Senior benefits in Franklin County, Georgia

Legacy Link is the Area Agency on Aging for Franklin County. 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 Legacy Link at 855-266-4283.

Estimated service value: $500–$6,000 a year

Ninth District Opportunity (NDO) delivers the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for Franklin County. LIHEAP makes a one-time payment directly to a household's home energy supplier to help with heating and cooling costs, with crisis help when a shutoff is imminent. Households qualify with income at or below 60% of the state median income, and Georgia serves residents 65 or older and medically homebound households first each season. Locally, NDO opens its early appointment window (December 1) to households where every member is 65 or older, and medically homebound households call their local NDO office to schedule. Schedule an appointment by phone (855-636-3108) or online; help is first-come, first-served until funds run out.

Estimated bill savings: $400–$810 a year

St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia (part of St. Mary's Health Care System, a Catholic, not-for-profit Trinity Health provider) is the community hospital in Franklin County. It 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.

Estimated bill savings: $500–$18,000 a year

In this county: St. Mary's Sacred Heart 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. Financial counselor: 844-853-7359.

Legacy Link, the Area Agency on Aging for 13 North Georgia counties including Franklin, funds the Franklin County Senior Center. Legacy Link's senior centers provide transportation and trips for older adults, along with hot lunch, social and exercise activities, and educational programs. Ask the Franklin County Senior Center about ride days and how to sign up, or call Legacy Link at 770-538-2650 or 800-845-5465 for a screening and a referral to the right local service.

Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year