Aging

Our goal is to provide unbiased help at the community level offering information, counseling, and services. We are your single point of entry for services related to aging (seniors 60 years and older) – with 50+ programs, 1,293 regional resources and 25,626 statewide resources. 

Happy senior woman talking to her friends during a lunch in residential care home.

Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging (TRAAA)

Our senior neighbors helped shape this region into the vibrant community it is today — building careers, raising families, worshiping together, and strengthening our towns. Yet, many now face the challenges of aging alone, with limited resources and support.

At Three Rivers, our Area Agency on Aging is committed to ensuring older adults have access to vital services that help them live — and thrive — independently. From senior centers and adult day programs that foster social connection, to nutritious meals for those with limited mobility, we work to meet a wide range of needs. We also offer support for transitioning from nursing homes to independent living, provide personal care and legal assistance, deliver transportation services, and assist caregivers who support their aging loved ones.

Keeping our older population safe, nourished, and connected is more than a goal — it is our mission.

What is Area Agency on Aging?

Established in 1965, the Older Americans Act (OAA) laid the foundation for a national network focused on supporting the needs of older adults across the country. With amendments in 1973, the Act led to the creation of 667 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) — regional entities tasked with coordinating services and developing programs to help older adults age with dignity and independence.

These agencies work collaboratively with federal, state, and local officials; nonprofit organizations; service providers; advocates from the aging and disability communities; and the private voluntary sector to ensure a comprehensive system of care for our aging population.

Group of diverse senior male and female friends doing puzzles at home
Start line

Start Here: Quick Screening for Aging Services

If you or someone you care for is exploring long-term care support or services under the Older Americans Act, this brief screening tool is the first step. It helps determine whether your needs meet high priority criteria for available programs and services in Georgia.

This tool is especially intended for:

  • Individuals age 60 and older
  • Caregivers age 60+ or caring for someone age 60+
  • Individuals of any age with a dementia diagnosis

In addition, any individual with a disability or long-term care needs is welcome to submit their information to receive a follow-up call for information, referrals, or options counseling.

Empowerline

Empowerline is an expanded information and referral database with over 22,000 records statewide containing detailed information on a variety of aging services. The database is used by information and referral specialists, case managers and professionals from county governments, agencies, area hospitals, managed care programs and a variety of other organizations serving the older adult populations. Empowerline categorizes information about aging service providers into 50 major categories and over 296 service areas. Click the “Learn More” link to explore resources available in your local community through this public database.

Senior Centers

Senior Centers supported by the Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging serve as community focal points. The Centers provide nutritious meals and promote the socialization of older persons by arranging for and encouraging their participation, either directly or as spectators, in activities such as sports, games, arts and crafts, etc.

Butts County

Butts County Senior Center
Chrissy Crabtree – Site Manager

Carroll County

Carrollton Senior Center
Tanya Debick – Senior Center Manager

Janice Kerr – Senior Center Program Coordinator

Villa Rica Senior Center
Lisa Deming – Site Manager

Coweta County

Tommy Thompson Senior Center
Lelia Heptinstall – Site Manager

Grantville Senior Center
Joann Byrom – Site Manager

Heard County

Heard County Senior Center
Lou Wakeman – Site Manager

Lamar County

Lamar County J.O.Y. Club
Antoinette Watts – Site Manager

Meriwether County

Manchester Senior Center
Kimla Anderson – Site Manager

Greenville Senior Center
Shekina Favors – Site Manager

Pike County

Pike County Young at Heat Club
Laverece Walker – Site Manager

Spalding County

Spalding County Senior Center
Doris Carter – Site Manager

Upson County

Upson County Retired Citizens Club
Mandy Jackson – Site Manager

Troup County

The Active Life (LaGrange)
Jessica Maddox – Site Manager

Hogansville Active Life
Renay Fannin – Site Manager

West Point Active Life
Steve Davis – Site Manager

Puzzle, caregiver and senior men playing a game as entertainment or bonding together in a retiremen

Adult Day Care

The Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging offers Adult Day Care for individuals with dementia.

Adult Day Care assists these individuals and their families by providing specialized adult day care activities, along with an opportunity to participate in peer-based support groups monthly.

