taxes." He may also qualify for the separate additional exemption of up to $50,000. Neither applies to school taxes. The just-value test is measured in the first tax year he applies and is eligible, which is one more reason not to wait a year. Call 239-252-8141 and ask for the senior exemption forms, and note the senior deadline is June 1, not March 1.

Mom's air conditioner died in July and she is 82 on a fixed income. Who actually pays for that? Ask three places, in this order. First, the Elder Helpline at 1-866-413-5337, because the Area Agency administers the elder energy crisis program for Collier County and can tell you who is taking applications now. Second, 239-450-2114, because Collier County's housing site states EHEAP "can also assist with the repair and replacement of air conditioning to an elderly household who is a homeowner," even though a different county page says the county no longer manages the program. Third, Centro Campesino at 305-245-7738 for free weatherization, which covers repair or replacement of inefficient cooling equipment at no cost, gives priority to applicants 60 and older, and is the more permanent fix. Do all three in the same week. They are different pots of money and applying to one does not disqualify her from another.

My mother stopped driving. She is 71 and lives in Golden Gate. Two options. Collier Area Transit cuts her fare in half at 65, so a one-way ride is $1.00 and a 30-day pass is $20, but she has to go in person to a CAT transfer station with identification to get the reduced entitlement placed on her account, and CAT requires that ID check in person every year to keep it. If fixed-route service does not work for her, CATConnect paratransit at 239-252-7272 provides door-to-door service, but eligibility requires an application supported by a licensed medical professional, so start that paperwork before she needs it rather than the week she does.

My husband has dementia and I have not had an afternoon to myself in months. What is in Collier County? Two calls, and the first one is easy. Baker Senior Center Naples, 239-325-4444, runs a Dementia Respite program specifically designed to give the caregiver a four-hour break, plus free caregiver support groups on Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 to 2:25 p.m. that require no advance registration. You can walk into the group this week. Then call the Elder Helpline at 1-866-413-5337 and ask about Alzheimer's Disease Initiative respite, which funds in-home, facility-based and emergency respite through the Area Agency, and about the caregiver counseling and training that come with it. The funded programs may have a wait. The support group does not.

Dad is a Vietnam-era veteran, 80, and we are about to start paying for aides out of pocket. Is there anything? Yes, and it is free to pursue. Call Collier County Veteran Services at 239-252-8387 and ask for an appointment specifically about VA Pension with Aid and Attendance. It is a needs-based benefit for wartime veterans with limited income, and it exists precisely to help pay for the care he is about to pay for himself. If your mother is the surviving spouse, ask about Survivors Pension with Aid and Attendance instead. The county publishes packets for both. Also ask about Veteran-Directed Home and Community Based Services through the Area Agency at 1-866-413-5337, which lets a veteran receive services from a caregiver of their own choosing.

We are looking at a nursing home for my mother and cannot afford it. Is there an alternative? Ask about PACE before you tour another facility. Hope PACE is operational in Collier County with a center at 13020 Livingston Road, Naples, and Florida's AHCA reported 89 people enrolled against 120 funded slots as of its February 2026 report, meaning there was room. It bundles medical care, an adult day center, therapy, prescriptions, transportation and in-home support into one program for people who need nursing-facility-level care but want to stay home. Minimum age is 55 and you must live in Charlotte, Collier or Lee County. Call 239-985-6400, and start the Medicaid long-term care process through the Elder Helpline at 1-866-413-5337 in the same week rather than waiting.

My father is behind on property taxes and terrified of losing the house. Call the Collier County Tax Collector at 239-252-8171 and ask about homestead tax deferral, and call the Property Appraiser at 239-252-8141 to make sure he is receiving every exemption he qualifies for, which is the cheaper fix if he has been missing the senior exemption. The deferral filing deadline is March 31. Understand the trade: the Tax Collector states that an approved deferral becomes a first lien on the property and that fire insurance with a loss payable clause to the Tax Collector is required. It buys time, it does not erase the debt, and a family should make that decision together with clear eyes. Free legal advice on the question is available from the Florida Senior Legal Helpline at 1-888-895-7873 and from Legal Aid Service of Collier County at 239-775-4555.

