The Elder Affairs department is a state agency that handles medical assessments to determine whether seniors qualify for assisted living or nursing homes. In Florida, seniors comprise a quarter of the state's population. The department also provides service programs for seniors and encourages them to live self-sufficient lives.
The Tampa office of the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Laboratories is one of six offices of its kind. It provides diagnostic screening, emergency, monitoring, reference and research public health lab services. The office serves county health departments, hospitals and doctors. The bureau also regulates environmental labs in order to protect public health. The Tampa office provides lab services for Charlotte, Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Oceola, Pasco, Polk, Pinellas, Sarasota and Sumter counties.