For Immediate Release: June 13, 2024
Contact: DOEA Communications, communications@elderaffairs.org
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Yesterday, Department of Elder Affairs’ (DOEA) Secretary Michelle Branham celebrated Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for their unwavering commitment to enhancing services and programs that support our cherished seniors. The signing of the Focus on Florida’s Future Budget marks a substantial increase to DOEA’s budget, underscoring the Governor’s dedication to maintaining a robust infrastructure for older residents as more Americans choose to call the Sunshine State home.
“Since the first day Governor Ron DeSantis took office, his dedication to Florida seniors has been steadfast. I’m incredibly proud that Florida continues to lead the nation in state funding for Alzheimer’s disease, a cause that has always remained a top priority for us,” said Secretary Michelle Branham. “The Governor’s budget not only supports our mission to promote the well-being, safety, and independence of our more than 6.3 million seniors, their families, and caregivers, but also ensures we continue to meet the expanding needs of our rapidly growing senior population. The entire aging network is deeply grateful for the Governor and Legislature’s dedication and commitment to putting seniors first in our great state.”
Highlights for Florida seniors in the Department of Elder Affairs’ 2024-2025 budget include:
- $6 million increase for the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative to expand the number of residents and caregivers served by the program;
- More than $2 million increase to expand the Florida Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, an initiative launched by Governor DeSantis in 2022 that provides support to families with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis to gain access to resources and clinical trials early on in their dementia journey;
- $11 million increase to expand the Community Care for the Elderly and Home Care for the Elderly Programs to care for more seniors in home and community-based settings, which enables them to continue living in the place of their choosing and delays or eliminates the need for them to utilize a long-term care setting.
With these significant budget increases, Florida is poised to continue leading the nation in providing comprehensive support and services to its aging residents.
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