Mom lives in Immokalee, not Naples. Does any of this apply to her? All of it, and several programs are actually closer to her than to a Naples resident. The Collier County Housing Authority is headquartered in Immokalee at 1800 Farm Worker Way, 239-657-3649. The county runs a nutrition site at Beraca Church, 905 Roberts Avenue, 239-450-2331. There is a Salvation Army Immokalee Service Center at 415 Commerce Ave #3, 239-657-2199, the Amigos Center food distribution at 106 S 2nd St, 239-437-6727, and a Meals of Hope mobile pantry at 1800 Farm Worker Way on Thursdays from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. The Property Appraiser, the Elder Helpline and every state program apply identically. Mention Immokalee when you call, because the closest office is often not the Naples one.

Sources

• Collier County Property Appraiser, Senior Citizen Exemption: "Effective January 1, 2000, the Collier County Board of Commissioners and the Naples City Council approved, by ordinance, this additional homestead exemption. The amount of the exemption specified will not exceed $50,000. The application for senior exemption must be supported by copies of federal income tax returns for the prior year and any wage and earnings statements for each member of the household, and must be submitted by June 1, of each year." Qualifying conditions listed: own and reside on the property as of January 1 of the tax roll year; meet the eligibility requirements for the original homestead exemption; "be 65 years of age on or before January 1 of the tax roll year and provide proof of age"; "have a household income of $38,686 or less and provide proof of income"; complete a DR-501SC. "For 2026 senior exemption, the 2025 adjusted gross income cannot exceed $38,686 per year for the entire household." Also: "Once initially qualified, annual re-application is not longer required provided the income limitation is still met," notification of the state-determined limit is mailed "by the end of January of each year," and if income exceeds the limit "you must notify the Property Appraiser's office in writing by May 1 of the tax roll year," with random audits per Florida statute. Long-term residency exemption: the 2012 amendment "allows an additional homestead tax exemption that will be equal to the assessed value of homestead property with a just value less than $250,000, if the owner is over 65 years of age, has proven household income did not exceed the yearly income requirements and affirms their permanent residence has been on the same property for at least 25 years. This amendment was adopted by Collier County to provide a further reduction in your portion of county taxes." Office phone given as (239) 252-8141: https://www.collierappraiser.com/Main_Homestead/SeniorCitizenExemption.html . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County Property Appraiser, Homestead Exemption: "New applications for Homestead Exemption for the current year must be made in person prior to March 1st"; benefit described as "a reduction of up to $25,000 from the assessed value of the property for all taxing authorities, and an additional exemption on the assessed value above $50,000"; eligibility is "a person who, on January 1, holds legal or equitable title to real property in Florida and who in good faith makes the property their permanent residence": https://www.collierappraiser.com/Main_Homestead/HomesteadExemption.html . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County 311 official knowledge base, Property Appraiser general information: main office 3950 Radio Road, Naples, FL 34104, phone (239) 252-8141; "The County Property Appraiser is an elected official charged with the duty and responsibility to appraise all of the property in Collier County": https://colliercountyfl.qscend.com/311/knowledgebase/article/1302 . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Florida Department of Revenue, Two Additional Homestead Exemptions for Persons 65 and Older (Revised January 2026): counties or city governments may adopt local ordinances under Section 6(d) of Article VII of the Florida Constitution and s.196.075, F.S., allowing one or both additional exemptions, which "apply only to the tax millage a county or city levies when it adopts a local ordinance and do not apply to the millage of school districts or other taxing units." Adjusted income limitation table: 2026 $38,686, 2025 $37,694, 2024 $36,614: https://floridarevenue.com/property/Documents/AdditionalHomesteadExemptions.pdf . