Orange County, FL Senior Help Directory: Orlando Programs for Seniors and Families (2026)

Q: My parents live in Maitland and my aunt lives in Ocoee. Do they get the same break?

No, and this is the one gap in Orange County. Ocoee adopted the senior exemption at up to $50,000. Maitland has not adopted it at all. Your parents in Maitland still get the standard homestead exemption, the Save Our Homes cap, and the Orange County portion of the senior exemption, since the county passed its own ordinance, but there is no Maitland city-portion senior exemption. Your aunt in Ocoee gets both the county and city portions. Both should call 407-836-5044 to confirm what applies at their exact addresses.

Q: Dad is homebound near Pine Hills and can't cook. How do we get him meals?

Call Seniors First at 407-292-0177. It is the only Meals on Wheels provider for Orange County. If he is 60 or older, lives in Orange County, and struggles to shop and prepare food, meals are delivered Monday through Friday, and clients are not charged. If he just came out of the hospital, say so, because there is an emergency Meals on Wheels track for someone within 30 days of discharge. There may be a waitlist for the standard program, so ask what it is. In the meantime, the free Seniors First pantry runs the second and fourth Thursday, 9 to 11 a.m., at 5395 L.B. McLeod Rd, and Second Harvest's finder at feedhopenow.org/find-help/food-finder will show pantries near his address.

Q: The air conditioning died and my mother is 79 in unincorporated Orange County. Who helps?

Start with the Senior Climate Efficiency Program at 407-836-0918. It is run by the Orange County Community Action Division specifically for low-income homeowners 60 and older, and it covers air conditioning replacement and other energy-saving improvements. If the unit is running but the bill is the problem, apply for LIHEAP at floridaliheap.com and call the LIHEAP hotline at 407-836-7429 between 8:30 a.m. and noon. Because she is over 60, also ask the Senior Resource Alliance at 407-514-1800 about EHEAP, the elder-only emergency energy program, which allows more than one crisis benefit in a program year.

Free, plain-English help for seniors and families in Orange 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: 211, answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by Heart of Florida United Way (dial 2-1-1, text your ZIP code to 898-211, or chat at hfuw.org) | the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337, which reaches the Senior Resource Alliance, the Area Agency on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Center for Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an Orlando office at 3319 Maguire Blvd., Suite 100 and a local line of 407-514-1800 | the Orange County Office on Aging at 407-836-7446 or OfficeonAging@ocfl.net

That third door is worth a paragraph, because most counties do not have one. Orange County government runs its own Office on Aging, separate from the Area Agency on Aging, and it is built for exactly the person who does not know what to ask for. It runs a free seminar series called LIFE: Information for Elders, held the third Thursday of each month from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. at the Orlando Public Library, 101 E. Central Blvd., in the Albertson Room on the third floor, with quarterly sessions at branch libraries, quarterly sessions entirely in Spanish, and a quarterly movie with a speaker. RSVP and you get a boxed lunch. The county also operates the Multicultural Senior Center at 7149 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32818, open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free classes, health and wellness programs, and workshops.

One more number to write down. The Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873 takes reports of known or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Property tax relief (apply with the Orange County Property Appraiser, 407-836-5044, ocpafl.org)

Florida seniors apply for property tax relief through the county Property Appraiser, not the Tax Collector. In Orange County that office is at 200 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 1700, Orlando, FL 32801, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, phone 407-836-5044. Note that the office's own website currently says it is not hosting satellite offices, so plan on the downtown office, the mail, or filing online.

Here is the local story. Florida's senior exemptions are a local option. Each county and city has to pass its own ordinance, and the exemption never touches the school district or water management district portion of your bill. In Orange County almost everyone adopted it, and at the top amount.

Standard Homestead Exemption (statewide, any qualifying primary residence): up to $50,000 off the assessed value of a permanent primary residence you own and occupy as of January 1, which the Property Appraiser estimates is worth about $750 a year. Applications are due by March 1. After the first year, the annual increase in assessed value is capped, and that cap is Save Our Homes. You can carry accumulated Save Our Homes savings to a new Florida home through portability, but the rules are narrow: you must apply for the new homestead exemption and portability at the same time, you had to have had a homestead exemption on January 1 of one of the three preceding years, and you have three years from that last January 1 to do it.

Limited Income Senior Exemption (65+): an additional exemption on top of the standard homestead for owners who meet all of these:

At least one owner is 65 or older as of January 1.
The owner has or qualifies for the regular homestead exemption.
2025 total household adjusted gross income does not exceed $38,686 for the 2026 exemption. This limit is set annually by the Florida Department of Revenue.

What each government in Orange County adopted, per the Property Appraiser:

Up to $50,000: Orange County, Apopka, Belle Isle, Edgewood, Oakland, Ocoee, Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden, and Winter Park
Up to $25,000: Town of Eatonville
Not adopted: Maitland

If your parents live in Maitland, read that line twice. Maitland has not passed the ordinance, so there is no city-portion senior exemption there. A Maitland homeowner still gets the standard homestead exemption, the Save Our Homes cap, and the Orange County portion of the senior exemption, because the county adopted it separately. Call and ask what applies at the exact address.

The deadline is early March, and the income paperwork is not. For the 2026 exemption the application was due by March 2, 2026, and income documentation was not due until June 1, 2026. That gap matters: if March is close and you do not have the tax returns and 1099s gathered yet, apply anyway and send the income documents later. First-time applicants need proof of age for each owner 65 or older who lives there (Florida driver license, Florida ID card, Orange County voter registration card, birth certificate, or another official record), plus 2025 federal returns and 2025 wage and earnings statements (W-2, 1099, SSA-1099, RRB-1099 and the like) for every member of the household.

