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Last updated: 17 September 2026
Georgia has 12 regional Area Agencies on Aging, often called AAAs. They help older adults, adults with disabilities, caregivers, and families find local aging services. Your county decides which regional office serves you.
Bottom Line
For most Georgia aging-service questions, start with the Aging and Disability Resource Connection at 1-866-552-4464. Ask for the AAA that serves the older adult’s county. Georgia says its ADRC system works through all 12 AAAs and covers all 159 counties. The AAA can help with meals, transportation, senior centers, caregiver support, non-Medicaid home services, Medicare counseling, legal referrals, and long-term care options. See the official Georgia ADRC page for the statewide entry point.
If you need a broader benefits overview before calling, use our Georgia senior benefits guide. For a national explanation of what these agencies do, see our national AAA guide.
Need Help Right Now?
Immediate danger: Call 911 for a medical emergency, violence, fire, or another immediate safety threat.
Abuse, neglect, or exploitation in the community: Georgia Adult Protective Services accepts phone reports at 1-866-552-4464, option 3, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The state also accepts online reports 24 hours a day. The official APS report page warns that APS is not a first responder, so call 911 first if someone is in immediate danger.
Mental health or suicide crisis: Call or text 988. Georgia says 988 crisis help is available 24 hours a day, every day. See 988 in Georgia.
Food, rent, utilities, shelter, or local crisis referrals: Dial 2-1-1. Georgia 211 is a free, confidential referral line available 24/7. Our Georgia emergency help guide has more urgent options.
Start Here
- Know the county. The correct AAA is based on where the older adult lives.
- Call 1-866-552-4464. Ask for an ADRC counselor or the local AAA. Georgia’s ADRC FAQ directs local-service callers to option 2.
- Name the need first. Say “meals,” “rides,” “home care,” “caregiver respite,” “Medicare,” “legal help,” or “senior center.” This helps staff route the call faster.
Quick Georgia Aging Help
| Need | Best first contact | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Find your AAA | 1-866-552-4464 | “Which AAA serves my county?” |
| Meals or senior center | Local AAA | Ask about meal sites, home-delivered meals, center hours, and rides. |
| Home help | Local AAA | Ask about non-Medicaid home services and EDWP screening. |
| Medicare questions | 1-866-552-4464, option 4 | Ask for free Georgia SHIP counseling. |
| Facility complaint | 1-866-552-4464, option 5 | Ask for the long-term care ombudsman. |
| Civil legal problem | AAA or ELAP | Ask which legal-aid provider serves your county. |
What Has Changed
We rechecked Georgia’s statewide AAA directory and service routes on September 12, 2026. Georgia still lists 12 regional AAAs covering all 159 counties. Two regional phone listings in the prior version needed correction: Northeast Georgia now lists 1-888-808-8020, and River Valley lists 1-800-615-4379. We also clarified that the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program, formerly called the Community Care Services Program, starts through the AAA and may have a waitlist. SOURCE has its own application route and should not be treated as the same application.
How Georgia Area Agencies on Aging Work
An AAA is a regional planning and service-navigation office. It does not usually provide every service itself. Staff may screen your situation, explain local options, and connect you with a county program, senior center, meal provider, transportation service, legal-aid partner, Medicare counselor, caregiver program, or home-care program.
Georgia’s non-Medicaid Home and Community Based Services program is managed regionally through the 12 AAAs. The state says these services mainly help people age 60 and older and their caregivers, although some programs may serve people at younger ages. The Georgia HCBS page lists nutrition, in-home services, caregiver programs, senior recreation, and other supports.
The ADRC is broader than services only for people over 60. Georgia says the ADRC serves older adults, people with disabilities of all ages, families, caregivers, and professionals. If disability is central to the problem, our Georgia disability help guide can help you prepare for other state and local routes too.
Reality check: Calling the AAA does not guarantee a service. Programs can have screening rules, limited funding, provider shortages, or waiting lists. The AAA’s value is that it gives you the correct local doorway and helps identify backups.