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Florida Legislature, SB 272 (2026), Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older: would have provided "a total exemption of homestead property from ad valorem taxation, other than for school district levies" for qualifying persons 65 and older; died in the Senate Finance and Tax Committee on March 13, 2026: https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=82782 . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County Tax Collector, Deferrals: "Any person entitled to claim Homestead Exemption may qualify to defer a portion of their property taxes or non-ad valorem assessments based on the applicant's household income"; "If household income is less than $10,000, taxes may be deferred in their entirety"; "If the applicant is over 70 years of age and has an annual income of less than $12,000, taxes can be deferred in their entirety"; "If tax deferral is approved, it would become a first lien on the property and you MUST furnish fire insurance coverage with a loss payable clause to the Tax Collector"; "The deadline for filing is March 31st of each year"; applications available at the Tax Collector's main office at the Government Center, 3291 Tamiami Trail East, or by calling 239-252-8171: https://colliertaxcollector.com/property-taxes/deferrals/ . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County, Services for Seniors: "To apply for Collier County Services for Seniors call the Area Agency on Aging Help Line at (866) 413-5337. The Help Line is the central telephone number for assistance to locate local services." Published contacts include Area Agency on Aging SWFL (239) 652-6900, Florida Senior Legal Hotline (888) 895-7873, Parkinson's Assoc. of SWFL (239) 417-3465, SHINE Medicare Counseling (866) 413-5337, Medicaid (239) 332-2822, DCF Food Stamps (239) 332-2822, Florida Dept. of Health (239) 252-8200, RSVP Volunteer Opportunities (239) 252-5713, Alzheimer's Support Network (239) 262-8388, Long Term Care Ombudsman (888) 831-0404, Florida Public Guardian Office (239) 417-1040, Emergency Special Needs Disaster Registration (239) 252-3608, Lighthouse of Collier County (239) 430-3934, Naples Lion Club Hearing/Vision Assistance (239) 353-4800, Senior Meals Services (239) 252-2233, Meals on Wheels (239) 775-1667, Cremation Services (239) 252-8441, Baker Senior Center Naples (239) 325-4444, Harry Chapin (239) 334-7007, Catholic Charities (239) 455-2655, Salvation Army Naples (239) 775-9447, Tree of Life (239) 530-2200, St. Vincent de Paul (239) 775-1667: https://www.collier.gov/Resident-Resources/Leisure-and-Community/Services-for-Seniors . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County, Senior Citizens Nutrition & Activity Program: "Collier County provides opportunities for persons age 60 and older to participate in a nutrition program at the following locations": Ekos Cadenza Senior Living Community, 8455 Rattlesnake Hammock Rd., (239) 252-1460; Beraca Church, 905 Roberts Avenue, Immokalee, (239) 450-2331; Collier Senior Center-Golden Gate, 4898 Coronado Parkway, (239) 252-4195; Goodlette Arms, 950 Goodlette Rd. N., (239) 252-4195. "The program provides home-delivered meals to those seniors who are homebound or because of serious illness, cannot attend the centers." Centers "are open to Collier County residents age 60 and over": https://www.collier.gov/Resident-Resources/Leisure-and-Community/Services-for-Seniors/Senior-Citizens-Nutrition-Activity-Program . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County, Social Services Programs: "The Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP) is no longer managed by Collier County. For utility assistance, please contact the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) administered by The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. (ALPI). Apply for assistance online through the ALPI Apply Online Page or call the ALPI information line at 863-956-3491 to schedule an appointment." Intake: "To apply for services you may contact a case manager to set up an appointment by calling (239) 252-CARE (2273)," with the document list and the residency-documentation list, and the condition that "In order to receive support, the resident