Nocatee, Florida — First Lady Casey DeSantis on Thursday announced a new initiative that will let nursing homes and assisted living communities across Florida partner with local churches through Hope Florida's CarePortal.
"Every senior deserves to know they matter and are loved," the first lady said. The initiative extends Hope Florida's model of linking residents with community and faith organizations to the state's older adults.
Through the portal, a care facility can post simple requests such as delivering flowers, celebrating a birthday, reading together or spending time with a resident who would welcome conversation. The first phase launches in Leon, Hillsborough and Miami-Dade counties before expanding statewide.
Florida has about 16.5 million residents of faith and more than 20,000 churches and faith institutions, which the administration described as one of the nation's largest volunteer networks. The Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Elder Affairs are supporting the rollout.