Georgia AAA Directory by Region
Use the county list below to find the right region. The phone numbers and county coverage were checked against the Georgia Division of Aging Services location pages on September 12, 2026. If you are unsure, call the statewide line at 1-866-552-4464 and give the county name.
| Region | Counties served | Current regional phone |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta AAA page | Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Rockdale | 404-463-3333 |
| CSRA AAA page | Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, Wilkes | 1-888-922-4464 |
| Coastal AAA page | Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh | 1-800-580-6860 |
| Georgia Mountains AAA | Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, White | 1-855-266-4283 |
| Heart of Georgia AAA | Appling, Bleckley, Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, Wheeler, Wilcox | 1-888-367-9913 |
| Middle Georgia AAA | Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, Wilkinson | 1-888-548-1456 |
| Northeast Georgia AAA | Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Walton | 1-888-808-8020 |
| Northwest Georgia AAA | Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, Whitfield | 1-800-759-2963 |
| River Valley AAA | Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Webster | 1-800-615-4379 |
| Southern Georgia AAA | Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner, Ware | 1-888-732-4464 |
| Southwest Georgia AAA | Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, Worth | 1-800-282-6612 |
| Three Rivers AAA | Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, Upson | 1-866-854-5652 |
If a regional number does not connect as expected, use 1-866-552-4464 and ask to be routed by county. Local contacts can change faster than the statewide line.
Services Georgia AAAs Can Connect You With
Meals, nutrition, and wellness
What it helps with: Georgia’s aging network can connect eligible older adults with group meals at senior centers, home-delivered meals, nutrition counseling, wellness education, fitness, and senior recreation. The state’s nutrition services page explains these options.
Who may qualify: Rules depend on the service and local screening. Home-delivered meals usually require more need than simply wanting a convenient meal. Tell the AAA about trouble shopping, cooking, walking, driving, or being alone.
Reality check: Meal routes and senior-center schedules vary by county. If food is needed today, also use 2-1-1 or a local pantry while the AAA request is being reviewed.
Transportation
What it helps with: Local aging programs may provide or refer riders to senior-center transportation, medical rides, shopping trips, public transit, paratransit, or nonprofit ride programs.
Who may qualify: Local rules often consider age, disability, ability to drive or use regular transit, trip purpose, and service area.
Reality check: Many rides require advance scheduling. Rural areas may have fewer routes or limited service days. Ask how many days ahead to call and whether the ride is curb-to-curb or door-to-door.
Non-Medicaid help at home
What it helps with: Depending on local availability, the aging network may connect older adults with homemaker help, personal care, chore services, friendly visiting, telephone reassurance, emergency-response systems, or minor home-safety support.
Who may qualify: Many of these aging services focus on adults age 60 and older and may prioritize people with the greatest health, social, or economic need.
Reality check: These services are not the same as unlimited home-health or round-the-clock personal care. Ask exactly how many hours or visits are available and whether there is a waitlist.
Home Care and the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program
Georgia’s Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program, or EDWP, can provide home- and community-based services as an alternative to nursing-home care for some people who qualify. The state says EDWP was formerly called the Community Care Services Program, or CCSP.
Who may qualify: Georgia says a person must be Medicaid eligible and meet several additional rules. The person must be at least 65, or meet disability rules if younger than 65; need a nursing-home level of care; choose home or community care instead of a nursing home; and participate in only one waiver program at a time.
Where to start: Call the AAA at 1-866-552-4464. The official EDWP application page says AAA staff screen the person’s situation and urgency. If the screen shows possible eligibility, placement on the waiting list is based on unmet need, not simply the date of the first call.
What to prepare: The state lists proof of income, assets, citizenship, and medical information among the documents that may be needed. The process can later include an in-home assessment and care plan.
Reality check: Georgia says there is often a waitlist for EDWP, and availability depends on capacity and need. Screening does not mean services start right away. Ask what non-Medicaid services, meals, caregiver supports, or local providers may help while you wait.