must not be eligible for other assistance programs." Indigent Cremation Assistance criteria: person must have died in Collier County, must not have had life insurance, household income must not exceed 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. This page also carries the county's current food resource list with addresses and hours for Harry Chapin Food Bank Collier County Center (3940 Prospect Ave #101, 239-334-7007, Mon-Fri 8:00-4:30), Catholic Charities Family Resource Center (3174 Tamiami Trail E, 239-794-0059, Tue/Thu 9:30-11:30), St. Matthew's House Community Choice Pantry (4535 Domestic Ave, 239-774-0500), St. Vincent de Paul Choice Pantry (4451 Mercantile Ave, 239-775-1667), Salvation Army Naples Family Service Center (3180 Estey Ave, 239-210-4016), Meals of Hope (239-537-7775), Our Daily Bread (2221 Corporation Blvd and 1450 Winterberry Dr, Marco Island, 239-259-5188), Tree of Life (2132 Shadowlawn Drive, 239-530-2200), Amigos en Cristo Immokalee (106 S 2nd St, 239-437-6727), and Salvation Army Immokalee Service Center (415 Commerce Ave #3, 239-657-2199): https://www.collier.gov/Resident-Resources/Community-and-Human-Services-Division/Social-Services-Programs . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County 311, Resources for Rent and Utility Assistance: Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice (239) 455-2655; St. Vincent de Paul (239) 775-1667 or (239) 775-2907; The Salvation Army (239) 210-4016; DCF Food Stamps/SNAP (850) 300-4323; Home Energy Assistance Program LIHEAP/EHEAP (863) 956-3491; Macedonia Baptist Church (239) 262-4877 for LIHEAP assistance; United Way Collier and the Keys 2-1-1 or (239) 263-4211; Collier County Housing Authority (239) 657-7232 or (239) 732-0732; Florida Housing Search 1-877-428-8844: https://colliercountyfl.qscend.com/311/knowledgebase/article/148606 . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County 311, Delivered Meals: "We do have a Frozen Home Delivered Meal Program. For more information please call Danielle at: (239) 252-2273." And: "St. Vincent DePaul oversees the Meals on Wheels Program for a daily delivered meal. For more information on their program please call: (239) 775-1667": https://colliercountyfl.qscend.com/311/knowledgebase/article/1057 . Verified August 25, 2026.
• St. Vincent de Paul Naples, Meals on Wheels: described as the largest privately funded Meals on Wheels operation in Collier County, delivering nearly 50,000 meals each year to homebound, infirm or nutritionally deficient seniors and disabled neighbors, operating without government funding; 4451 Mercantile Avenue, Naples; (239) 775-1667: https://www.svdpnaples.org/meal-on-wheels . Verified August 25, 2026.
• The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. (ALPI), LIHEAP: the program "is only available in the following counties: Collier, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Martin, Polk and St. Lucie"; applications are taken online through the Florida Commerce portal; EHEAP appointments are scheduled by calling (863) 956-3491. ALPI corporate office 300 Lynchburg Road, Lake Alfred, Florida 33850, (863) 956-3491: https://alpi.org/liheap/ . Published LIHEAP service delivery sites are in Avon Park (1306 S Tulane Ave.), Lake Alfred (300 Lynchburg Rd.), Winter Haven (Florence Villa CDC, 111 Avenue R North) and Fort Pierce (2202 Avenue Q); no Collier County service delivery site is listed: https://alpi.org/liheap-service-delivery-sites/ . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County Affordable Housing (county site, contact housing.info@collier.gov, 2671 Airport Road S, Naples, FL 34112, (239) 450-2114), Collier Community Assistance Programs: "Interest-free, deferred loans up to $50,000 are available to assist eligible homeowners in unincorporated Collier County, the City of Naples, the City of Marco Island, or Everglades City with repair(s) of their single-family homes, townhomes or condominium units. Mobile homes built prior to July 13, 1994, do not qualify for assistance." Roof program: "The County is offering a deferred, interest-free loan for a roof replacement. Program qualifications and income criteria must be met." EHEAP: "The Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (EHEAP) is available to households who have a delinquent electric bill and an adult 60 years or older who resides in the home. EHEAP can also