Adult Day Care programs provide care for dependent adults in a supervised, protective, congregate setting during a portion of the day; up to 10 hours per day.

What type of Adult Day Care services are offered?

Adult Day Care provides a safe, supportive environment for older adults who may require supervised care during the day. These centers offer a variety of services, including:

  • Social and recreational activities

  • Life skills training and counseling

  • Nutritious meals

  • Rehabilitation services

  • Medication management and assistance

Our programs are led by trained, professional staff who specialize in working with individuals experiencing dementia, offering compassionate care and positive engagement throughout the day.

We currently operate two Adult Day Care centers located in Newnan and Thomaston, serving communities across the region.

Immediate assistance is available for individuals who are able to pay for services. For more information on eligibility, availability, or financial assistance, please contact our office at 1 866-854-5652.

Close up of artist helping her aged student

Meals

Combating Senior Hunger Across Our Region

Hunger remains one of the most significant challenges facing older adults in the Three Rivers region. Many seniors are limited by fixed incomes and mobility issues, making it difficult to shop for or afford nutritious meals. Three Rivers Regional Commission is addressing this issue head-on.

Through the Area Agency on Aging, we provide nutritionally balanced meals at local senior centers and through home-delivered meal programs across our 10-county service area. These meals not only support better physical and mental health, but also help older adults and individuals with disabilities maintain their independence.

Our Senior Centers are in need of caring volunteers to help deliver meals to homebound seniors. Just a few hours of your time can make a lasting impact on the lives of older adults in your community.

If you’re interested in giving back and helping ensure our seniors remain nourished and connected, please contact your local senior center to learn how you can get involved or call toll free 866-854-5652 for more information on nutritionally balanced meals.

A full list of Senior Centers in our 10-county region is available under the Senior Center tab on the Aging page.

Happy senior woman talking to her friends during a lunch in residential care home.

Meal Services

Meals are available throughout the 10-county area served by the Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging and are provided to eligible participants at a nutrition site, senior center, or other congregate setting. Each meal complies with Dietary Guidelines for Americans and provides at least 33.3 % of the Daily Recommended Intake (DRI). Meals are prepared fresh daily in an on-site kitchen, Monday through Friday.

Contact our ADRC counselors at the Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging toll free at 1-866-854-5652.

Or contact your local senior center by phone to talk with staff to learn about eligibility requirements, meal services, and daily meal times available in your area.

Senior center contact information is located on the Senior Center tab.

 

Happy senior man receiving groceries delivery at home.

Home-delivered Meals

In some areas known as Meals on Wheels, are provided to eligible older adults or other eligible participants at the client’s place of residence. Each meal complies with Dietary Guidelines for Americans and provides at least 33.3 % of the DRI for each meal. Frozen meals are available for weekends and holidays and shelf-stable meals are provided annually prior to the winter weather season to ensure each homebound client will have a meal in the event of inclement weather or other emergency situations when the regular meal cannot be delivered.

Meal delivery is coordinated through senior centers, churches, and other local organizations.

For specific delivery information, please contact your local senior center – senior center contact information is located on the Senior Center tab.

Caregiver Support

Being a family caregiver is challenging and Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging recognizes that caregivers need a break now and then.

Family member relief care, commonly known as respite care, is the provision of a short period of rest for family members or the primary caregiver of an older person. This service is provided throughout the 10-county region.

Respite care includes services for older individuals, caregivers and person’s with Alzheimer’s and other dementia related disorders. Respite care includes assistance with:

  • Personal care
  • Meal assistance
  • Light housekeeping chores
  • Companionship
  • Activities

Assistance is available immediately if you are able to pay for services.

To learn more about respite care services and eligibility, please call us at 866-854-5652.

Dealing with Dementia Behaviors was developed by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving and it provides strategies for caregivers on best practices for self-care as well as caring for the person diagnosed. Trainings are provided in person over a four hour period or can be provided one on one by our Case Manager.

Young female caregiver is teaching senior woman to walk with walker.

Need A Ride?