If you are comparing other ways to pay for help at home, our Georgia home care guide explains additional payment paths.
Caregiver Support
Georgia says all Area Agencies on Aging provide help to caregivers. Services can include information, support groups, adult day services, respite, counseling, and referrals. The official caregiver programs page also lists kinship-care support for grandparents and other relatives raising children.
Where to start: Tell the AAA what the caregiver is doing now and what part is becoming unsafe or unsustainable. Ask about respite, adult day programs, caregiver education, support groups, and home-service screening.
Reality check: Respite is usually limited. A local program may offer only a short break or a limited number of hours. It may not replace a long-term paid-care plan.
If you are specifically asking whether a family member can be paid, see our Georgia caregiver pay guide. Payment rules are separate from general caregiver support.
Medicare, Legal Help, and Facility Problems
Georgia SHIP for Medicare
Georgia’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program gives free, unbiased Medicare counseling. Certified counselors can explain Medicare plan choices, bills, claims, appeals, Medicare Savings Programs, and Extra Help. The official Georgia SHIP page lists 1-866-552-4464, option 4, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If Medicare premiums or other Medicare costs are the main problem, our Georgia Medicare Savings guide explains that path in more detail.
Elderly Legal Assistance Program
Georgia’s Elderly Legal Assistance Program, or ELAP, provides free civil legal help to eligible Georgians age 60 and older. The program does not handle criminal cases. The current ELAP legal help page lists different providers by county, so give the county before asking where to call.
Reality check: Legal-aid programs cannot take every case. If a court, eviction, appeal, foreclosure, or other deadline is close, say the deadline at the start of the call.
Long-term care ombudsman
If the problem involves a nursing home, personal care home, or assisted-living setting, Georgia’s Georgia Ombudsman program can help residents and families address concerns and resident-rights issues. Call 1-866-552-4464, option 5.
Reality check: The ombudsman is an advocate, not an emergency responder. Use 911 for immediate danger and the appropriate abuse-reporting route when abuse, neglect, or exploitation is suspected.
How to Find Senior Centers and Meal Sites
Senior centers in Georgia are not all run the same way. A center may be operated by a county, city, nonprofit, or aging-network provider. Some centers focus on meals and transportation. Others offer exercise, classes, social activities, benefits help, health programs, or caregiver support.
Call the AAA and ask, “Which senior center or meal site serves this county?” Then ask whether registration is required, what days meals are served, whether transportation is available, and whether there are fees or suggested donations.
If you are looking for housing rather than a daytime center, ask for housing referrals and local housing authorities instead. Our Georgia housing help guide explains rent and housing routes that an AAA referral alone may not solve.
What to Prepare Before You Call
| Have this ready | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| County and ZIP code | The AAA must route the request to the correct regional service area. |
| Age and living situation | Many programs use age, living arrangement, or whether someone lives alone. |
| Daily-care problems | Describe falls, bathing trouble, memory problems, missed meals, or unsafe driving. |
| Income and benefit status | Medicaid and some other programs require financial screening. |
| Medicare or Medicaid cards | These help staff identify the right health-benefit route. |
| Urgent dates or notices | Discharge dates, shutoff notices, court dates, and appeal deadlines may change the priority. |
Do not delay the first call because you do not have every document. Start with the county and the main problem, then ask what proof is actually needed.
If the AAA directs you to Georgia Gateway for Medicaid, SNAP, or another state benefit, our Georgia Gateway guide can help you understand the portal before you apply.
Phone Scripts You Can Use
Find the right AAA
“Hello. The older adult lives in [county] County. We need help with [meals, rides, home care, caregiver support, Medicare, or a senior center]. Can you connect me with the Area Agency on Aging or ADRC counselor for that county?”
Ask about home care
“We are trying to keep an older adult safe at home. They need help with [bathing, dressing, meals, supervision, or mobility]. Can you screen us for non-Medicaid home services and tell us whether EDWP screening is appropriate?”