assist with the repair and replacement of air conditioning to an elderly household who is a homeowner": https://www.colliercountyhousing.com/collier-community-assistance-programs/ . The program FAQ adds that EHEAP applications are taken in person at the Collier County Community and Human Services office on Airport Road South in Naples, that "the delinquent amount is paid directly to the electric utility company," that required documentation includes an "FPL or LCEC Electric Bill," and gives (239) 450-2114 or 311: https://www.colliercountyhousing.com/collier-community-assistance-programs/faq/ . Note: this conflicts with the county's Social Services Programs page, which states EHEAP is no longer managed by Collier County. This article publishes both and tells readers to call and confirm. Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County, Housing Programs: Community and Human Services "works collaboratively with non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, and public-private partnerships to coordinate activities and effectively leverage federal and state grant funds awarded to Collier County"; Fair Housing questions go to 239-252-1428, the Housing Discrimination Hotline is 1-800-669-9777, and payoff letters for an existing Collier County CHS loan are handled at 239-252-2339: https://www.collier.gov/Resident-Resources/Community-and-Human-Services-Division/Housing-Programs . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County, Public Notice, PY2025-2026 HUD and SHIP Grant Application Cycle: state SHIP funds of approximately $3,026,000, usable for homeowner strategies including purchase assistance, housing rehabilitation, demolition and replacement of manufactured homes and new construction assistance, benefiting households up to 120% Area Median Income: https://www.collier.gov/files/assets/county/v/1/public-services/documents/chs-grant-application-cycle-public-notice.pdf . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Centro Campesino, Weatherization Assistance Program: serves "Broward, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Miami Dade, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Counties"; household income cannot exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level; priority to elderly residents 60 and older, physically disabled individuals, families with children under 12 and households with a high energy burden; covered work includes weatherstripping, caulking, insulation, window and door replacement, HVAC repair or replacement, water heater upgrades, attic ventilation and solar screens, at no cost to eligible low-income homeowners and tenants; 35801 SW 186th Avenue, Florida City, FL 33034, (305) 245-7738: https://centrocampesino.org/rural-rehab-weatherization/ . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida: main office 2830 Winkler Avenue, Suite 112, Fort Myers, FL 33916, phone 239-652-6900, toll free and Elder Helpline 866-413-5337 (866-41-ELDER), "between 8:00 am-5:00 pm Monday through Friday": https://aaaswfl.org/contact-us/ . Programs listed for its service area of Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Lee and Sarasota counties include the Elder Helpline, Home and Community-Based Care, SHINE Medicare Counseling, Health and Wellness, Elder Abuse Education and Prevention, the Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (EHEAP), MIPPA, the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long Term Care Program, Respite Care and Veteran-Directed Home and Community Based Services: https://aaaswfl.org/other-programs/ . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Alzheimer's Disease Initiative: respite services include in-home care, facility-based care, emergency respite and extended care up to 30 days; caregiver support includes case management, medical equipment and supplies, counseling, support groups and training; Memory Disorder Clinics provide diagnostic services, research and education across 17 clinics in 13 service areas; services are delivered through "the 11 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) across Florida": https://elderaffairs.org/programs-and-services/alzheimers-disease-initiative-adi/ . The clinic designated for Collier County could not be confirmed from an official source this run, so this article routes readers to the Elder Helpline rather than naming one. Verified August 25, 2026.
• Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly Monthly Report, February 2026 (updated 03/04/2026): Operational PACE Organizations table lists Hope PACE, service area Collier, status Operational, initial AHCA approval 4/12/2012, slots approved 120, slots funded 120, PACE enrollment as of the 1st of the month of report: 89. The PACE Organization Data by County table lists Collier / Hope PACE / Operational / 89 enrollees present for the current month / 104 unique individuals for the fiscal year, and lists Glades and Hendry with "None": https://ahca.myflorida.com/content/download/28770/file/February%202026%20PACE%20Report.pdf . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Hope PACE: PACE center locations include 13020 Livingston Road, Naples, FL 34105: https://www.hopehcs.org/hope-pace/ . Eligibility: minimum age 55, must be a resident of Charlotte, Collier or Lee County, and must be able to live at home safely with additional services as needed; enrollment specialists reachable at (239) 985-6400, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.: https://hopepace.org/eligibility/ . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier Area Transit, Fare Information: One-Way Fare $2.00 full and $1.00 reduced; Day Passes $3.00 and $1.50; 15-Day Pass $20.00 and $10.00; 30-Day Pass $40.00 and $20.00; "Transfers - up to 90 minutes: Free"; Marco Express $3.00 and $1.50, Marco Express 30-Day Pass $70.00 and $35.00; CAT Connect Paratransit 239.252.7272: https://www.ridecat.com/fares-passes/fare-information/ . Reduced Fares/Discount Passes: "Reduced Fares are for members of Medicare, Disabled Community, those 65 years and older, children 17 and under, high school and college students and active / retired military personnel. ID required." And: "To receive Reduced Fares or Discounted Passes, please stop by one of our transfer stations... Once that is done, the entitlement will then be placed on your account for one year and you will see the reduced fare anytime you purchase a ticket. Identification must be shown in-person annually to continue the Reduced or Discounted entitlement": https://www.ridecat.com/fares-passes/reduced-fares-discount-passes/ . FAQs: CATConnect applicants must complete an application "with information provided by a licensed medical professional," and those relocating from other states may receive "a 21-day temporary certification" while completing qualification; contact 239.252.7272: https://www.ridecat.com/about-cat/faqs/ . CAT customer service is published as 239.252.7777 on the same fare pages. Verified August 25, 2026.
• Florida Senior Legal Helpline: (888) 895-7873, free legal advice and brief services by telephone to Florida residents age 60 and older for civil (not criminal) legal problems, funded by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and managed by Bay Area Legal Services, hours 9:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday, with income guidelines: https://bals.org/senior-legal-helpline . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Legal Aid Service of Collier County: 4436 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL 34112, 239-775-4555, Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; free services to qualifying Collier County residents including eviction and foreclosure defense, unsafe or unlawful housing conditions, and assistance for seniors and other vulnerable populations: https://www.collierlegalaid.org/contact . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Baker Senior Center Naples: 6200 Autumn Oaks Lane, (239) 325-4444; serves people over 60 in Collier and southern Lee counties; the Dementia Respite program "is designed for seniors experiencing memory loss and offers cognitive stimulation, social activities, and physical exercise in a clinically sound, safe, and relaxing environment," gives caregivers a four-hour break and provides support services to caregivers; caregiver support groups are offered Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 p.m. to 2:25 p.m., free of charge, with no advance registration required: https://www.bakerseniorcenternaples.org/ourservices and https://www.bakerseniorcenternaples.org/cognitive-health . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier Senior Center: 4898 Coronado Parkway, Naples, Florida 34116, (239) 252-4541, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: https://collierseniorcenter.org/contact-us/ . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County Housing Authority: main office 1800 Farm Worker Way, Immokalee, Florida 34142, 239.657.3649, TTY 800.955.8771, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. closed noon to 1; Section 8 office 5286 Golden Gate Parkway, Suite 2, Naples, Florida 34116, 239.732.0732; programs include Farm Worker Housing, Low-Income Housing, Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), Affordable Housing and Horizon Village: https://www.cchafl.org/contact-us . