Written & Reviewed by
Last updated: April 27, 2026
Bottom line: Georgia has 12 Area Agencies on Aging, often called AAAs. These local offices help older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers find meals, rides, Medicare counseling, home help, caregiver support, legal help, and long-term care options. The fastest statewide starting point is the Aging and Disability Resource Connection at 1-866-552-4464.
Contents
- Fast help numbers
- What Georgia AAAs can do
- Georgia AAA directory by region
- Meals, rides, home help, and caregiver support
- How to start without wasting time
- What to do if delayed or denied
- Spanish summary and FAQs
If you need urgent help now
Call 911 if someone is in danger, has a medical emergency, or may be hurt right now. Do not wait for an Area Agency on Aging to call back in a safety emergency.
For abuse, neglect, or exploitation in a home or community setting, Georgia Adult Protective Services takes reports through 1-866-552-4464, option 3. The official APS page says APS is not a first responder, so call 911 first if there is immediate danger.
For a mental health or suicide crisis, call or text 988. Georgia says calls to 988 are answered by the Georgia Crisis and Access Line every day through 988 in Georgia, day and night.
For food, rent, shelter, utilities, disaster help, or local nonprofit referrals, dial 2-1-1. The Georgia 211 service connects callers with community resources.
Fast help numbers for Georgia seniors
| Need | Best first call | What to ask for | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Find your local AAA | 1-866-552-4464 | Ask for the ADRC or your county AAA. | Some services depend on county funding and waitlists. |
| Meals or senior center lunch | Your local AAA | Ask about congregate meals and home-delivered meals. | Home meals may require a screening. |
| Medicare questions | 1-866-552-4464, option 4 | Ask for Georgia SHIP counseling. | SHIP counselors do not sell insurance. |
| Home care waiver | Your local AAA | Ask about the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program. | There is often a waitlist. |
| Abuse report | 1-866-552-4464, option 3 | Ask for Adult Protective Services. | Call 911 first if danger is immediate. |
What an Area Agency on Aging can do
Area Agencies on Aging are local planning and service offices. Georgia calls the statewide front door the Aging and Disability Resource Connection, or ADRC. The state ADRC page says the system helps older adults, people with disabilities, families, caregivers, and professionals find long-term support options.
Georgia’s Division of Aging Services runs many programs through AAAs. The state aging services list includes help at home, nutrition, caregiver programs, Medicare help, legal help, ombudsman help, and other supports.
Most people call their AAA when they do not know where to start. A staff person may screen your need, check your county, and send you to a local provider. The AAA is not always the final provider. It may refer you to a senior center, meal program, transportation provider, legal group, Medicaid office, or another agency.
Georgia state stats: Georgia’s estimated population was 11,302,748 on July 1, 2025, and 15.7% of residents were age 65 or older, according to Census QuickFacts. Georgia also has 159 counties, so the right office depends on where the older adult lives.
Georgia AAA directory by region
The directory below is based on the current Georgia DHS location listings and ADRC contact page. You can also use the state DHS directory to check the latest office details before calling.
| AAA region | Counties served | Main phone | Office city |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Regional | Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Rockdale | 1-866-552-4464 or 404-463-3333 | Atlanta |
| CSRA | Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, Wilkes | 706-210-2000 or 1-888-922-4464 | Augusta |
| Coastal Georgia | Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh | 912-514-1629 or 1-800-580-6860 | Darien |
| Georgia Mountains | Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, White | 770-538-2650 or 1-855-266-4283 | Oakwood |
| Heart of Georgia Altamaha | Appling, Bleckley, Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, Wheeler, Wilcox | 912-367-3648 or 1-888-367-9913 | Baxley |
| Middle Georgia | Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, Wilkinson | 478-751-6466 or 1-888-548-1456 | Macon |
| Northeast Georgia | Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Walton | 706-369-5650 or 1-800-474-7540 | Athens |
| Northwest Georgia | Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, Whitfield | 1-800-759-2963 | Rome |
| River Valley | Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Webster | 706-256-2900 | Columbus |
| Southern Georgia | Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner, Ware | 912-285-6097 or 1-888-732-4464 | Waycross |
| Southwest Georgia | Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, Worth | 229-432-1124 or 1-800-282-6612 | Albany |
| Three Rivers | Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, Upson | 678-552-2838 or 1-866-854-5652 | Franklin |
Reality check: Always confirm your county when you call. County lists and intake numbers can change. If the first office says you are outside its area, ask the worker to transfer you or give you the correct AAA phone number.
