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Tennessee senior help directory
Last updated: 21 September 2026
Tennessee’s Area Agencies on Aging and Disability, usually called AAADs, are regional offices that help older adults, adults with disabilities, caregivers, and families find local services. If you are not sure where to begin, the statewide line can route you to the office serving your county.
Bottom Line
Call 1-866-836-6678 first. Tennessee says this number can direct callers anywhere in the state to the nearest Area Agency on Aging and Disability. Ask for help with meals, in-home services, caregiver support, Medicare counseling, transportation, senior centers, or long-term care options. The AAAD may provide the service, screen you for a program, or refer you to the local office that does.
Urgent Help
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. For suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation of an adult who cannot protect themselves because of a physical or mental limitation, call Tennessee Adult Protective Services at 1-888-277-8366 or use the Adult Protective Services page.
For food, shelter, rent, utility, disaster, or other community help, dial 2-1-1. TN 211 connects callers with local health and human-service programs. For a step-by-step list of urgent options, see our Tennessee emergency help guide.
Start Here
- Call the statewide AAAD line: 1-866-836-6678. Give your county and ZIP code.
- Name the main problem: meals, rides, Medicare, home care, caregiver help, a senior center, or long-term care.
- Write down the next step: office name, phone number, person you spoke with, documents needed, and when to call back.
| Need | Start here | Ask this | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not sure where to begin | AAAD statewide line | Which office serves my county? | The first call may be a referral. |
| Meals | Local AAAD | Can I be screened for meals? | Routes and funding can limit service. |
| Medicare | TN SHIP | Can I speak with a counselor? | SHIP is counseling, not insurance sales. |
| Help at home | AAAD | Should I ask about OPTIONS or CHOICES? | The programs use different rules. |
| Caregiver support | AAAD | What respite or caregiver help is open? | Local funding and waitlists matter. |
| Senior center | State finder | Which center serves my area? | Hours, fees, meals, and rides vary. |
What Has Changed
Since this guide was last updated in May 2026, Tennessee has started a new Caring for Caregivers pilot. The Department of Disability and Aging says the pilot runs from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027, and is operated through the state’s nine AAADs. It is for eligible family caregivers and is not the same as regular caregiver respite or paid family-caregiver programs. Use the state’s caregiver pilot information and then call your AAAD for current local procedures. Regional rollout can be limited, so do not assume an application is immediately available in every area.
How to Find Your Tennessee AAAD
Tennessee has nine Area Agencies on Aging and Disability. The state says these agencies plan and provide programs and services for older Tennesseans and people with disabilities. The safest way to find the right office is to use the official Tennessee AAAD directory or call 1-866-836-6678.
You do not need to know the agency name before calling. Say the county where the person who needs help lives. If you are helping a parent from another state, use your parent’s Tennessee county, not your own address.
The AAAD is often a good first call when several problems overlap. For example, a person may need home-delivered meals, a ride to a medical visit, Medicare counseling, and help for a spouse who is providing care. An Information and Assistance specialist can help sort those needs. Tennessee’s Information and Assistance program explains that this service connects individuals and family caregivers with programs and local resources.
If the problem is broader than aging services, our Tennessee benefits guide can help you compare food, housing, health, tax, and utility help without assuming everything is a grant.
Tennessee AAAD Directory
The nine regional agencies below are current starting points. The statewide number, 1-866-836-6678, is still the best choice when you are unsure about regional boundaries. Local agency websites can also show county offices, senior centers, service notices, and program contacts.