Two definitions catch people out. "Household" means everyone living together as a housing unit, not boarders or renters, so an adult child living with a parent counts and that child's income must be reported. "Total household income" means adjusted gross income as reported on Form 1040, which includes Social Security income above the base amounts the IRS sets.

Limited Income Senior Plus Exemption: this is the one worth calling about, and Orange County's version is easy to miss because it has a different name than in other counties. It is much larger than the regular senior exemption because it exempts assessed value rather than a flat dollar amount. To qualify you must:

Be 65 or older and own the residence as of January 1.
Have maintained permanent residence at the property for 25 years or more.
Have total household adjusted gross income for everyone in the home at or below $38,686 for 2026.
Have a property market value of less than $250,000.
File a new, separate Limited Income Senior Plus application and submit income proof for all household residents.

The Property Appraiser states that this exemption applies to the Orange County General Fund taxes. If your parent has been in the same Orlando-area house since the early 2000s or before and the house is still under $250,000 in market value, this is the single highest-value phone call on this page.

Other exemptions worth asking about in the same call: $5,000 widow or widower (a death certificate is required, and it ends if you remarry); $5,000 personal disability (form DR-416 from a licensed Florida physician); a total and permanent disability exemption that is not service connected, which has its own income test of $37,712 in 2025 gross income to qualify in 2026, except that people with quadriplegia do not have to meet the income requirement; $5,000 for a veteran with a service-connected disability of 10 percent or greater; a full exemption for a veteran with a service-connected total and permanent disability, which can carry to a surviving spouse; a combat-related disability discount for veterans 65 and older, where the VA letter must actually contain the words "combat related"; the Fallen Hero exemption for the un-remarried surviving spouse of a first responder who died in the line of duty; and an exemption for a first responder totally and permanently disabled in the line of duty.

A separate office handles the bill. The Orange County Tax Collector (407-434-0312) sends and collects the bill and cannot grant exemptions. Two things there help seniors on fixed incomes. Paying early earns a discount: 4 percent in November, 3 percent in December, 2 percent in January, and 1 percent in February. And the Installment Payment Plan spreads the bill across four payments if you are current on your taxes and your prior year taxes exceeded $100: one quarter due June 30 at a 6 percent discount, one quarter due September 30 at 4.5 percent, one quarter plus half the adjustment due December 31 at 3 percent, and the final quarter plus the remaining adjustment due March 31.

The one move: call 407-836-5044 before the March deadline, give them the address so they can confirm which city you are actually in and what that city adopted, and ask them to check for the Senior Plus version if the home has been the permanent residence for 25 years or more.

Food

Seniors First, Inc. (407-292-0177, seniorsfirstinc.org) is the sole Meals on Wheels provider for Orange County. The program serves Orange County residents 60 and older who struggle to prepare nutritious meals, and the organization also describes clients as basically homebound with an impairment or disability that affects their ability to grocery shop and cook. Meals are delivered directly to the home Monday through Friday, up to five days a week, hot, chilled, or frozen depending on where the client lives. Clients are not charged for the meals. Ask for the Information Specialist, extension 224. Be aware there may be a waitlist, so start the call early.
Emergency Meals on Wheels is the part families miss. If someone is within 30 days of a hospital discharge, or in a crisis situation, Seniors First can start meals on an emergency basis. Same number, 407-292-0177.
The Seniors First Community Food Pantry is free, requires no application, and runs the second and fourth Thursday of the month, 9 to 11 a.m., at 5395 L.B. McLeod Rd, Orlando. Distributions are pre-packaged, roughly 15 pounds.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is the regional food bank, at 411 Mercy Drive, Orlando, FL 32805, phone 407-295-1066. Its seven-county region covers Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia. Use the food finder at feedhopenow.org/find-help/food-finder to locate a pantry near an address.
SNAP (food stamps) is based on income, not age. Apply any time through Florida's MyACCESS portal at myaccess.myflfamilies.com, or call the state customer call center at 850-300-4323.

Energy and utility help

Orange County has two separate energy doors, and which one you use depends on age. Most families call the wrong one first.

