Licensed Nurse Registry Serving South Florida
Care Alternatives, Inc. has served South Florida since 1990 as a licensed Florida nurse registry, referring screened RNs, LPNs, CNAs, HHAs, homemakers and companions to families across Palm Beach County, Broward County and Miami-Dade County — at home, in assisted living and in facilities.
What is a Florida nurse registry?
It's a specific, state-regulated category of care — not the same thing as a home health agency.
Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) defines a nurse registry as an organization that offers healthcare-related contracts for nurses, home health aides, certified nursing assistants, homemakers, and companions to provide care in a patient's own home — and that may also supply those professionals as temporary staff to healthcare facilities.
In practical terms: the registry screens and verifies caregivers, then refers them to your family. You choose who comes into your home, and the caregiver works as an independent contractor rather than an agency employee. That's what makes registry care more flexible, more consistent, and usually more affordable per hour.
How Care Alternatives helps South Florida families.
Three decades of matching families with the right caregiver — starting with a conversation, not a contract.
We listen first
A no-pressure call to understand the diagnosis, the routine, the personality, and what's worrying you most.
We match carefully
We present screened RNs, LPNs, CNAs, HHAs, or companions suited to the plan of care — and you choose.
We stay involved
Coordinators check in, adjust hours as needs change, and help with long-term care insurance and VA-related paperwork.
RNs, LPNs, CNAs, HHAs, and companions.
Every referral is matched to the level of care your family actually needs — nothing more, nothing less.
Registered Nurses (RNs)
Skilled clinical oversight at home — medication management, wound care, injections, disease-specific monitoring, and coordination with your physician.
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
Hands-on nursing support under a plan of care: vitals, medications, catheter and ostomy care, diabetic care, and post-hospital monitoring.
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)
Personal care and daily living support — bathing, dressing, toileting, transfers, mobility, and safe supervision throughout the day or night.
Home Health Aides (HHAs)
Assistance with grooming, meals, light housekeeping, medication reminders, and the everyday routines that keep someone comfortable at home.
Companions & Homemakers
Conversation, errands, appointment escorts, meal preparation, and household help for people who mainly need presence and a steady hand.
Live-In & 24-Hour Caregivers
Continuous coverage for families who need overnight safety, fall prevention, or around-the-clock support at home or in a facility.
Nurse registry vs. home health agency.
Both can be the right answer. Here's how they actually differ, so you can decide with clear eyes.
Who selects the caregiver
Registry: You do. We present screened candidates and you choose who comes into your home.
Agency: The agency assigns whoever is scheduled that day.
Relationship
Registry: Caregivers are independent contractors referred to you; the registry facilitates and coordinates.
Agency: Caregivers are employees of the agency.
Continuity
Registry: Families typically keep the same caregiver long-term.
Agency: Rotating staff is common.
Flexibility
Registry: Hours, tasks, and schedule are arranged directly around your routine.
Agency: Set service packages and visit windows.
Cost
Registry: Generally lower hourly cost, because there is no employer overhead built into the rate.
Agency: Higher rates reflecting employment costs.
Care settings we cover.
Wherever your loved one is, one-on-one attention travels with them.
Private homes & condos
The most common setting — one-on-one care where your loved one already feels at ease.
Assisted living communities
Supplemental one-on-one attention beyond what community staff can provide.
Memory care
Caregivers experienced with dementia behaviors, redirection, and calm routines.
Hospital & rehab sitters
A familiar face at the bedside for safety, advocacy, and family relief.
Post-hospital recovery
Short-term support after surgery or discharge to reduce readmission risk.
Facility staffing
Temporary nursing and aide coverage for healthcare facilities that need extra hands.
Credential verification, before anyone reaches your door.
A referral only happens after the paperwork checks out — and after we'd be comfortable sending that caregiver to our own family.
- Florida license and certification verified against state records
- Level 2 background screening as required by Florida law
- Professional references checked before any referral
- Proof of liability insurance and current credentials on file
- Skills and experience matched to the specific plan of care
- Ongoing coordinator check-ins after placement begins
Three licensed service regions across South Florida.
Care Alternatives holds a separate Florida nurse registry license in each county we serve. Choose your county for local detail, then your city.
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach Nurse Registry License #30211642
- Boca Raton
- Delray Beach
- West Palm Beach
Broward County
Broward Nurse Registry License #30211539
- Fort Lauderdale
- Pompano Beach
- Hollywood
Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade Nurse Registry License #30212470
- Miami
- Aventura
- Coral Gables
Florida license numbers
Care Alternatives, Inc. holds the following Florida nurse registry and homemaker companion service licenses.