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County, Veteran Services: 2671 Airport Road S, Court Plaza, Suite 202, Naples, FL 34112, phone (239) 252-8387 (VETS), fax (239) 252-2870, CollierCounty.VeteranServices@collier.gov, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; "The Collier County Veterans Services team has more than twenty years of combined experience in assisting veterans filing for disability compensation, non-service-connected pensions, appeals, burial benefits, education benefits, health benefits, survivor's benefits and other support." Published resources include Pension with Aid and Attendance and Survivors Pension with Aid and Attendance packets, Veterans Crisis Line "988, press 1" or text 838255, Florida Veterans Support Line 1-844-MyFLVet (693-5838), 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411), Homeless Veterans Hotline 877-424-3838, and United Way of Collier and the Keys "211" or (239) 261-7112: https://www.collier.gov/Resident-Resources/Community-and-Human-Services-Division/Veteran-Services . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County, State Veterans' Nursing Home Property Dedication Ceremony (published January 07, 2026): "Collier County is dedicating 23.59 acres of the Golden Gate Golf Course property along Collier Boulevard to provide skilled nursing services to veterans and workday respite services to their caregivers. The facility will also provide veterans with a wellness center, outpatient therapy services, and other veteran resources." Ceremony held Friday, January 9, 2026, hosted with the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs: https://www.collier.gov/News-articles/2025-News-Articles/December-2025/State-Veterans-Nursing-Home-Property-Dedication-Ceremony . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County, Special Needs Program: registration criteria are "individuals needing care beyond basic first aid," "individuals dependent on electricity or oxygen" and "medically stable individuals with disabilities requiring assistance"; "Registering also enrolls you in ALERT Collier for emergency notifications"; "All registrations are reviewed by medical professionals and may be verified with your provider"; shelter location Palmetto Ridge High School, with food and water provided though special diets may not be accommodated, basic medical monitoring only, limited sleeping space, backup electricity for essential equipment, and conditions that "may be crowded, noisy, and offer limited privacy"; "Completing the registry does not guarantee placement in a special needs shelter"; "Registration must be completed annually"; "Residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities should not register, as those facilities must provide care during emergencies"; service animals "Permitted at all shelters," domestic pets "Allowed only in designated shelters." Contact: Human Services Program Coordinator, phone (239) 252-3603, Collier County Emergency Management, Special Needs Shelter Program, 8075 Lely Cultural Pkwy, Suite 445, Naples, FL 34113: https://www.collier.gov/Public-Safety/Emergency-Management/Special-Needs . Verified August 25, 2026.
• United Way of Collier and the Keys, 2-1-1: "Dial 2-1-1 or 239-263-4211"; text your ZIP code to 898211; Collier office 9015 Strada Stell Court, Suite 204, Naples, FL 34109, 239.261.7112: https://uwcollierkeys.org/2-1-1/ . Verified August 25, 2026.
• Collier County government general information: Collier County Government Center, 3299 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL 34112, 239-252-8999, Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with Collier 311 for routing: https://www.collier.gov/ . Verified August 25, 2026.
• National anchor lines used in the "Start here" section, all of which work from anywhere: Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116, a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging: https://eldercare.acl.gov/ . Medicare 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE), TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: https://www.medicare.gov/talk-to-someone . Social Security 1-800-772-1213: https://www.ssa.gov/agency/contact/ . VA 1-800-827-1000: https://www.va.gov/resources/helpful-va-phone-numbers/ . Alzheimer's Association Helpline 800.272.3900, free, 24/7, 365 days a year, TRS access by dialing 711, support in over 200 languages: https://www.alz.org/help-support/resources/helpline . National Elder Fraud Hotline 833-372-8311 (833-FRAUD-11), a free U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime resource for reporting fraud targeting people age 60 and older: https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/stop-elder-fraud/providing-help-restoring-hope . 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/ . Statewide Florida Elder Helpline 1-800-963-5337 (1-800-96-ELDER): https://elderaffairs.org/programs-and-services/elder-helpline/ . Florida Abuse Hotline 1-800-962-2873: https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/abuse/florida-abuse-hotline . Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program 1-888-831-0404: https://ombudsman.elderaffairs.org/ . Verified August 25, 2026.

Verified August 25, 2026. Program names, phone numbers, income limits, and deadlines change. Confirm directly with each program before you rely on it.

Ryan Riggins, NC Real Estate License #361546, eXp Realty. Riggins Strategic Solutions is an education and media company, not a real estate sales business. Not financial, tax, medical, or legal advice. Programs and contacts change, confirm directly before relying on them.