Benefits · Elder Services
How to apply for Putnam County Council on Aging — Aging in Place + Chore + Fall Prevention + Caregiver Support
Putnam County Council on Aging, Inc. — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; the principal local senior-services delivery partner for Elder Options PSA 3 in Putnam County
Who it's for
The Putnam County Council on Aging is the principal local nonprofit delivering non-meal senior support services to Putnam County residents age 60 and older. As a contracted local partner of Elder Options (the PSA 3 Area Agency on Aging), the Council on Aging offers a comprehensive array of services to support aging in place: Aging in Place home assessments (safety + accessibility evaluation), chore services (light housekeeping, yard maintenance, minor home tasks), educational workshops, Golden Gatherings programs and activities, fall prevention classes (evidence-based Rock Steady Boxing + Matter of Balance), telephone reassurance (wellness check-in calls for socially isolated seniors), medical equipment loan closet (free temporary use of walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds, shower benches), licensed social worker outreach for case management, transportation coordination with The Ride Solution, and virtual programs for homebound participants. These services complement the OAA Title III nutrition delivery (fl.putnam.elder_options_meals) and the broader Elder Options support-services intake (fed.oaa.supportive_services). Eligibility is age 60+ and Putnam County residency; some services additionally require documented functional need. Call the Council on Aging directly or the Elder Helpline at 1-800-262-2243 for intake.
Putnam County Council on Aging services are concentrated in Palatka (the county seat) — non-Palatka Putnam residents may need The Ride Solution paratransit to access in-person services. The medical equipment loan closet is a particularly valuable service for short-term post-surgery or post-fall recovery (walkers, wheelchairs, shower benches, hospital beds) — no income gate, no waiting list documented. Chore services and aging-in-place assessments have case-manager-controlled access and waitlists may apply during budget-constrained quarters. Fall prevention classes (Rock Steady Boxing, Matter of Balance) are particularly valuable for senior couples wanting to delay assisted living or skilled nursing entry. This record covers the Council on Aging's NON-MEAL services; the meals program is modeled separately (fl.putnam.elder_options_meals).
What you'll need
- Proof of age 60+ (Florida driver's license, Florida ID, or birth certificate)
- Proof of Putnam County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
- For Aging in Place home assessment: scheduled in-home visit by Council on Aging assessor
- For chore services: documented functional need (case manager assessment)
- For medical equipment loan closet: no documentation required (free first-come basis)
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 1-800-262-2243
Renewals
annual reassessment by Council on Aging case manager; some services (loan closet, group classes) are walk-in
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.