The policy of Georgia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) is to provide transportation services to eligible individuals in a safe, efficient, responsive and cost effective manner to allow them to access needed services and achieve healthy, independent, self-sufficient lives. This transportation service is provided statewide through a coordinated transportation system.

The DHS Coordinated Transportation program transports older adults to and from senior centers, medical facilities, shopping excursions, recreational activities, or to safe locations in the event of a disaster or emergency.

Learn more about the different systems and service areas by giving us a call or visiting our Transit page.

Supportive Services

A brief description of Programs and Services available in the area is listed below. For additional details on any program listed, contact the Three Rivers AAA at 678-552-2838 or toll free at 1-866-854-5652.

Assistive Technology is any item or piece of equipment that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of life, including at school, at work, at home, and in the community.

AAA staff collaborated with Georgia Tech to introduce the Tools for Life Assistive Technology Act Program in the Three Rivers Region. In 2016 and 2017, TRAAA was awarded two grants from DAS to develop two assistive technology labs in our service area. Currently the two labs are located in the Franklin office and the Butts County Senior Center. The labs showcase a variety of assistive technology devices and services with a goal and mission for those in the community with disabilities to learn to live, work, and play independently in the community of their choice. ADRC Options Counselors refer clients that might have a need for assistive technology to our Home and Community Based Services Case Management staff who will complete a home visit and conduct a one on one evaluation to assess and assist an individual with assistive technology that could be instrumental in maintaining independence and supporting an active lifestyle. In addition, TRAAA partners with Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC) to provide durable medical equipment to individuals needing assistance

Dementia affects not only memory but every aspect of daily life — and impacts families, caregivers, and communities alike. At Three Rivers, we are committed to increasing awareness, understanding, and support for those living with dementia and their loved ones.

Through specialized programs like our Virtual Dementia Tour, caregivers, professionals, and community members are given the opportunity to experience what it feels like to live with dementia — promoting empathy, improving care, and strengthening communication.

Our goal is to:

  • Educate the public about the signs and stages of dementia

  • Offer training and tools for caregivers and service providers

  • Reduce stigma through understanding and outreach

  • Connect families to support services and community resources

By building a more dementia-friendly region, we create safer, more supportive environments for all older adults.

Assistance either in the form of access or care coordination in circumstances where the older person or caregiver is experiencing diminished functioning capacities, personal conditions or other characteristics which require the provision of services by a formal service provider and/or family caregivers. Activities of case management include such practices as assessing needs, developing care plans, authorizing and coordinating services among providers, and providing follow-up and reassessment, as required. (NAPIS_5_2010) Case Management can be provided to older adults, persons with disabilities, caregivers, or relative caregivers raising children.

Evidence Based Programs:

  1. Bingocize
  2. Dementia Friends Training
  3. Dealing with Dementia Behaviors
  4. Matter of Balance
  5. Tai Chi for Arthritis
  6. Tai Chi Fall Prevention

The number of relatives who find themselves raising children is increasing every day, regardless of income, background, or race. Family members who step into this caregiving role often need support in addressing the legal, financial, medical, educational, and emotional challenges that come with raising children who are not their own.

Three Rivers offers information and assistance to relatives raising children, along with a support group meeting tailored specifically for kinship caregivers. This meeting is currently held in Troup County and provides a space for shared experiences, resources, and guidance. We are looking to expand these meetings into all counties within the Three Rivers region.

For more information, contact the Three Rivers Aging and Disability Resource Connection Counselors at 1-866-854-5652 or visit the Georgia Department of Human Services website.

Homemaker services provide assistance to older individuals with the inability to perform one or more the following daily activities:

  • Preparing meals
  • Shopping for personal items
  • Managing money
  • Making telephone calls
  • Light housework

To learn more about homemaker services and eligibility, please call us at 1-866-854-5652.

TRAAA contracts with the Georgia Legal Service Program to make available legal advice, counseling and representation by an attorney or other person acting under the supervision of an attorney. Georgia Legal Services is equipped with a wealth of expertise and highly trained legal experts and attorneys. Should you need advice related to elder law or wish to obtain additional information about the programs, please call us at 1-866-854-5652.

