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Free personalized senior living guidance for families
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Tennessee · Everything here is free · Reviewed July 2026
If you are an older Tennessean worried about how to afford care — or you are the adult child trying to help a parent — please know there is real, free help out there. You do not have to figure this out alone.
Not sure where to start? Call for free1-866-836-6678Call from anywhere in Tennessee and you are automatically connected to your nearest agency for free help with aging services and benefits.
Maybe you only qualify for Medicare or Medicaid and paid senior living is simply not possible. That does not mean you are stuck. Tennessee has programs that can help pay for care in your own home, lower your Medicare costs, and connect you with people who will guide you step by step — at no charge.
You do not need to understand every program before you pick up the phone. Start with one call below, and let the person on the other end help you find the next door to open.
Tap what fits. You'll jump straight to the right help — no reading through the rest.
Still not sure? Just make the call above — they'll help you figure it out. One call is a great start.
Start here for most families
Most people want to stay in their own home as long as they safely can. TennCare helps make that possible through TennCare CHOICES in Long-Term Services and Supports.
Call to ask whether TennCare CHOICES is right for you.
Call to ask whether TennCare CHOICES is right for you.
TennCare is Tennessee's Medicaid program. For older adults, it can cover doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and long-term care — including help at home and nursing-facility care through a program called TennCare CHOICES (more on that below).
Eligibility depends mainly on your income and assets. The limits change each year, and there are special rules for people who need long-term care and for married couples. Do not assume you make too much — please let them check. Many people qualify who thought they would not.
Apply for TennCare online or by phone.
Your local Area Agency on Aging & Disability can help you understand and start the TennCare application process.
PACE bundles all of a person's medical care, prescriptions, and support services into one coordinated program, so you have a single team looking after everything. It is designed for people who need nursing-home-level care but want to keep living in the community.
In Tennessee, Ascension Living Alexian PACE serves the Chattanooga area. If you live elsewhere, PACE may not yet reach your county — ask your Area Agency on Aging & Disability, or search npaonline.org/find-a-pace-program to check.
Call to check PACE availability in your county.
Find a PACE program (National PACE Association)
Search the national directory to check whether PACE reaches your area.
If you're on Medicare
If Medicare costs are stretching your budget, this can help right away.
Apply for Medicare Savings Programs through TennCare Connect.
Apply for Extra Help through Social Security.
TN SHIP will help you apply for either program, free of charge.
TN SHIP (the State Health Insurance Assistance Program) offers free, one-on-one Medicare counseling. Trained counselors — who do not sell insurance — can help you:
Understand your Medicare and drug-plan choices.
Compare plans during Open Enrollment.
Apply for programs that lower your costs.
Solve billing and coverage problems.
Call TN SHIP for free Medicare counseling. It is completely free.
Everyday essentials
SNAP (Tennessee Department of Human Services)
SNAP (food stamps) helps pay for groceries. Apply through the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
Many areas offer home-delivered meals (Meals on Wheels) and senior dining sites — ask your Area Agency on Aging.
Feeding America food banks
Food banks across Tennessee provide free groceries, including senior programs.
Dial 211 to find a food pantry near you today.
Dial 211 for help with rent, utilities, and finding affordable housing.
Local public housing authority
Contact your local public housing authority about senior and low-income housing.
Can point you to housing and home-repair programs.
Also lists housing resources by area.
Guidance & protection
Tennessee has nine Area Agencies on Aging and Disability (AAAD) covering every county. One statewide number routes you to yours:
Free information and help with meals, transportation, caregiver support, in-home services, and benefits counseling.
Use the national Eldercare Locator to find services near you.
Tennessee's free civil legal advice helpline. You can talk to a licensed Tennessee attorney about benefits, housing, consumer, and other civil issues.
Tennessee Senior Law Alliance
Provided through the Legal Aid Society and partner offices, this offers free legal help focused on people 60 and older.
For nursing-home or assisted-living concerns, contact the Ombudsman below.
If you or a loved one lives in a nursing home or assisted-living facility and there is a problem — poor care, mistreatment, or a question about resident rights — the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a free advocate on your side.
You will be routed to the district ombudsman for your area. Ombudsmen work for the resident, not the facility, and calls can be confidential.
A real person helps you find food, housing, health, and senior services near you.
Connects you to trusted local help for older adults.
Make one call. Start with your Area Agency on Aging & Disability (1-866-836-6678). Explain what is going on in plain words.
Call for free1-866-836-6678TennCare is Tennessee's Medicaid program. For seniors, it can cover medical care, prescriptions, and long-term care at home or in a nursing facility — often filling gaps Medicare does not cover.
Usually not. Medicare does not cover room and board in assisted living. TennCare, through CHOICES, may help pay for certain care services. Call 1-866-836-6678 to explore your options.
Absolutely. Nearly everything on this page is meant for people on a fixed or limited income, and most of it is free. A tight budget is a reason to call, not a reason to wait.
Yes. Medicare Savings Programs can pay your Part B premium (around $185/month) if you qualify. Call TennCare Connect (1-855-259-0701), or let TN SHIP (1-877-801-0044) help you apply.
Care at home means getting daily help while staying in your own place — often through TennCare CHOICES. A nursing home offers around-the-clock care. TennCare can help pay for either, based on your needs.
Yes. TN SHIP, your Area Agency on Aging, Help4TN, and 211 all help for free. You should never have to pay just to learn what you qualify for.
Reaching out for help takes courage, and it is one of the wisest things you can do for yourself or someone you love. The people behind these numbers help Tennessee families like yours every day, and they are glad to hear from you. Pick one number and make that first call today.
Program details, income limits, and contact information can change. The agencies linked above can confirm the most current specifics for your situation. This page is for general information and isn't legal or financial advice.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Program details, income limits, and contact information can change — the linked agencies confirm the most current specifics.