Senior benefits in Whitfield County, Georgia

The Northwest Georgia Regional Commission (NWGRC) is the Area Agency on Aging for Whitfield County (Dalton). As an Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) access point, it connects 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 NWGRC Aging team at 706-295-6485 (screening 1-800-759-2963).

$500–$6,000/yr

North Georgia Community Action (NGCA) delivers the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for Whitfield County. LIHEAP helps income-eligible households with home heating and cooling costs through a bill payment and energy-crisis assistance, provided once per year based on annual household income. 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. Apply at your county NGCA Community Service Center; help is first-come, first-served until funds run out.

$350–$1,000/yr

Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton (Hamilton Health Care System, also known as Vitruvian Health) is the regional referral hospital serving Whitfield County. Its financial assistance program helps patients who are uninsured, underinsured, ineligible for a government program, or otherwise unable to pay for medically necessary care. Discounts range from 100% down to 62% for qualifying patients whose income is below 250% of the federal poverty guideline. Submit an application with supporting documents to the hospital's Patient Financial Counselor.

$500–$18,000/yr

In this county: Hamilton Medical Center grants financial assistance from a 100% discount down to a 62% discount for qualifying patients with income below 250% of the federal poverty guideline; an application is required and reviewed individually, so this shows as a may-qualify result.

Whitfield County Transit Service provides non-emergency public transportation in Whitfield County (Dalton). Buses take riders on errands and to doctor's appointments, the library, the senior center, and to visit family or friends. The service is located at 100 South Easterling Street in Dalton. Rides are reserved in advance; call 706-278-3606 to schedule.

$150–$1,500/yr

In this county: Whitfield County Transit is demand-response, non-emergency transportation with advance reservation. Trip availability depends on capacity, so this shows as a may-qualify result.