- Broward County
- #30211539
- Palm Beach County
- #30211642
- Miami-Dade County
- #30212470
- Homemaker Companion Service
- #232233
What affects the cost of home care in South Florida.
Rates vary by household. These are the factors that move the number up or down — a coordinator will give you realistic ranges for your situation before anything is arranged.
Level of caregiver
A companion or homemaker referral costs less per hour than a CNA or HHA, and licensed LPN or RN support costs more again.
Hours and shift length
Short two- and three-hour visits are harder to staff and usually carry a higher hourly rate than longer shifts.
Hourly vs. live-in or 24-hour
Live-in arrangements are typically quoted as a daily rate, while around-the-clock coverage is staffed in rotating shifts.
Complexity of the plan of care
Transfers, two-person assistance, dementia behaviors, wound care and equipment needs all affect which caregivers can be referred.
Schedule and timing
Overnights, weekends, holidays and last-minute starts can affect availability and rate.
Location and travel
Distance and traffic across South Florida influence which caregivers can reliably cover a given schedule.
For general market ranges, read our guide to home care costs in South Florida.
Private pay, long-term care insurance and VA-related support.
Most families combine more than one of these. We will be straightforward about what applies to you.
Private pay
Most families arrange care privately, paying the referred caregiver directly for the hours worked. We are upfront about typical ranges before you commit to anything.
Long-term care insurance
Many policies reimburse registry care. We help with the documentation carriers commonly request, such as caregiver logs and service records. Approval and reimbursement are always the insurer's decision.
VA-related support
Veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for VA programs that help with the cost of in-home care. We can point you to the right starting place and to the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs for eligibility.
Veterans and surviving spouses can read more on our veterans home care page.
Serving South Florida families since 1990.
Care Alternatives, Inc. has been referring caregivers to South Florida households for more than three decades — through hospital discharges, dementia diagnoses, recoveries that went well and seasons that were very hard. That longevity is why so many of our calls come from families referred by someone we helped years earlier.
Learn more about Care Alternatives and our founder.
A licensed Florida nurse registry
Licensed in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties, plus a Homemaker Companion Service license — all four numbers are listed above.
How families request care.
Four straightforward steps, and you are never committed by having the conversation.
Call or send a request
Call 800-631-3793 or use the Request Care form. There is no cost or obligation for the conversation.
Talk through the situation
A coordinator asks about the diagnosis, the daily routine, the hours you think you need and how you plan to pay.
Review screened candidates
We present verified caregivers matched to the plan of care. You interview and choose the person who comes into your home.
Start and adjust
Care begins on the schedule you set, and hours or caregiver level can change as needs change.
Frequently asked questions about nurse registries.
What is a nurse registry in Florida?
Under Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) rules, a nurse registry is an organization that refers licensed nurses, home health aides, certified nursing assistants, homemakers, and companions to provide care in a patient's home, and that may also supply temporary staffing to healthcare facilities. The registry screens and refers the caregiver; the family directs the care.
How is a nurse registry different from a home health agency?
With a registry, you choose your caregiver from screened candidates and they work as independent contractors. With an agency, caregivers are employees and the agency assigns them. Registries generally cost less per hour and offer more continuity with the same caregiver.
Do you serve Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach?
Yes. Care Alternatives holds separate nurse registry licenses for Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties and refers caregivers throughout all three.
How much does private-duty care cost?
Rates depend on the level of care (companion, HHA/CNA, or licensed nurse), the number of hours, and whether care is hourly, live-in, or 24-hour. We'll walk you through realistic ranges for your situation before you commit to anything.
Can I use long-term care insurance or VA benefits?
Often, yes. We help families with long-term care insurance claims and caregiver logs, and we can point veterans toward VA-related support and the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs.
How quickly can care start?
In urgent situations — a hospital discharge, for example — we can frequently arrange a caregiver within 24 hours. Call us and we'll tell you honestly what's available.
What if the caregiver isn't the right fit?
Tell us. Fit matters more than paperwork, and we'll refer other candidates until the match feels right for your family.
Do you offer hourly, live-in, and overnight care?
Yes — from a few hours a week to live-in and 24-hour coverage, in private homes and in facilities.
Talk with a South Florida nurse registry coordinator.
Tell us what's going on at home. We'll explain your options honestly and help you find the right caregiver — with no obligation.