Orange County Community Action Division is the local community action agency, at 2100 E Michigan St, Orlando, FL 32806. The general line is 407-836-9333, and office hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The LIHEAP hotline is 407-836-7429, and it is only staffed Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., so call in the morning.
LIHEAP applications go through the online portal at floridaliheap.com, in English, Spanish, and Creole, and all required documents must be uploaded at the time you submit. Incomplete applications can be denied. You will need photo ID for the applicant, proof of citizenship or eligible status for everyone in the household, a current utility bill (plus a lease if the bill is not in the applicant's name), and income proof for all household members.
There are two LIHEAP benefits. The Home Energy Credit is one benefit per 12-month period and does not require an emergency. The Crisis Benefit is up to $1,000 in a LIHEAP fiscal year to connect, reconnect, or prevent disconnection, and you qualify for it if you have fewer than 7 days of usage left on your Power Pass (this applies to Orlando Utilities Commission customers), if you have received a disconnection or past-due notice, or if the power is already off. If you already used the Home Energy Credit in the last 12 months, the Crisis Benefit may be the only one left to you.
The income limits are higher than people assume. Orange County's published maximums are the greater of 60 percent of State Median Income or 150 percent of the federal poverty level, and for household sizes 1 through 8 the 60 percent SMI figure is what governs: $32,155 for one person, $42,049 for two, $51,943 for three, $61,837 for four, $71,730 for five, $81,624 for six, $83,479 for seven, and $85,335 for eight. These come from the FloridaCommerce LIHEAP payment matrix for federal fiscal year 2026. A retiree who assumed they earned too much should check the number.
EHEAP is the elder-specific program, and in Orange County it does not run through the county. The Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program requires at least one person 60 or older in the home, household income at or below 60 percent of State Median Income, and a documented heating or cooling emergency such as a delinquent bill, a shut-off notice, or a lack of fuel or wood. It covers electricity, natural gas, propane, fuel oil, kerosene, and wood, and a household can receive multiple crisis benefits per program year up to a maximum set by FloridaCommerce. In Orange County it is administered through the Senior Resource Alliance, which matches you to a local EHEAP provider. Call 407-514-1800 or the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337, or fill out the EHEAP interest form on the Senior Resource Alliance site.
The Senior Climate Efficiency Program is the Orange County program nobody knows about. Run by the Community Action Division for low-income homeowners 60 and older, it covers air conditioning replacement and other energy-saving improvements. In Central Florida a failed air conditioner is a health emergency, not an inconvenience. Call 407-836-0918.
Weatherization Assistance Program. The Community Action Division lists weatherization among its programs, and the work is delivered under contract rather than by county crews, which means the answering agency has changed over the years. Rather than send you to a number that may have moved, call the county at 407-836-0918 or 407-836-9333 and ask who is currently running weatherization for Orange County and whether applications are open.
For a past-due bill right now, dial 211. Heart of Florida United Way keeps the current list of church ministries and local funds that still have utility money this month.

Medicare, Medicaid, prescriptions

Florida's SHIP (free Medicare counseling) is SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders), delivered locally by the Senior Resource Alliance for Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. SHINE counselors are volunteers who are not affiliated with any insurance company or agency, and the service is free, unbiased, and confidential. They help with Medicare, supplements, Advantage plans, Medicaid, prescription assistance, long-term care insurance, fraud, enrollment questions, plan comparisons, claims, billing problems, appeals, and the programs that lower Medicare costs. Call 407-514-1800, or 1-800-963-5337, and see floridashine.org for the weekly calendar of Medicare classes. Start here before any Medicare decision, especially before switching plans.
Medicaid in Florida, including long-term care coverage and the programs that help pay Medicare costs, is applied for through the Department of Children and Families: myaccess.myflfamilies.com or 850-300-4323.
Medicare Savings Programs (help paying Part A and B premiums) and Extra Help / the Low-Income Subsidy (lower Part D drug costs) are screened through SHINE (407-514-1800), Social Security (1-800-772-1213), and MyACCESS. Florida does not run a general statewide senior drug program, so ask SHINE about Extra Help and use BenefitsCheckUp.org to find manufacturer and nonprofit patient-assistance programs for specific medications.

Home repair and safety

Which door you knock on depends entirely on whether the house is inside Orlando city limits.

City of Orlando Housing Rehabilitation Program. For homes inside city limits, the city assists with repairs that correct conditions threatening the health and safety of occupants. The structure is unusually clear: up to $20,000 is a grant with no lien, limited to one per household every two years; $20,001 to $45,000 carries a 10-year lien; more than $45,000 carries a 15-year lien. Amounts over $20,000 are a deferred loan recorded as a mortgage and note, and it is forgiven as long as the home remains your principal residence and you do not rent, sell, or transfer it during the lien period. The property must be an existing single-family home, your principal residence, and current on property taxes, homeowner's insurance, utilities, and mortgage, although insurance is not required if the repairs total less than $20,000. The city cannot help if the property is a mobile home, townhome, condominium, duplex, or villa, if there are outstanding taxes, insurance, utility or mortgage payments or code enforcement liens, if you do not own and occupy the home, or if the property carries a reverse mortgage. That last one catches seniors specifically. Priority goes to extremely low, very low, and low income households, households with documented special needs, and households needing emergency repair. Call 407-246-2708 or email rehab.assistance@orlando.gov; the office is at 400 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801.
The Orlando address trap. The city says it plainly: it cannot assist if the property is outside City of Orlando limits even if it is within Orange County and has an Orlando mailing address. A huge share of "Orlando" addresses are unincorporated Orange County. Check the address on the city's Information Locator before you fill out anything.
Orange County Housing Rehabilitation Program. For homes outside city limits, the county assists qualified homeowners with repairs to eliminate existing life, safety, health, and code violations. You must have owned and lived in the home for a minimum of one year and meet very low-income guidelines. The county does not publish award amounts, so ask when you call. Housing and Community Development Division, 525 East South Street, Orlando, FL 32801-2891, phone 407-836-5150, email housing@ocfl.net.
Senior Climate Efficiency Program (407-836-0918) for air conditioning is often the fastest route to the single repair that matters most in a Florida summer, and it does not require going through a full rehabilitation program.
Hurricane Ian damage. If a home has documented, unrepaired damage from Hurricane Ian, the Orange County Recovers Program may still apply. Ask Housing and Community Development at 407-836-5150.