| Region | Main area | Official site | Good reason to call |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Tennessee AAAD | Northeast Tennessee | First Tennessee AAAD | Meals, SHIP, caregiver help, transportation, and local services. |
| East Tennessee AAAD | Knoxville and East Tennessee | East Tennessee AAAD | Home services, meals, Medicare counseling, and county aging offices. |
| Southeast Tennessee AAAD | Chattanooga and Southeast Tennessee | Southeast Tennessee AAAD | Benefits help, caregiver support, in-home help, nutrition, and transportation. |
| Upper Cumberland AAAD | Cookeville and Upper Cumberland | Upper Cumberland AAAD | Meals, homemaker help, caregiver support, SHIP, senior centers, and rides. |
| Greater Nashville AAAD | Middle Tennessee | Greater Nashville AAAD | Information, referrals, assessments, home services, and long-term care navigation. |
| South Central Tennessee AAAD | South Central Tennessee | South Central AAAD | Information, home services, caregiver support, and local referrals. |
| Northwest Tennessee AAAD | Northwest Tennessee | Northwest Tennessee AAAD | Meals, OPTIONS, transportation, caregiver support, SHIP, and senior centers. |
| Southwest Tennessee AAAD | Jackson and Southwest Tennessee | Southwest Tennessee AAAD | Information, meals, in-home services, caregiver help, ombudsman, and senior centers. |
| Aging Commission of the Mid-South | Fayette, Lauderdale, Shelby, Tipton | Mid-South AAAD | Memphis-area information, home services, caregiver help, meals, and referrals. |
Regional pages sometimes keep older agency wording in their footers or archived documents. For statewide policy and the current routing line, use Tennessee’s Department of Disability and Aging pages.
How to Find a Senior Center
A senior center is not the same thing as an AAAD. The AAAD is a regional planning and service agency. A senior center is usually a local place for meals, activities, fitness, classes, social connection, and sometimes visiting counselors or service programs.
Use the state’s senior center finder to search by address, city, county, or ZIP code. Call the center before going. Hours, lunch reservations, age rules, membership, transportation, and class fees can change.
Helpful Tip
Ask whether the center hosts Medicare counselors, benefits screenings, legal-aid events, meal programs, caregiver groups, or transportation sign-ups. A center may not process an application itself but can still connect you with the right local person.
Main Services to Ask About
An AAAD is a front door, not one single benefit. Some programs are available broadly, while others require an assessment, have age or disability rules, depend on local funding, or use waiting lists.
Information and Assistance
What it helps with: finding the correct office for meals, rides, in-home help, caregiver support, Medicare questions, benefits, and other local services.
Who may use it: older adults, adults with disabilities, caregivers, and family members can call for guidance. A referral is not an approval for a benefit.
Where to start: call 1-866-836-6678 and give your county and main need.
Reality check: the specialist may need to refer you to a county provider, TennCare, a senior center, or another agency.
Meals and Nutrition
What it helps with: Tennessee’s Aging Nutrition Program provides congregate meals, nutrition support, and home-delivered meals. The state reports more than 150 congregate settings and service in all 95 counties.
Who may qualify: congregate meals are available to adults age 60 and older and eligible spouses. Home-delivered meals require an intake assessment and are aimed at people who have difficulty getting food.
Where to start: use the state Aging Nutrition program or call your AAAD.
Reality check: meal routes, staffing, delivery schedules, and local funding can affect how quickly service starts. For food benefits as well as meals, our Tennessee SNAP guide explains the separate SNAP path.
In-Home Help and OPTIONS
What it helps with: OPTIONS for Community Living can include home and community-based support for adults with physical or cognitive limitations. Depending on assessed need and local availability, services can include homemaker help, personal care, or home-delivered meals.
Who may qualify: Tennessee’s current OPTIONS page says a person must live in Tennessee, be age 18 or older, and meet limits related to activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living.
Where to start: ask the AAAD for an OPTIONS screening and review the state home-services page.
Reality check: OPTIONS has no income eligibility requirement, but Tennessee says a sliding fee can apply based on income. Local service capacity can still limit what is available. If disability is central to the situation, our Tennessee disability guide can help you prepare a broader call list.
Caregiver Support
What it helps with: Tennessee’s family caregiver network can include counseling, support groups, training, respite, adult day care, personal care, homemaker services, and other supports.
Who may qualify: the National Family Caregiver Support Program covers several caregiver situations, including care for adults age 60 and older, people with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder, and some older relatives caring for children.
Where to start: ask your AAAD about the caregiver support program and the new Caring for Caregivers pilot if dementia care is involved.
Reality check: respite and other supports can be limited by service area, available providers, and funding. For other compensation routes, see our family caregiver guide.