Ask for caregiver respite
“I am the main unpaid caregiver. I need a safe break from care. What respite, adult day, support group, or caregiver counseling is available in this county, and is there a waitlist?”
Ask about a senior center
“Which senior center or meal site serves [county or city]? Does it offer lunch or transportation, and do we need to register before visiting?”
If Help Is Denied, Delayed, or Overwhelming
Ask for the reason in plain language. Was the problem age, county, income, Medicaid status, level of care, missing documents, a closed service, or a waitlist? Then ask whether another service category can meet the same need.
If EDWP is the problem, ask whether the person is on the waiting list, how priority is determined, and what services may help while waiting. If a state benefit application is denied, read the notice for the appeal or review deadline. Do not rely only on a phone conversation when a written notice gives a deadline.
If housing, food, utilities, or safety cannot wait, use other routes at the same time. A denial or waitlist from one aging program does not mean there is no emergency or local help.
Backup Options While You Wait
- Food: Ask the AAA about meal sites and home-delivered meals, then call 2-1-1 for pantries or other local food help.
- Home care: Ask about both Medicaid and non-Medicaid aging services. A hospital discharge planner or doctor may also help identify short-term care needs.
- Caregiver strain: Ask for respite, adult day services, support groups, and counseling even if paid caregiver help is not available.
- Medicare costs: Use Georgia SHIP and check Medicare Savings Programs before changing insurance because of an advertisement.
- Housing: Contact 2-1-1, local housing authorities, and trusted nonprofits while a longer housing search continues.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Calling the wrong region and giving up instead of asking to be transferred by county.
- Waiting until the day of hospital discharge to ask about home services.
- Asking only for “free help” instead of naming the exact need.
- Assuming an AAA can approve Medicaid, housing, or every local service.
- Assuming a senior-center meal or ride is available without registration.
- Not asking about a waitlist, backup service, or what can be done now.
- Failing to write down the worker’s name, date, phone number, and next step.
Resumen en Español
Georgia tiene 12 Agencias del Área sobre el Envejecimiento. Para empezar, llame al 1-866-552-4464 y diga el condado donde vive la persona mayor. Estas agencias pueden ayudar a encontrar comidas, centros para personas mayores, transporte, apoyo para cuidadores, servicios en el hogar, orientación de Medicare y otros recursos locales.
Si necesita cuidado en el hogar, pregunte si hay servicios sin Medicaid y si corresponde una evaluación para EDWP. EDWP puede tener lista de espera. Para Medicare, llame al mismo número y seleccione la opción 4. 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.
Antes de llamar, tenga listo el condado, la edad, la situación de vivienda y una lista corta de las necesidades diarias. Si le dicen que no califica o que hay una lista de espera, pregunte por qué y qué otra ayuda puede usar mientras espera.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number finds my Georgia AAA?
Call 1-866-552-4464 and give the county where the older adult lives. Ask for an ADRC counselor or the Area Agency on Aging that serves that county.
How many AAAs are in Georgia?
Georgia currently has 12 regional Area Agencies on Aging. Together, the ADRC and AAA network covers all 159 Georgia counties.
Can an AAA find senior centers?
Yes. Ask the local AAA which senior centers, meal sites, recreation programs, and transportation services serve the older adult’s county.
Do AAAs only help people over 60?
No. Many Older Americans Act services focus on people age 60 and older, but Georgia’s ADRC also serves adults with disabilities of all ages, families, caregivers, and professionals.
Can the AAA approve Medicaid?
No. The AAA can screen for aging services and start the EDWP process, but Medicaid eligibility is decided through the state Medicaid process.
What if EDWP has a waitlist?
Ask how your need was scored, what happens next, and what non-Medicaid home services, meals, caregiver help, or other local support may be available while you wait.
About This Guide
Sources: This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources linked in the article.
Editorial note
This guide is produced under the GFS Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources. GFS is not affiliated with a government agency and is not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Corrections
Despite careful verification, errors may occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, funding, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the responsible official program before acting.
Last updated: 17 September 2026 · Next review: 17 January 2027
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