Senior benefits in Rockdale County, Georgia

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the Area Agency on Aging for Rockdale County, serving older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers through its Empowerline service. ARC's aging team is a No Wrong Door / Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) access point: one call connects you to in-home care, home-delivered and group meals, transportation, caregiver support, benefits screening, and the Medicaid Community Care Services Program waiver. Services are for adults 60 and older, with priority for those in greatest need. Reach Empowerline at 404-463-3333.

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

Partnership for Community Action (PCA) delivers the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for Rockdale County. LIHEAP makes a one-time payment toward a household's home heating or cooling bill to reduce the energy burden on income-eligible households. 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 through PCA; help is first-come, first-served until seasonal funds run out, so apply early.

Estimated bill savings: $400–$810 a year

Piedmont Rockdale Hospital in Conyers serves Rockdale County. Piedmont Healthcare's Financial Assistance Program offers free or discounted care to lower-income patients. Patients with household income up to 200% of the federal poverty level may qualify for discounted care, and those with household resources up to 300% of the poverty guidelines may be eligible for fully discounted (free) services. Catastrophic assistance is also available for very large bills. Contact the Financial Assistance Center to apply.

Estimated bill savings: $500–$20,000 a year

Rockdale Senior Services, a division of the county's Parks and Recreation Department, provides support services to older residents of Rockdale County. Hot, nutritionally balanced lunches are served weekdays at the senior center, and noon meals are delivered to homebound residents 60 and older who cannot easily prepare a meal. The department also coordinates transportation, including a transportation voucher program and a veterans' transportation program for trips to VA medical facilities. Call the Information and Referral Specialist at 770-278-7230 for meals, transportation, and other senior services.

Estimated service value: $300–$3,000 a year

In this county: Rockdale Senior Services meals and transportation are for residents 60 and older; home-delivered meals require a need (difficulty preparing meals) and may have a suggested donation. Availability depends on capacity, so this shows as a may-qualify result.