Rent, housing, emergency cash

211 is the fastest route, answered around the clock for Orange County by Heart of Florida United Way. Dial 2-1-1, text your ZIP code to 898-211, or chat at hfuw.org. It connects to financial assistance, food, housing, mental health, health and wellness, veterans services, and tax help, with free multi-language translation.
Orange County rental assistance is closed right now. The Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) and Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA), both run by the county's Housing and Community Development Division, state on the county's own page that they are not accepting applications at this time. That is worth knowing before someone spends a week trying to apply. Call 407-836-5150 to ask when the list reopens.
For Medicaid, SNAP, and Temporary Cash Assistance, apply through MyACCESS at myaccess.myflfamilies.com or 850-300-4323.
The Orange County Office on Aging (407-836-7446) can point to elder-specific local funds and is worth a call alongside 211.

Transportation

ACCESS LYNX is the paratransit service for people whose disability prevents them from using the regular fixed-route bus. Apply by mail; the determination is based on the application and may also include professional medical verification and an in-person functional assessment, so start well before you need the rides. Trips are provided only within Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. The fare is $4.00 per one-way trip when both the origin and destination are within three-quarters of a mile of a fixed route, and $7.00 when either end is outside that. Call 407-423-TRIP (407-423-8747) to request an application or schedule a trip, or use WebACCESS at myaccesslynx.golynx.com.
The LYNX AdvantAge reduced fare is the better deal for anyone who can still ride a regular bus, and it takes one application. It is open to riders 65 and over, Medicare card holders of any age, and people with medical disabilities of any age. The discounted fares are $1.00 for a single ride instead of $2.00, $2.25 for an all-day pass instead of $4.50, and $25.00 for a 30-day pass instead of $50.00. Bring a Medicare card, birth certificate, or government-issued photo ID. Mail the application to LYNX AdvantAge Reduced Fare Program, 455 N. Garland Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801; it is processed in five to seven business days. Photos are taken Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The initial ID is free and the card renews every three years. Questions: 407-841-5969, Option 2.
Medicaid long-term care plans cover transportation as a benefit for enrolled members, so if a parent is on Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care, ask the plan before paying out of pocket.

Legal help

Florida's Senior Legal Helpline gives free legal advice and brief services by phone to Florida residents 60 and older on civil matters including housing, family matters, government benefits, contracts, and consumer problems. Call 1-888-895-7873, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is operated by Bay Area Legal Services and serves seniors statewide, including Orange County.
The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association is the Orange County legal aid office, at 100 E. Robinson St, Orlando, FL 32801, phone 407-841-8310. Services are 100 percent free for those who qualify. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and new clients and walk-ins are taken Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For older adults the most useful areas are simple estate planning (wills, advance directives, power of attorney, health care surrogate, Ladybird deeds), consumer law (garnishments, debt collection, bankruptcy, identity theft, wage and bank account garnishment), housing (landlord and tenant, foreclosure defense, substandard conditions), probate (summary administration only), small claims under $8,000, and guardian advocacy. It does not handle criminal, child support enforcement, workers' compensation, personal injury, traffic or DUI, auto accident, medical malpractice, civil rights, or fee-generating cases.
A scam warning from Legal Aid itself. The Legal Aid Society has posted a fraud alert about a group calling itself "Legal Aid Now" that contacts residents and ultimately asks for payment information. It is not affiliated with the Legal Aid Society. Real legal aid does not ask a qualifying client for banking information to open a case. If someone calls claiming to be from Legal Aid, hang up and dial 407-841-8310 yourself to verify.
Community Legal Services (formerly Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida) also covers Orange County, along with Brevard, Citrus, Flagler, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Osceola, Putnam, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia. Its HELPline is 1-800-405-1417, open Monday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You can also apply online any time. Generally you are eligible if income does not exceed 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
To report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult, call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Caregiver support

The Senior Resource Alliance runs the National Family Caregiver Support Program under the Older Americans Act for unpaid caregivers of adults 60 and older. Start at the Elder Helpline, 1-800-963-5337, or the Orlando office at 407-514-1800.
The Alzheimer's Disease Initiative (ADI) is the one to ask for by name if there is a dementia diagnosis. Respite is available to caregivers of adults 18 and older with diagnosed Alzheimer's disease or a related memory disorder, and it comes in several forms: in-home, adult day care, emergency, and extended care of up to 30 days, plus case management, medical equipment, counseling, and caregiver training.
The RELIEF program expands respite beyond what other programs offer, specifically including evening and weekend in-home respite. If the hard hours are the nights and Saturdays, ask for RELIEF by name.
Seniors First delivers Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) and Home Care for the Elderly (HCE) in Orange County, providing companionship, homemaking, and personal care in the home. Call 407-292-0177. HCE supports care for Floridians 60 and older living in a family-type arrangement in a private home, with a subsidy toward support, maintenance, and some medical expenses, as an alternative to a nursing home.
The Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center runs caregiver support groups around Central Florida, some with on-site respite so you can bring the person you care for. The Senior Resource Alliance lists it at 407-843-1910. Meeting times and locations rotate, so call to confirm the current schedule before you drive.
The Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is staffed at any hour for dementia caregiving questions, and 211 can point you to other local support groups.