Common help from Georgia AAAs
The services below are the main reasons seniors and caregivers call. Not every service is open in every county at the same time. Funding, staffing, and waiting lists matter.
| Service | What it may help with | Who may qualify | Where to apply | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meals | Senior center lunches, home-delivered meals, nutrition tips, and wellness classes. | Older adults who meet local meal program rules. Home meals often need a health or homebound screening. | Call your local AAA or check the state nutrition page for program types. | Delivery routes may be limited in rural areas. |
| In-home help | Homemaker help, personal care, chores, home safety supports, reassurance calls, and emergency response systems. | Older adults who need help staying safe at home and meet local screening rules. | Ask your AAA about in-home services and what is open in your county. | Some help is short term or limited by funding. |
| Caregiver help | Respite, counseling, education, adult day care referrals, and support for family caregivers. | Caregivers of older adults or adults with disabilities, based on program rules. | Start with caregiver programs through the AAA. | Respite hours may not cover full-time care. |
| Medicare counseling | Plan choices, drug coverage, Medicare Savings Programs, and Extra Help questions. | People with Medicare, family members, and caregivers. | Call Georgia SHIP through Georgia SHIP or 1-866-552-4464, option 4. | Counselors are neutral, but they cannot pick a plan for you. |
| Legal help | Non-criminal legal issues, benefits problems, housing matters, and elder-rights questions. | Georgians age 60 and older, based on the legal program’s capacity and case type. | Ask the AAA or use the state legal help page for details. | Urgent court deadlines need fast action. |
| Home care waiver | Adult day care, personal care, home-delivered meals, respite, and other supports at home. | People who are Medicaid eligible, need a nursing home level of care, and choose home or community care. | Georgia says the EDWP application starts through the Division of Aging Services and AAAs. | There is often a waitlist, and services vary by capacity. |
Meals and food help
Many seniors call an AAA first because food is getting harder to afford, shop for, or cook. Georgia AAAs can connect people to senior center meals, home-delivered meals, nutrition education, and nearby food resources.
Congregate meals are group meals at senior centers or other community sites. They can help with food and social contact at the same time. Home-delivered meals may help people who cannot safely shop or cook because of health or mobility needs.
Who may qualify: The rules depend on the program and county. Older adults with health limits, no steady ride, limited support at home, or a high nutrition risk should ask for a screening.
Where to apply: Call your county AAA. You can also use our senior food programs guide for other food options, including SNAP and meal sites.
Reality check: A meal request is not always same-day help. If you need food today, call 2-1-1, a food pantry, a faith group, or your county senior center while the AAA screening is pending.
Rides and transportation help
Transportation is one of the hardest parts of aging in Georgia, especially outside large cities. AAA-linked transportation may help with rides to medical visits, senior centers, meal sites, grocery trips, or other needed appointments.
Who may qualify: Programs often focus on older adults who cannot drive, cannot use regular public transit, or have no family ride. Some areas may give first priority to medical appointments.
Where to apply: Call your AAA and ask, “What senior transportation is open in my county?” In metro Atlanta, also ask whether the Empowerline or local transit options fit your needs.
Reality check: Rides often need advance notice. A ride may not be door-to-door in every county. Weather, distance, driver shortages, and rural roads can affect service.
Home care and Medicaid waiver help
Georgia’s Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program, often tied to CCSP and SOURCE, may help some older adults get care at home instead of in a nursing home. The Georgia Medicaid waiver page says CCSP and SOURCE serve frail elderly and disabled Georgians who otherwise meet a nursing facility level of care.
