Benefits · Elder Services
How to apply for Bay County Council on Aging — Senior Services + Panama City Beach Senior Center + In-Home Support
Bay County Council on Aging, Inc. (BCCOA) — 501(c)(3) nonprofit; integrated AAA delivery partner (under Advantage Aging Solutions / PSA 2) + Community Action Agency for Bay County; main office at 1116 Frankford Avenue, Panama City FL 32401; operates the Panama City Beach Senior Center + in-home support services + case management alongside Meals on Wheels and LIHEAP/WAP
Who it's for
Beyond Meals on Wheels and LIHEAP/WAP energy assistance, BCCOA operates a senior services portfolio that supports Bay County's elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged residents in maintaining independence, health, and quality of life. Services include: (1) Panama City Beach Senior Center — a congregate site offering meals, activities, classes, and socialization for ambulatory seniors 60+. (2) In-Home Support — case management, referral, and coordination services for seniors aging in place. (3) Caregiver Support — assistance for family members caring for aging parents or spouses, including referral to Florida Community Care for the Elderly (CCE), Home Care for the Elderly (HCE), and Alzheimer's Disease Initiative (ADI) sponsorship programs. (4) Information & Referral — BCCOA's central role as Bay County's integrated AAA+CAA means it serves as the single intake hub for nutrition, energy assistance, transportation referral (to Bay Town Trolley paratransit), and other senior-support pathways. Eligibility is age 60+ and Bay County residency for the senior services pathway; specific program intake requires individual assessment. Apply by calling BCCOA at 850-769-3468.
BCCOA's senior services are smaller in scale than the larger fully-integrated AAA models (COASJC, NCCOA, COAWFL) — BCCOA does NOT operate a licensed Adult Day Health Care center or extensive in-home personal care program of its own. The integrated AAA+CAA intake hub model is BCCOA's distinctive strength: a single phone call coordinates nutrition + energy assistance + senior center activities + referral to other CCE/HCE/ADI-sponsored services. For seniors needing intensive licensed Adult Day Health Care, dialysis-aligned services, or skilled-nursing-level in-home care, BCCOA refers to other Bay County or regional providers (including Hurricane Michael recovery-era expanded community partnerships). The Panama City Beach Senior Center is geographically focused on the Beach corridor — Lynn Haven and Springfield residents face longer travel; BCCOA can coordinate Bay Town Trolley access. The donation-based fee structure for nutrition + the no-fee structure for general information & referral keeps BCCOA services genuinely accessible regardless of income.
What you'll need
- Proof of age 60+ (Florida driver's license, Florida ID, or birth certificate)
- Proof of Bay County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
- For congregate meals at Panama City Beach Senior Center: ambulatory mobility to attend
- For In-Home Support / Case Management: BCCOA intake assessment of senior needs
- For sponsorship referrals (CCE/HCE/ADI): income documentation
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 850-769-3468
Renewals
annual reassessment by BCCOA case manager; rolling enrollment for in-home support
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.