Staying at home instead of a nursing home

Florida Medicaid pays for care at home through the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program, for people 65 and older who are Medicaid eligible, or 18 and older and Medicaid eligible by reason of a disability, who are also determined by the state's CARES unit at the Department of Elder Affairs to be at a nursing home level of care. Covered services include adult companion care, assisted living facility services, nursing facility care, physical therapy, respite care, and transportation, all based on medical necessity or on the need to delay or prevent nursing facility placement. Start the screening by calling the local Aging and Disability Resource Center, which in Orange County is the Senior Resource Alliance, 1-800-963-5337 or 407-514-1800. Ask about the waitlist when you call, and start early.
PACE (the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) wraps all medical care, therapy, an adult day center, home care, and prescriptions into one program for people 55 and older who meet a nursing-home level of care but can live at home with help. Orange County has one operational PACE program:
- InnovAge PACE Orlando, at 8410 S Orange Blossom Trl, Orlando, FL 32809. Call 689-284-0896 about enrolling, or 689-610-4800 if you are already a participant.
Florida's official AHCA PACE dashboard for June 2026 lists InnovAge PACE as the only PACE organization present in Orange County, and shows it as Operational with 167 people enrolled that month and 226 unique individuals served in the fiscal year to that point. AHCA also lists InnovAge as operational in Osceola and Lake counties. One caution on the service area: InnovAge's own website lists Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole, while AHCA's June 2026 county table shows only Beacon of Life PACE for Seminole with an application pending at CMS, which means it is not operating there. If the address in question is not in Orange County, confirm coverage with the program before you plan around it. Enrollment in any PACE program is set by service area and usually requires Medicaid eligibility.
Seniors First's in-home care programs and free Meals on Wheels (407-292-0177) also help an older adult stay home longer, and neither requires a Medicaid determination to start.

Frequently asked questions

Mom is 72 in Winter Park on a fixed income. Can she lower her property taxes? Yes. Winter Park adopted the Limited Income Senior Exemption at the full $50,000, and Orange County adopted it too, so both portions of her bill can be reduced. Her 2025 household adjusted gross income has to have been at or below $38,686, and she needs to already have or qualify for the regular homestead exemption. Call the Property Appraiser at 407-836-5044 before the early-March deadline, and if she has lived in that house 25 years or more and it is worth less than $250,000, ask them specifically about the Limited Income Senior Plus exemption, which is worth considerably more.

My parents live in Maitland and my aunt lives in Ocoee. Do they get the same break? No, and this is the one gap in Orange County. Ocoee adopted the senior exemption at up to $50,000. Maitland has not adopted it at all. Your parents in Maitland still get the standard homestead exemption, the Save Our Homes cap, and the Orange County portion of the senior exemption, since the county passed its own ordinance, but there is no Maitland city-portion senior exemption. Your aunt in Ocoee gets both the county and city portions. Both should call 407-836-5044 to confirm what applies at their exact addresses.

Dad is homebound near Pine Hills and can't cook. How do we get him meals? Call Seniors First at 407-292-0177. It is the only Meals on Wheels provider for Orange County. If he is 60 or older, lives in Orange County, and struggles to shop and prepare food, meals are delivered Monday through Friday, and clients are not charged. If he just came out of the hospital, say so, because there is an emergency Meals on Wheels track for someone within 30 days of discharge. There may be a waitlist for the standard program, so ask what it is. In the meantime, the free Seniors First pantry runs the second and fourth Thursday, 9 to 11 a.m., at 5395 L.B. McLeod Rd, and Second Harvest's finder at feedhopenow.org/find-help/food-finder will show pantries near his address.

The air conditioning died and my mother is 79 in unincorporated Orange County. Who helps? Start with the Senior Climate Efficiency Program at 407-836-0918. It is run by the Orange County Community Action Division specifically for low-income homeowners 60 and older, and it covers air conditioning replacement and other energy-saving improvements. If the unit is running but the bill is the problem, apply for LIHEAP at floridaliheap.com and call the LIHEAP hotline at 407-836-7429 between 8:30 a.m. and noon. Because she is over 60, also ask the Senior Resource Alliance at 407-514-1800 about EHEAP, the elder-only emergency energy program, which allows more than one crisis benefit in a program year.

How does mom get help paying her electric bill in Orange County? There are two doors and she may qualify for both. The county's LIHEAP is the general program: apply at floridaliheap.com and call 407-836-7429 in the morning. Home Energy Credit is once per 12 months; the Crisis Benefit is up to $1,000 in a fiscal year if she has a disconnection or past-due notice, is already disconnected, or has fewer than seven days left on an OUC Power Pass. Because she is 60 or older, also call the Senior Resource Alliance at 407-514-1800 or the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 for EHEAP. And do not assume the income is too high: the county's limit for one person is $32,155.

A caller said he was from Legal Aid and needed my father's bank information. Is that real? No. The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association has issued its own fraud alert about a group calling itself "Legal Aid Now" that contacts residents and asks for payment information, and it is not affiliated with them. Legal Aid's services are free for people who qualify, and they do not need banking details to open a case. Hang up, then call the Legal Aid Society yourself at 407-841-8310 to verify anything. If money already changed hands, report it to the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311, and if the person is a vulnerable adult, call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873.

My parent can't drive anymore. What rides are available in Orange County? Two main options. If a disability prevents using the regular bus, apply for ACCESS LYNX paratransit by calling 407-423-8747, but start now, because the process is a mail-in application that may also require medical verification and an in-person functional assessment. The fare is $4.00 or $7.00 per one-way trip depending on how close both ends are to a bus route, and trips stay inside Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. If your parent can still ride a regular bus, the LYNX AdvantAge reduced fare is the bargain: $25 for a 30-day pass instead of $50, or $1.00 a ride, for anyone 65 and over. Apply once at 407-841-5969, Option 2.