What it helps with: The waiver may include service coordination, adult day care, personal care, home-delivered meals, respite, and other home or community supports.
Who may qualify: Georgia says applicants must be Medicaid eligible, be at least 65 or meet disability rules if younger, meet nursing home level of care, choose home or community care, and use only one waiver at a time.
Where to apply: Start with your local AAA. If you are comparing ways to pay for help at home, see our Georgia home care guide for more payment paths.
Reality check: The state notes that there is often a waitlist. Being screened does not mean services will start right away. Ask the AAA what to do while waiting.
Caregiver support
Caregivers often call after a parent, spouse, or grandparent becomes unsafe alone. Your AAA may offer caregiver screening, respite options, adult day referrals, support groups, training, and other local supports.
Who may qualify: Family caregivers, unpaid helpers, and some grandparents or older relatives raising children may be eligible for support, depending on the program. Grandparents can also review our Georgia grandparents guide for kinship and TANF options.
Where to apply: Call your AAA and ask for caregiver support or respite. If you hope to be paid for caregiving, our paid caregiver help guide can help you ask better questions.
Reality check: Respite is usually limited. A program may offer a few hours, a short break, or referral help. It may not replace a full care plan.
Medicare, legal help, and housing referrals
AAAs can also point seniors to free Medicare counseling, legal help, housing referrals, and other local resources. Georgia SHIP helps with Medicare questions. Elderly legal assistance may help older adults with non-criminal legal issues.
For housing needs, the AAA may refer you to local nonprofits, senior housing lists, public housing offices, or 2-1-1. You can also use our Georgia housing help guide for rent, shelter, and housing options.
If your bigger need is broad help with bills, food, health care, taxes, and state benefits, start with our Georgia senior grants guide. For SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, or other benefits through Georgia Gateway, see our Georgia Gateway guide before you apply.
Reality check: The AAA is not a housing authority, court, bank, or Medicaid eligibility office. It can guide you, screen you, and refer you, but another agency may make the final decision.
How to start without wasting time
- Write down the county: The correct AAA is based on the older adult’s county, not the caller’s county.
- Call 1-866-552-4464: Ask for the ADRC or the local AAA for that county.
- Say the main problem first: Meals, rides, bathing help, caregiver break, Medicare, legal help, housing, or abuse report.
- Ask what is open now: Some programs may have funding, while others may have a waitlist.
- Get names and dates: Write down who you spoke with, the date, and the next step.
- Ask for backups: If you are put on a waitlist, ask for 2-1-1, senior center, food pantry, transit, or nonprofit options.
Information to have before calling
| Information | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Name, age, county, and phone number | The AAA must route the request to the right local office. |
| Living situation | Staff may ask if the person lives alone, with family, in senior housing, or in a facility. |
| Health and daily needs | Meals, personal care, respite, and waiver programs may need a basic needs screen. |
| Income and Medicaid status | Some programs do not need income proof, but Medicaid waiver programs do. |
| Doctor, hospital, or discharge papers | These can help if the person needs care at home after an illness or fall. |
| Urgent deadlines | Court dates, shutoff notices, eviction papers, and hospital discharge dates need quick attention. |
Phone scripts you can use
Script for finding your AAA
“Hello, I live in [county] County. I am calling for help for an older adult who needs [meals, rides, home help, caregiver support, Medicare counseling]. Can you connect me with the Area Agency on Aging or ADRC for this county?”
Script for meals
“My [mother/father/spouse/self] is age [age] and has trouble shopping or cooking. Can you screen us for senior center meals, home-delivered meals, or other food help in [county] County?”
Script for home care
“We are trying to keep an older adult safe at home. They need help with [bathing, dressing, meals, supervision, rides]. Can you tell me if EDWP, CCSP, SOURCE, or non-Medicaid home services may fit?”
Script for caregiver support
“I am the main caregiver and I need a break before this becomes unsafe. Can you screen us for respite, adult day care, caregiver counseling, or support groups?”
Reality checks and common delays
- AAAs do not control every program: Some referrals go to Medicaid, DFCS, senior centers, local transit, or nonprofit providers.