Options Counselors at Three Rivers provide personalized guidance on long-term care and community living. They conduct assessments to understand individual needs, connect clients to resources like in-home care, meal programs and transportation, and help with transitions from facilities back to the community through programs like Money Follows the Person. They also offer support with long-term care planning, advocacy, and ongoing assistance to adapt to changing needs, promoting independence and quality of life for older adults.
 
For more information or to connect with an Options Counselor, contact the Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging at 678-552-2838 or toll-free at 1-866-854-5652.
 
Transition Options
Support services are available to assist you with transitioning from a medical care facility or nursing facility to your home in the community.  Through Money Follows the Person (MFP) or our Nursing Home Transitions (NHT) you can move from facility living to community living with support services in place that are uniquely designed to meet your individual needs and help keep you living safely in your home. Transition services begin with requesting information from our Options Counselor.  There is no charge or fee so call 678-972-7168. today to make an appointment and learn about your options!
 
Wise Options
A uniquely designed program to provide extra support and offer individual choices arranged for you and your family through private pay options.  Services are arranged by our Professional Management Team to meet your expectations.  Services are provided through local vetted provider agencies.  Fees are comparable and affordable.  Call 678-552-2839 for Wise Options information today!
 

More Options

Through our Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC), you can find support for comprehensive senior healthcare for individuals and families facing age-related healthcare issues including:

  • Geriatric care hospitals
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Independent senior living facilities
  • Outpatient senior health centers
  • Mental health
  • Personal support services 

 

Personal care assistance, stand-by assistance, supervision or cues for older persons are available in home for older persons with the inability to perform one or more of the following daily activities:

  • Eating
  • Dressing
  • Bathing
  • Toileting
  • Transferring in and out of bed, chair, or walking

Skilled personal care assistants, licensed practical nurses and registered nurses are employed to provide assistance with daily living activities in the home.

Professional staff with Adult Protective Services (APS) are in place to accept and handle reports of abuseneglect or exploitation of disabled adults or older adults who are not residents of nursing homes or personal care homes.

Report abuse:

 

Call the Three Rivers Aging and Disability Resource Connection Counselors at 678-552-2838 or toll free at 1-866-854-5652.

Related Links

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at Three Rivers is a free, unbiased service, staffed by trained counselors, that helps Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers. SHIP focuses on navigating Medicare options, including:

  • Understanding Medicare benefits, coverage, and enrollment periods;
  • providing personalized counseling on Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D plans;
  • assisting with claims;
  • appeals and billing issues;
  • offering guidance on programs that help lower out-of-pocket Medicare costs, like Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs.


For additional SHIP information or a free consultation, contact Belinda Meadows at bmeadows@trrc-ga.com.

 

 

The Wellness Program involves promotion of healthy living, eating and exercise. The program provides services such as:

  • Nutrition screening, education, counseling
  • Chronic Disease Self Management Program (CDSMP)
  • Tai Chi

Quarterly nutrition training is provided to senior center staff and kitchen workers and a nutrition analysis is routinely performed on menus served throughout the region.

The Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging also partners with “Live Well Age Well,” promoting healthy aging and healthy living by focusing on chronic disease prevention and health promotion related to nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle management of older adults. Click here for more information on The Wellness Program.

 

Contact Us

TRRC Aging Programs - (866) 854-5652

Thank you for your interest in Aging, a division of Three Rivers Regional Commission. Feel free to contact us by telephone.

(Please call to schedule an appointment)

Accessibility Notice: For communication assistance through Georgia Relay Service, dial 711 from any phone or TTY device. Learn more at georgiarelay.org

Interim Area Agency on Aging Director: Dave Lamb
Area Agency on Aging Deputy Director: Emily Rogers
Director of Program Integrity/Interim ADRC Manager: Brooke Rakestraw
SHIP Program Manager: Belinda Meadows
Nutrition & Wellness Manager: Ramona Browning
Program Manager: Marsha Thompson

Main Office Telephone:
Main Office Fax:
(706) 675-0448
 
Hours of Operations:
Monday – Friday
8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time
Physical Address:
Three Rivers Regional Commission
13273 GA Highway 34 E
Franklin, GA 30217
 
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1600
Franklin, Georgia 30217