Sources

Orange County Property Appraiser, Exemptions: Homestead up to $50,000 with approximately $750 annual savings and a March 1 application deadline; Limited Income Senior Exemption requiring age 65+, qualification for homestead, and 2025 total household adjusted gross income not exceeding $38,686 for 2026, with the application due March 2, 2026 and income documentation due June 1, 2026; Limited Income Senior Plus Exemption requiring age 65+ and ownership as of January 1, permanent residence at the property for 25 years or more, income not exceeding $38,686, market value less than $250,000, a new separate application, and income proof for all household residents, and applying to Orange County General Fund taxes; $5,000 widow/widower; $5,000 disability (DR-416); total and permanent disability exemption (non service-connected) with a 2025 gross income limit of $37,712 to qualify in 2026 and an exception for people with quadriplegia; $5,000 service-connected disability 10 to 100 percent; service-connected total and permanent disability; Combat Related Disability Exemption for Seniors requiring the VA letter to contain the words "combat related"; Fallen Hero exemption; Total and Permanently Disabled First Responder exemption; portability rules under Fla. Stat. 193.155(8); office at 200 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 1700, Orlando, FL 32801, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 407-836-5044: https://ocpaweb.ocpafl.org/faqcontent/exemptions . Verified August 4, 2026.
Orange County Property Appraiser, Limited Income Senior Exemption FAQ: "Orange County as well as the cities of Apopka, Belle Isle, Edgewood, Oakland, Ocoee, Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden and Winter Park have authorized up to $50,000 additional exemption to date. The Town of Eatonville has authorized up to $25,000 for this exemption. Maitland has not adopted this ordinance." Also: the additional exemption does not apply to school or water management district taxes; a county or municipality must enact an ordinance by December 1 preceding the tax year; required proof of age (Florida driver license, Florida ID card, Orange County voter registration card, birth certificate, or other official records); required 2025 federal returns and 2025 wage and earnings statements (W-2, RRB-1042S, SSA-1042S, 1099, RRB-1099, SSA-1099) for each household member by June 1; definition of "household" excluding boarders and renters; "total household income" defined as adjusted gross income per Form 1040 including Social Security above IRS base amounts: https://ocpaweb.ocpafl.org/faqcontent/Liseniors . Verified August 4, 2026.
Orange County Property Appraiser, Satellite Offices page stating the office is not hosting satellite offices at this time: https://ocpaweb.ocpafl.org/content/SatelliteOffices . Verified August 4, 2026.
Orange County Tax Collector (Scott Randolph), Installment Payment Plan: taxpayer must be current on taxes and prior year taxes must exceed $100.00; 1st installment one quarter of estimated taxes discounted 6 percent due June 30; 2nd installment one quarter discounted 4.5 percent due September 30; 3rd installment one quarter plus half the adjustment discounted 3 percent due December 31; 4th installment one quarter plus half the adjustment due March 31; Property Tax Department 407-434-0312: https://www.octaxcol.com/taxes/about-property-tax/installment-payment-plan/ . Early payment discounts of 4 percent in November, 3 percent in December, 2 percent in January, and 1 percent in February: https://www.octaxcol.com/taxes/about-property-tax/paying-your-property-taxes/ . Verified August 4, 2026.
Senior Resource Alliance, Area Agency on Aging and ADRC for Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties; Elder Helpline 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337), Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; office 3319 Maguire Blvd., Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32803; 407-514-1800; info@sraflorida.org: https://www.seniorresourcealliance.org/elder-helpline/ and https://www.seniorresourcealliance.org/ . SHINE Medicare counseling free, unbiased, confidential, counselors not affiliated with any insurance company or agency, covering Medicare, supplements, Advantage plans, Medicaid, prescription assistance, long-term care insurance, fraud, enrollment, plan comparisons, claims, billing, appeals, and financial assistance programs, for Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole: https://www.seniorresourcealliance.org/medicare-counseling/ . EHEAP provider matching form for Orange, Osceola, Brevard, and Seminole counties, information line 407-514-1800: https://www.seniorresourcealliance.org/eheap/ . Verified August 4, 2026.
Florida Dept. of Elder Affairs, Aging and Disability Resource Centers directory listing Senior Resource Alliance (PSA 7), 3319 Maguire Blvd., Ste. 100, Orlando, FL 32803: https://elderaffairs.org/resource-directory/aging-and-disability-resource-centers-adrcs/ . Verified August 4, 2026.
Orange County Government, Office on Aging and Commission on Aging: 407-836-7446, OfficeonAging@ocfl.net; LIFE Information for Elders seminars third Thursday monthly 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. at the Orlando Public Library, 101 E. Central Blvd., Albertson Room, third floor, plus quarterly branch and Spanish-language sessions; Multicultural Senior Center, 7149 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32818, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Elder Ambassador Program; senior recreation centers and community centers: https://www.orangecountyfl.net/familieshealthsocialsvcs/seniorservices.aspx . Verified August 4, 2026.
Heart of Florida United Way, 211 Information and Referral Line, free and confidential and available 24/7/365, dial 2-1-1 or text your ZIP code to 898-211, live chat on the website, connecting to financial, food, housing, mental health, family, health and wellness, veterans, tax and banking, and education assistance with free multi-language translation: https://www.hfuw.org/get-help/211-help/ and https://www.hfuw.org/ . Verified August 4, 2026.
