Welcome

NU-HOPE Elder Care Services, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated helping seniors to remain in their own homes and avoid/delay nursing home placement. We offer a variety of in-home, nutrition, and support services available at no-cost or for a low sliding-scale fee. Funding for our programs is obtained primarily through grants, fundraisers, and community donations.

We understand the importance of ‘home’ and the value of neighborhoods, friends and family. Through our services, thousands of seniors have received the assistance that they needed to safely remain in their own homes and stay connected to the communities they love.

For more information, please contact NU-HOPE at (863) 382-2134.

Agency Update

Florida has a crisis that cannot be ignored.

In May 2025, a landmark Columbia University study placed Florida in the “critical” zone of a national caregiving emergency. The numbers are staggering: unpaid family caregivers provide an estimated $60.6 billion in labor annually—greater than the economic impact of Walt Disney World itself.

At first glance, it may sound efficient: families step in, costs are contained, the community benefits. But the reality is far from sustainable.

All too often caregivers take on the challenges they face with little or no support. But studies show that such caregivers are at critically high risk of burnout or a catastrophic health event, themselves. And when caregivers are pushed past their limits—physically, emotionally, and financially—those they support cannot remain at home. The seniors who were once assisted by caregivers must now turn to community care systems that are already stretched thin and underfunded.

The ripple effect is profound, affecting government, health care and our community safety nets. When caregivers withdraw, we see increased hospitalizations, greater reliance on emergency services, and a service network unable to meet the growing demand for both urgent and ongoing assistance. Ultimately, when caregivers falter, the stability and well-being of all seniors in our region are placed at risk.

That is why NU-HOPE exists.

For 50 years, we have been this community’s safeguard—supporting both those with dedicated caregivers and those who have no one to turn to. We provide the meals, transportation, in-home help, respite, and in-home support services that keep families strong and ensure no senior is left behind. We address the specific needs of seniors. But, just as important, we provide vital support for caregivers. We fill the gaps others cannot, protecting the independence and dignity of older adults and promote the well-being and stability of caregivers throughout Highlands and Hardee Counties.

This month, as Florida’s caregiving crisis takes the national spotlight, NU-HOPE’s role is clearer than ever. We invite you to stand with us—whether by volunteering, donating, or spreading the word—so together we can build a future where every senior and caregiver is supported, and where no one has to face aging alone.

For more information about NU-HOPE’s initiatives and how to get involved, please visit www.NuhopeElderCare.org or call (863) 382-2134.