Senior benefits in Putnam County, Georgia

The Middle Georgia Regional Commission (MGRC) is the Area Agency on Aging for Putnam County. As an Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) 'one-call connection,' it links older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers to in-home care, home-delivered and group meals, transportation, caregiver support, benefits counseling, and the Medicaid Community Care Services Program waiver. Services are for adults 60 and older, with priority for those in greatest need. Call the MGRC ADRC at 1-866-552-4464 (option 4) or 478-751-6160.

$500–$6,000/yr

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps Putnam County households pay home heating and cooling bills, with a seasonal payment and crisis help when a shutoff is imminent. Households qualify with income at or below 60% of the state median income, and seniors 65 and older and the medically homebound can apply early each season. LIHEAP is delivered locally through the county's designated Community Action Agency. Apply through your local Community Action Agency or DFCS; help is first-come, first-served until funds run out.

$350–$1,000/yr

Putnam County (Eatonton) is served by the small Putnam General Hospital in-county and by St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital at Lake Oconee (Greensboro), part of St. Mary's Health Care System (a Catholic, not-for-profit Trinity Health provider). St. Mary's offers charity care and below-cost discounted care to patients who meet income criteria. In recent guidelines, households under about 212% of the federal poverty level qualify for free care and families under about 311% qualify for discounted care. A financial counselor can help determine eligibility.

$500–$18,000/yr

In this county: St. Mary's offers free care for households under ~212% of the federal poverty level and discounted care under ~311%; eligibility is set by individual review, so this shows as a may-qualify result. Putnam County also has the small in-county Putnam General Hospital (Eatonton).

The Middle Georgia Regional Commission administers the regional coordinated public transportation program serving Putnam County (Eatonton), providing demand-response, curb-to-curb rides for medical appointments, shopping, senior centers, and essential errands. There are no fixed routes — trips are scheduled in advance. Contact MGRC at 478-751-6160 for the local transportation contact and to arrange service.

$150–$1,500/yr