Seniors First, Inc., sole Meals on Wheels provider for Orange County: Orange County residents 60 and older who struggle to prepare nutritious meals, basically homebound with an impairment or disability affecting shopping and cooking; hot, chilled, or frozen meals delivered to the home Monday through Friday up to five days per week; clients receive meals at no charge; possible waitlist; apply through the Information Specialist at 407-292-0177 ext. 224; Emergency Meals on Wheels within 30 days of hospital discharge or in a crisis; Community Food Pantry second and fourth Thursday 9 to 11 a.m. at 5395 L.B. McLeod Rd, Orlando, free with no application and roughly 15 pounds per pre-packaged distribution; Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) and Home Care for the Elderly (HCE) with companionship, homemaking, and personal care in Orange, Seminole, and Polk counties: https://www.seniorsfirstinc.org/frequently-asked-questions/ and https://www.seniorsfirstinc.org/services/meals-on-wheels/ . Verified August 4, 2026.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, serving Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties, 411 Mercy Drive, Orlando, FL 32805, 407-295-1066, food finder at https://feedhopenow.org/find-help/food-finder/ : https://www.feedhopenow.org/ . Verified August 4, 2026.
Orange County Community Action Division, Energy Bill Assistance (LIHEAP): Crisis benefit up to $1,000 in a LIHEAP Fiscal Year; Home Energy Credit once per 12 months; crisis conditions of fewer than 7 days of usage remaining on a Power Pass (OUC customers only), a disconnection or past-due notice, or power already disconnected; income maximums stated as the greater of 60 percent SMI (family size 1 to 8) or 150 percent FPL (family size 9 to 20), listed as $32,155 (1), $42,049 (2), $51,943 (3), $61,837 (4), $71,730 (5), $81,624 (6), $83,479 (7), $85,335 (8), based on the FloridaCommerce LIHEAP Program Payment Matrix FFY2026 published September 30, 2025; apply at floridaliheap.com in English, Spanish, and Creole with all documents uploaded at submission; LIHEAP hotline 407-836-7429, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Community Action Division, 2100 E Michigan Street, Orlando, FL 32806, office hours Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: https://www.orangecountyfl.net/CommunityFamilyServices/EnergyBillAssistance.aspx . Verified August 4, 2026.
Orange County Community Action Division program list including the Senior Climate Efficiency Program (central air conditioning and heat repair and replacement for low-income seniors), the Weatherization Assistance Program, LIHEAP, and the Family Self-Sufficiency Program; division contact 2100 E Michigan St., Orlando, FL 32806, phone 407-836-9333, CommunityAction@ocfl.net: https://www.orangecountyfl.net/FamiliesHealthSocialSvcs/CommunityActionDivision.aspx . Senior Climate Efficiency Program directory entry for qualifying low-income homeowners 60 years or older, air-conditioning replacements and other energy saving improvements, 407-836-0918: https://newsroom.ocfl.net/directory/senior-climate-efficiency-program/ . Verified August 4, 2026.
Florida Dept. of Elder Affairs, Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP): at least one individual age 60 or older in the home; household gross income at or below 60 percent of the State Median Income for households of 1 to 8; a documented heating or cooling emergency such as a delinquent utility bill, lack of fuel or wood, or a shut-off notice; covers electricity, natural gas, propane, fuel oil, kerosene, or wood; multiple crisis benefits per program year up to a FloridaCommerce maximum; apply through the local ADRC or the Elder Helpline 1-800-963-5337: https://elderaffairs.org/programs-and-services/emergency-home-energy-assistance-for-the-elderly-program/ . Verified August 4, 2026.
Orange County Housing and Community Development Division, Housing Rehabilitation: repairs to eliminate existing life, safety, health and code violations; homeowners must have owned and lived in the home for a minimum of one year and meet very low-income guidelines; 525 East South Street, Orlando, FL 32801-2891, housing@ocfl.net, 407-836-5150: https://www.orangecountyfl.net/NeighborsHousing/HousingRehabilitation.aspx . Rental Assistance (Housing Choice Voucher / Section 8 and Tenant Based Rental Assistance) stating "We are not accepting applications at this time": https://www.orangecountyfl.net/NeighborsHousing/RentalAssistance.aspx . Verified August 4, 2026.
City of Orlando, Apply to the Housing Rehabilitation Program: assistance up to $20,000 as a grant with a 0-year lien limited to one per household every two years, $20,001 to $45,000 with a 10-year lien, more than $45,000 with a 15-year lien, structured as a deferred loan recorded as a mortgage and note and forgiven if the property remains the principal residence; property must be within City of Orlando limits, an existing single-family home, the principal residence, and current on property taxes, homeowner's insurance, utilities and mortgage, with insurance not required if repairs total less than $20,000; ineligible if a mobile home, townhome, condominium, duplex or villa, outside City of Orlando limits even if within Orange County with an Orlando address, carrying outstanding taxes, insurance, utility or mortgage payments or code enforcement liens, carrying a reverse mortgage, or not owner-occupied; priority for Extremely Low, Very Low and Low Income households, documented special needs, and emergency repair; 407.246.2708, rehab.assistance@orlando.gov, Housing & Community Development, 400 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801; Orange County Recovers Program referenced for documented unrepaired Hurricane Ian damage: https://www.orlando.gov/Building-Development/Housing-and-Development-Grants-Incentives-and-Assistance/Housing-Assistance-Programs/Housing-Rehabilitation-Program . Verified August 4, 2026.
LYNX, ACCESS LYNX paratransit: mail-in application with possible professional medical verification and in-person functional assessment; no trips to origins or destinations outside Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties; fare $4 per one-way trip where origin and destination are both within three-quarters of a mile of a fixed route alignment and $7 where either is outside; scheduling at 407-423-TRIP, which is 407-423-8747; WebACCESS at myaccesslynx.golynx.com: https://www.golynx.com/plan-trip/riding-lynx/access-lynx/ and https://www.golynx.com/plan-trip/riding-lynx/access-lynx/program-eligibility.stml . Verified August 4, 2026.
