Programs and Organizations That Help Senior Citizens in Georgia
This guide explains the main programs and organizations in Georgia that focus on helping senior citizens — with many options available even for moderate-income older adults. Programs range from GeorgiaCares SHIP Medicare counseling to the Meals on Wheels Association of Georgia, free legal assistance through ELAP, and more.
If you're trying to figure out what's available — for yourself, a parent, or someone you're caring for — the programs below are a good place to start. Each one is explained in plain terms, including what it does, who it's for, and how to reach it.
Georgia Division of Aging Services - coordinates programs statewide
The Georgia Department of Human Services' Division of Aging Services (DAS) is the state agency responsible for coordinating services for older Georgians. It funds and oversees a statewide network of 12 regional Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) that serve residents directly. If you need home-delivered meals, caregiver support, transportation help, or an assessment for community-based services, you'll connect with your regional AAA rather than DAS itself.
What the AAA network can help with: meal delivery and congregate dining, caregiver respite services, transportation coordination, help applying for Medicaid home and community-based services, case management, and referrals to legal aid and other programs. Services vary by region and funding availability, and many programs have waitlists — contacting your AAA early rather than waiting for a crisis will generally produce better results.
To find the Area Agency on Aging covering your county, use the locator at https://aging.georgia.gov/locations. You can also call the DAS statewide line and press 2 to be connected to your regional office. Toll-Free: 1-866-552-4464
Support for Family Caregivers - people caring for seniors may get help
Many people who find this page are not seniors themselves — they're adult children, spouses, or other family members trying to figure out what help exists for someone they're caring for. Georgia has a dedicated entry point for exactly that situation.
Georgia's Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) connects caregivers and older adults to the full range of available services through information specialists located in every Area Agency on Aging across the state. Whether you're trying to arrange respite care so you can take a break, find adult day programs, get help with meals or personal care, or just understand what your options are, the ADRC is where to start. It functions as a single point of contact regardless of which agency ultimately ends up providing the service. Website: https://www.georgiaadrc.com/findservices. Toll-Free: 1-866-552-4464
Caregiver services available through Georgia's AAA network include respite care, adult day and adult day health care, personal care assistance, homemaker services, telephone check-in programs, and legal assistance referrals. Availability and waitlists vary by region.
Georgia is also home to the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, a nationally recognized nonprofit founded in 1987 and based in Americus. The Institute focuses on supporting professional and family caregivers through research, training, and advocacy. It does not provide direct services but produces widely used caregiver resources and tools available at https://rosalynncarter.org./.
GeorgiaCares — Free Medicare Counseling
GeorgiaCares is Georgia's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), administered by the Division of Aging Services. It provides free, one-on-one counseling to Medicare beneficiaries and their families on any Medicare-related question — plan selection, enrollment periods, billing problems, appeals, supplemental insurance, and prescription drug costs. Counselors do not sell insurance and are not affiliated with any plan or insurer.
For many older Georgians, a single conversation with a GeorgiaCares counselor can identify Medicare Savings Programs or Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy) benefits they're eligible for but not currently receiving — programs that can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs. If you or someone you're helping is on Medicare and hasn't had this conversation, it's worth the call.
GeorgiaCares also runs the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) component, which helps beneficiaries recognize and report Medicare fraud, billing errors, and identity theft related to their coverage.
Website: https://www.mygeorgiacares.org/. Toll-Free: 1-866-552-4464, option 4. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
If someone you know lives in a nursing home, personal care home, or assisted living facility in Georgia, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is the place to call when problems arise. Ombudsmen investigate and work to resolve complaints about care quality, discharge decisions, billing issues, resident rights violations, and general conditions inside facilities. The service is free, confidential, and works on behalf of the resident.
The program operates separately from the licensing and inspection process — it is an advocate, not a regulator. Ombudsmen visit facilities regularly throughout the state and can intervene in problems with the resident's permission. Use the county lookup tool on the ombudsman website to find the program serving a specific facility's area.
Website: https://www.georgiaombudsman.org/. Toll-Free: 1-866-552-4464. Address: 47 Trinity Avenue SW, Room 1136, Atlanta, GA 30334
Meals on Wheels in Georgia - home delivery of meals
Home-delivered and congregate meal programs across Georgia are coordinated at the state level by the Meals on Wheels Association of Georgia (MOWAG), a nonprofit statewide association. MOWAG does not deliver meals directly — local programs operated through AAAs, some local food pantries (see the NHPB list of free food pantries in GA) and community nonprofits do that work. What MOWAG does is advocate for funding, coordinate standards, and connect programs across the state.
To find a local Meals on Wheels program, contact your regional AAA or use the Meals on Wheels America program locator at https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/find-meals-and-services/. You can also call the DAS line at 1-866-552-4464 and ask for a referral to meal services in your area. Website (statewide association): https://mowageorgia.org/.
Legal Help for Georgia Seniors - no matter your income
Older Georgians have access to free civil legal help through several overlapping programs — funded through a combination of the Older Americans Act, the federal Legal Services Corporation (LSC), and state sources. The entry point depends on where you live and your situation. In addition to legal options below, if you want to know more see the free Georgia legal assistance in GA page.
Georgia Senior Legal Aid is the most direct starting point for anyone 60 or older. It is staffed by attorneys who take calls from seniors and their families on almost any civil legal matter — powers of attorney, Medicaid, housing, consumer fraud, public benefits, probate, and more. Attorneys provide legal advice, brief services, and referrals. There is no income test to call. Phone: (404) 389-9992 or toll-free 1-888-257-9519. Website: https://www.georgialegalaid.org/.
For in-depth representation, two LSC-funded legal aid organizations cover Georgia based on geography. Atlanta Legal Aid Society serves residents of Fulton, Clayton, Cobb, Gwinnett, and DeKalb counties. Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP) serves the remaining 154 counties — essentially all of rural and small-city Georgia. Both provide free civil legal services to income-qualifying residents.
The Elderly Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) is a separate OAA-funded layer administered through DAS and local AAAs. It contracts with local law firms to represent seniors 60 and older in civil matters, with no income test. ELAP has limited capacity and does not accept every case, but it is worth pursuing in parallel. Contact your regional AAA through the DAS line at 1-866-552-4464 to ask about ELAP availability in your county.
AARP Georgia - resources for people over the age of 50
AARP Georgia serves Georgians 50 and older from its Midtown Atlanta office, with staff covering advocacy, community outreach, and caregiver support across the state. AARP membership is not required to access many of its programs and resources.
Practical resources available through AARP Georgia include fraud prevention workshops (elder fraud is a significant and growing problem in Georgia), a caregiving resource hub for family members managing care while working or from a distance, and a benefits screening tool for identifying state and federal programs based on individual circumstances. AARP Georgia also tracks state legislation affecting older adults and represents seniors before the Georgia General Assembly. Website: https://www.aarp.org/states/georgia/. Phone: (866) 295-7281. Address: 999 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1100, Atlanta, GA 30309. Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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