Trusted, background-screened caregivers, honest Florida Medicaid guidance, and flexible private-pay care for Polk County families, all coordinated by Cottage's Florida care team.
Request care in Polk County
Between Tampa and Orlando along the I-4 corridor, Polk County families come to Cottage Home Care when an aging parent, a spouse recovering from a hospital stay, or a loved one living with a chronic illness needs a hand at home. From the lakeside neighborhoods of Lakeland and Winter Haven to the quieter citrus towns further south, we help seniors and adults with disabilities stay where they are most comfortable, in their own homes and among their own routines, rather than moving into an assisted living facility or nursing home before they are ready. Care can mean help with bathing, dressing, and getting around safely, a companion for the day, meals and light housekeeping, memory care for Alzheimer's and dementia, or around-the-clock live-in support.
From your very first call, Cottage's Florida care team walks you through Florida Medicaid and the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program (SMMC-LTC), a statewide benefit that reaches Polk County residents in Bartow, Haines City, Lake Wales, and every community in between. For families who qualify, this coverage brings little to no out-of-pocket cost. One detail many Polk County families are relieved to learn is that Florida's participant-directed options often allow a qualified family member or friend to be hired and paid as the caregiver, so the person your loved one already trusts can be the one providing care. Every Cottage caregiver is trained and background-screened.
If you would rather not wait on an eligibility determination, or you simply prefer to arrange care on your own terms, our private-pay option can begin in as little as 24 hours. You choose the schedule, whether that is a few hours a week for companionship in Auburndale, overnight coverage in Davenport, or full live-in care in Mulberry, and you can adjust it as your family's needs change. No Medicaid approval or waiting period is required to get started.
Cottage Home Care proudly serves families across Polk County, including Bartow, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Haines City, Lake Wales, Auburndale, Davenport, and Mulberry.
Cities we serve in Polk County
Cottage's offices are in South Florida, but Florida Medicaid and the SMMC-LTC program are statewide, so the same long-term care benefits are available to families in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, and the rest of Polk County. Our Florida care team coordinates everything remotely and through your in-home caregiver, so distance never limits the support you receive.
Medicaid rules can feel overwhelming, especially when you are also caring for someone. Cottage helps Polk County families check eligibility, gather documents, and navigate SMMC-LTC enrollment for free, with no obligation. There is no charge to find out whether your Bartow or Haines City household qualifies for little-to-no-cost care.
Through Florida's participant-directed Medicaid options, a qualifying daughter, son, spouse, or trusted friend can often be hired and paid to provide care. For families in Lake Wales, Frostproof, or Fort Meade who are already helping day to day, this means the caregiving they are doing out of love can become a supported, compensated role.
When a family in Auburndale or Davenport needs help right away, private-pay care can begin in about 24 hours with no eligibility wait. Choose hourly visits, overnight care, or live-in support, and change the schedule as needs shift, whether that is short-term help after a hospital discharge or ongoing daily care.
Whether you qualify for Florida Medicaid or prefer to start privately, Cottage makes South Florida home care simple — and we’ll help you find the right fit in one free call.
Statewide Medicaid Managed Care — Long-Term Care (SMMC-LTC)
For eligible seniors, Florida Medicaid covers in-home care at no cost — and in many cases a family member can be hired and paid to provide it.
Flexible care with no Medicaid paperwork or waiting
Choose exactly the schedule you need — a few hours a week, overnights, or full live-in care — and we match a trusted caregiver right away.
Not sure which path is right for your family? We’ll walk you through both — free, with no obligation.
Ready to find the right care for your family?
From everyday personal care to specialized memory support, our South Florida caregivers deliver personalized care at home — through Florida Medicaid or private pay, we’ll help you find the right fit.
Bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and everyday mobility support.
Companionship, supervision, errands, and genuine emotional support.
Specialized, patient memory care delivered in familiar surroundings.
Light housekeeping, laundry, and home-cooked meal preparation.
Around-the-clock and live-in care for higher-need routines.
Free help with SMMC-LTC eligibility, or flexible private-pay plans.
Real reviews from the families we care for across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.
Cottage made it so easy to arrange care for my mother. Our caregiver treats her like family, and I finally have peace of mind knowing she is safe at home.
From the first call, the team was warm and organized. They matched us with a caregiver quickly and the care has been outstanding every single day.
After my husband’s surgery we needed help fast. Cottage handled everything and the caregivers were compassionate, punctual, and truly skilled.
Being able to be paid to care for my dad through the Medicaid program changed everything for our family. Cottage walked us through every step.
The team went above and beyond to make sure I understood every option. Patient, kind, and genuinely caring — five stars without hesitation.
Cottage made it so easy to arrange care for my mother. Our caregiver treats her like family, and I finally have peace of mind knowing she is safe at home.
From the first call, the team was warm and organized. They matched us with a caregiver quickly and the care has been outstanding every single day.
After my husband’s surgery we needed help fast. Cottage handled everything and the caregivers were compassionate, punctual, and truly skilled.
Being able to be paid to care for my dad through the Medicaid program changed everything for our family. Cottage walked us through every step.
The team went above and beyond to make sure I understood every option. Patient, kind, and genuinely caring — five stars without hesitation.
Quick answers about Florida Medicaid, private pay, and getting started with in-home care in Polk County.
Yes. Cottage Home Care serves families throughout Polk County, from Lakeland and Winter Haven to Bartow, Lake Wales, Haines City, and the smaller citrus towns in between. Although our offices are in South Florida, Florida Medicaid's long-term care program is statewide and our Florida care team coordinates in-home care countywide.
Stop by, call, or send us a message. Our local team is here to answer your questions and help you get started.