- Waitlists are common: Home care, waiver services, and some meal routes may not start right away.
- County matters: A service that exists in Atlanta may not work the same way in rural Georgia.
- Eligibility can be different: A person may qualify for information and referral but not for a funded service.
- Medicaid rules take time: Waiver help may need financial review, medical review, and care planning.
- Phone prompts can confuse callers: If you are not sure, stay on the line or ask for an ADRC counselor.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until a hospital discharge day to ask for home help.
- Calling the wrong AAA and giving up instead of asking for a transfer.
- Assuming “free” means fast or unlimited.
- Skipping 2-1-1 when the need is food, rent, shelter, or utilities today.
- Not writing down the worker’s name and next step.
- Using long online forms when a phone call would get you routed faster.
What to do if denied, delayed, or overwhelmed
If the AAA says you do not qualify, ask why. Ask whether the reason is age, county, income, Medicaid status, medical need, waitlist priority, or missing papers. Then ask what other program might fit.
If you are waiting for a call back, call again after a few business days unless the worker gave you a different date. Keep your notes short and clear.
If the issue involves a nursing home, personal care home, or assisted living concern, the Georgia ADRC FAQ points families to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-866-552-4464, option 5.
If your concern is abuse in a long-term care facility, Georgia’s abuse report page says to contact Healthcare Facility Regulation at 1-800-878-6442.
Backup options while you wait
- For food: Call 2-1-1, ask local churches, check food pantries, and ask the senior center about meal sites.
- For home safety: Ask the doctor, hospital discharge planner, or county health department about short-term help.
- For Medicare: Ask Georgia SHIP for counseling before plan deadlines.
- For housing: Contact 2-1-1, local housing authorities, and our Georgia apartments guide for housing search steps.
Spanish summary
Resumen en español: En Georgia, las Agencias del Área sobre el Envejecimiento ayudan a personas mayores, adultos con discapacidades y cuidadores. Pueden ayudarle a encontrar comidas, transporte, ayuda en el hogar, apoyo para cuidadores, consejería de Medicare, ayuda legal y opciones de cuidado a largo plazo.
Para empezar, llame al 1-866-552-4464 y diga el condado donde vive la persona mayor. Si hay peligro inmediato, llame al 911. Para una crisis de salud mental, llame o mande texto al 988. Para comida, renta, servicios públicos o refugio, marque 2-1-1.
About this guide
We check this guide against official government, local agency, and trusted nonprofit sources. GrantsForSeniors.org is independent and is not a government agency.
Program rules, funding, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply.
See something wrong or outdated? Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections.
Dates and review
Last updated: April 27, 2026 May 1, 2026
Next review: August 1, 2026
Verification: This guide was checked against official Georgia DHS, Georgia Medicaid, Census, 2-1-1, and other high-trust sources listed in the article.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, funding, and availability can change. Confirm current details with the official program before acting.
Frequently asked questions
What number should I call to find my Georgia Area Agency on Aging?
Call 1-866-552-4464. Ask for the ADRC or the local Area Agency on Aging for the county where the older adult lives.
Do Georgia AAAs help only people over 60?
No. Many aging services focus on older adults, but Georgia’s ADRC also helps adults with disabilities, caregivers, families, and professionals find long-term support options.
Can a Georgia AAA help with home-delivered meals?
Yes. AAAs can screen or refer older adults for home-delivered meals and senior center meals. Availability depends on the county, route capacity, and program rules.
Can an AAA approve Medicaid for me?
No. The AAA can help you understand waiver options and may start screening for services, but Medicaid eligibility decisions are handled through the state process.
What if I am on a waitlist?
Ask the AAA what to do while waiting. Also call 2-1-1 for food, housing, utility, and local nonprofit help if you need support now.
Who do I call to report elder abuse in Georgia?
Call 911 if the person is in immediate danger. For suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation in the community, call 1-866-552-4464 and choose option 3.
Choose your state to see senior assistance programs, benefits, and local help options.
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