Medicare Counseling Through TN SHIP
What it helps with: the Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or TN SHIP, gives free and unbiased Medicare counseling to Medicare-eligible people, families, and caregivers.
Who may use it: people new to Medicare, current Medicare beneficiaries, and people helping a beneficiary can ask questions.
Where to start: call 1-877-801-0044 or use the TN SHIP page.
Reality check: SHIP counselors explain options; they do not sell insurance. If the problem is Medicare premiums or cost sharing, our Medicare Savings guide explains the separate assistance programs.
Transportation
What it helps with: AAADs can explain local senior transportation, public transit, volunteer-driver programs, and rides tied to nutrition or other services.
Who may qualify: rules vary by program, county, age, disability, trip purpose, and service area.
Where to start: call your AAAD and review Tennessee’s transportation assistance page.
Reality check: a program may require advance scheduling and may not provide rides at every time or for every destination.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman
What it helps with: ombudsmen help people living in nursing homes, assisted care living facilities, homes for the aged, and adult care homes with complaints, rights, transfers, discharge concerns, and other long-term care problems.
Who may use it: residents and families can ask for help. The ombudsman is an advocate, not the facility operator.
Where to start: call 1-877-236-0013 or use the state ombudsman program page.
Reality check: if there is immediate danger or suspected abuse of a vulnerable adult, use 911 or Adult Protective Services rather than waiting on a routine complaint process.
TennCare CHOICES
What it helps with: CHOICES is Tennessee’s TennCare program for long-term services and supports for qualifying older adults and adults with physical disabilities, either at home and in the community or in a nursing facility.
Who may qualify: medical and financial eligibility rules apply. The exact route depends on age, disability, level of care, and TennCare status.
Where to start: if you are not already enrolled in TennCare, the state says an AAAD can help with the CHOICES application process. Review the official CHOICES page. Current TennCare members should contact their health plan.
Reality check: an AAAD can screen, explain, and help with the route, but TennCare controls CHOICES eligibility and enrollment.
How to Start Without Wasting Time
You do not need a folder full of records for the first call. Start with the basic facts that help the office route you correctly. If a formal assessment or application is needed, the worker can tell you what documents come next.
| Have ready | Why it helps | Example |
|---|---|---|
| County and ZIP code | AAAD service is regional. | “I live in Maury County, 38401.” |
| Age | Some programs use age rules. | “My mother is 78.” |
| Main need | It gets you to the right program. | Meals, bathing help, rides, Medicare. |
| Living situation | Home and facility routes differ. | Lives alone, with family, assisted living. |
| Functional limits | Home-care programs assess daily tasks. | Needs help bathing or cooking. |
| Urgent date | Some problems need faster referral. | Discharge date or shutoff date. |
If an application later asks for proof, you may need identification, income information, insurance cards, TennCare or Medicare information, medical information, or proof of residence. Ask the worker exactly what is required before sending sensitive documents.
Reality Checks
- The AAAD is often the front door, not the final provider. Meals, rides, legal help, and personal care may be delivered by local contractors or partner agencies.
- Availability is local. Two counties can have different providers, waiting lists, transportation coverage, or senior-center schedules.
- Not every service is free. Some programs are free, some request donations, and some use a sliding fee or other cost-sharing rule.
- An assessment does not guarantee service. Eligibility, funding, provider capacity, and program rules still matter.
- Housing is often a separate system. An AAAD can refer you, but housing authorities and housing programs control their own applications and waitlists. Our Tennessee housing guide explains those routes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using an old county list: check the current state AAAD directory before calling a regional office directly.
- Driving to a senior center first: call before visiting to confirm hours, meals, fees, age rules, and transportation.
- Calling Medicare for local meal help: Medicare does not operate Tennessee meal routes; start with the AAAD.
- Assuming “aging” means age 65 only: many AAAD programs serve people age 60 and older, while disability programs can use different ages and rules.
- Sending private documents too early: first confirm the office and exactly what documents it needs.
- Waiting after one missed callback: call again, ask for the direct program number, and write down names and dates.