LYNX AdvantAge reduced-fare program: seniors age 65 and over, Medicare card holders of any age, and persons with medical disabilities of all ages; proof by Medicare card, birth certificate, or government-issued ID; mail to LYNX AdvantAge Reduced Fare Program, 455 N. Garland Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801; processed within five to seven business days; photos Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; no cost for the initial ID, renewing every three years; (407) 841-5969, Option 2: https://www.golynx.com/fares-passes/reduced-fares-application.stml . Fares: single ride regular $2.00 and discounted $1.00, all-day pass regular $4.50 and discounted $2.25, 30-day pass regular $50.00 and discounted $25.00: https://www.golynx.com/fares-passes/ . Verified August 4, 2026.
Bay Area Legal Services, Florida Senior Legal Helpline for eligible Florida residents aged 60 and older statewide at (888) 895-7873, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., covering housing problems, family matters, government benefits, contract issues and more: https://bals.org/help/seniors . Verified August 4, 2026.
The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc.: serving Orange County, 100 E. Robinson St, Orlando, FL 32801, 407-841-8310; office hours Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and new clients and walk-ins Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; services 100 percent free for those who qualify, covering simple estate planning (wills, advance directives, power of attorney, healthcare surrogate, Ladybird deeds), consumer law, housing law, small claims under $8,000, probate (summary administration only), guardian advocacy, family law, sealing and expungement, and low-income tax returns, and excluding criminal, child support enforcement, workers' compensation, personal injury, traffic or DUI, auto accident, medical malpractice, civil rights, and fee-generating cases; published fraud alert regarding a group calling itself "Legal Aid Now" that requests payment information and is not affiliated with the Legal Aid Society: https://www.legalaidocba.org/apply-for-legal-assistance/ , https://www.legalaidocba.org/contact-us/ and https://legalaidocba.org/ . Verified August 4, 2026.
Community Legal Services (formerly Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida), Legal Advice HELPline 1-800-405-1417, Monday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., serving Brevard, Citrus, Flagler, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Putnam, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties, with an online application and chat: https://www.legalaccessforall.org/get-help-post/legal-advice-helpline/ . Verified August 4, 2026.
Senior Resource Alliance, Caregiver Support page listing a caregiver support group run by the Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center at (407) 843-1910. Note: the meeting date posted on that page is outdated, which is why this article tells readers to call for the current schedule rather than relying on the posted time: https://www.seniorresourcealliance.org/caregiver-support/ . Verified August 4, 2026.
Florida Dept. of Elder Affairs, Caregiving: National Family Caregiver Support Program under Older Americans Act Title III-E for those caring for individuals aged 60 and older; RELIEF program providing in-home respite including evening and weekend respite; Alzheimer's Disease Initiative (ADI) respite for caregivers of adults 18 and older with diagnosed Alzheimer's or memory disorders, offering in-home, adult day care, emergency, and extended care up to 30 days plus case management, medical equipment, counseling, and training; Home Care for the Elderly (HCE) supporting Floridians 60 and older in family-type living arrangements in private homes with a subsidy for support, maintenance and some medical expenses; start through the local Area Agency on Aging at the Elder Helpline 1-800-963-5337: https://elderaffairs.org/programs-and-services/caregiving/ . Verified August 4, 2026.
Florida Dept. of Elder Affairs, Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program: age 65 and over and eligible for Medicaid, or age 18 and over and eligible for Medicaid by reason of a disability, plus a CARES determination of nursing home level of care; covered services including adult companion, assisted living facility services, nursing facility care, physical therapy, respite care and transportation, based on medical necessity or the need to delay or prevent nursing facility placement; start screening through the Elder Helpline 1-800-96-ELDER: https://elderaffairs.org/programs-and-services/statewide-medicaid-managed-care-long-term-care-program/ . Verified August 4, 2026.
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly dashboard, June 2026: the PACE Organization Data by County table lists Orange County with InnovAge PACE as the only agency present, status Operational, 167 enrollees for the current month and 226 unique individuals served for the fiscal year to date; Osceola and Lake also list InnovAge PACE as Operational; Seminole lists only Beacon of Life PACE with status "Application at CMS"; PACE serves individuals 55 years of age and older who live in a PACE service area: https://bi.ahca.myflorida.com/t/AgencyPublic/views/PACE/PACEReport and https://ahca.myflorida.com/medicaid/medicaid-policy-quality-and-operations/medicaid-policy-and-quality/medicaid-policy/federal-authorities/federal-waivers/program-of-all-inclusive-care-for-the-elderly.html . Verified August 4, 2026.
InnovAge PACE Orlando, 8410 S Orange Blossom Trl, Orlando, FL 32809; general inquiries 689-284-0896, current participants 689-610-4800; service area listed by InnovAge as Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties: https://www.innovage.com/locations/florida/orlando . Verified August 4, 2026.
Florida Dept. of Children and Families, public assistance programs (Food Assistance, Temporary Cash Assistance, Medicaid, Refugee Assistance), MyACCESS portal at myaccess.myflfamilies.com, customer call center (850) 300-4323: https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/public-assistance . Florida Abuse Hotline 1-800-962-2873, accepting reports of known or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/abuse/abuse-hotline . Verified August 4, 2026.
Florida SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders), free unbiased Medicare counseling delivered locally by the Senior Resource Alliance, weekly calendar of Medicare classes: https://www.floridashine.org/ . Verified August 4, 2026.

Verified August 4, 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.