Denied, Delayed, or Overwhelmed
If a service is full or has a waiting list, ask three questions: What can I use while I wait? Is there another provider in my county? When should I call back? If you received a written denial from a benefit program, keep the notice and ask which office handles appeals or reconsideration.
If you need help today while a longer program is pending, use 2-1-1 for local basic-needs referrals. If your main problem is home safety, our Tennessee home repair guide covers repair and accessibility routes. If property taxes are the problem, see our Tennessee tax relief guide.
For applications that use state portals, our Tennessee benefits portals guide can help you identify the correct online system before uploading personal information.
Phone Scripts You Can Use
Find the right AAAD
“Hello. I live in [county] County, Tennessee. I am calling for help for a person who is [age]. We need help with [main need]. Which Area Agency on Aging and Disability serves us, and what should we do next?”
Ask about meals
“I am calling about senior meals in [county]. Are there congregate meal sites near [town], and can we ask for a home-delivered meal assessment? Is there a waiting list?”
Ask about home help
“I am trying to keep [myself/my relative] safely at home. Help is needed with [bathing, meals, housekeeping, dressing, or another task]. Should we be screened for OPTIONS, CHOICES, or another home service?”
Ask about caregiver support
“I provide unpaid care for a family member. What caregiver support, respite, training, or dementia-care programs are available in this county? Is the new Caring for Caregivers pilot taking applications here yet?”
Other Useful Tennessee Resources
Use the AAAD when you need aging and disability navigation. Use the agency that actually controls the program when the issue is more specific.
- Medicare: TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044 for free counseling.
- Long-term care complaint: State Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-877-236-0013.
- Abuse or neglect: Adult Protective Services at 1-888-277-8366.
- Immediate community needs: dial 2-1-1 for food, shelter, utility, and other local referrals.
- Help outside Tennessee: use the federal Eldercare Locator to find aging offices in another state.
Resumen en Español
En Tennessee, las oficinas regionales se llaman Area Agencies on Aging and Disability o AAAD. Ayudan a personas mayores, adultos con discapacidades, cuidadores y familias a encontrar comidas, transporte, ayuda en el hogar, consejería de Medicare, apoyo para cuidadores, centros para personas mayores y opciones de cuidado a largo plazo.
Para encontrar la oficina de su condado, llame al 1-866-836-6678. Tenga listo el condado, código postal, edad, necesidad principal y cualquier fecha urgente. Si hay peligro inmediato, llame al 911. Para reportar abuso, negligencia o explotación de un adulto vulnerable, llame al 1-888-277-8366. Para comida, renta, servicios públicos o refugio, llame al 2-1-1.
Los servicios cambian por condado y por fondos disponibles. Pregunte si hay lista de espera, qué documentos necesita y qué otra opción puede usar mientras espera.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Area Agency on Aging in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, the regional offices are called Area Agencies on Aging and Disability. They help older adults, adults with disabilities, caregivers, and families connect with meals, in-home help, Medicare counseling, caregiver support, transportation, senior centers, and long-term care resources.
What number finds my Tennessee AAAD?
Call 1-866-836-6678. Tennessee says this statewide number can direct callers to the nearest Area Agency on Aging and Disability. Give the county where the person needing help lives.
Can an AAAD help with meals?
Yes. Ask about congregate meal sites and home-delivered meals. Adults age 60 and older may use congregate meals, while home-delivered meals require an intake assessment and depend on local service availability.
Can a caregiver call the AAAD?
Yes. Caregivers can ask about respite, support groups, training, homemaker or personal-care supports, and local dementia resources. Tennessee’s new Caring for Caregivers pilot is also being operated through the nine AAADs, but local procedures and availability can vary.
Can an AAAD approve TennCare CHOICES?
No. An AAAD can explain the program, help with the route, and assist people who are not already enrolled in TennCare with the application process. TennCare controls CHOICES eligibility and enrollment.
How do I find a senior center?
Use Tennessee’s senior center finder or ask your AAAD for the nearest center. Call before visiting because hours, meals, age rules, membership, fees, classes, and transportation can change.
About This Guide
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 any 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: 21 September 2026 · Next review: 21 January 2027
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