Senior benefits in Henderson County, Tennessee

The Southwest Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability serves older adults age 60 and older, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers in Henderson County. Services include congregate and home-delivered meals, family caregiver support and respite, SHIP Medicare counseling, options counseling for long-term care, the long-term care ombudsman, and public guardianship. Call the Information and Assistance line to learn what is available locally.

Estimated service value: $1,000–$6,000 a year

Tennessee's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay heating and cooling costs for income-eligible households. In Henderson County, LIHEAP is delivered by Southwest Human Resource Agency. Household income must be at or below 60% of the state median income. Regular applications are taken year-round, Monday through Thursday, and crisis help is fast-tracked for households facing disconnection. If approved, a one-time payment goes to the utility. Apply through Southwest Human Resource Agency (Henderson County Community Service Center, 731-968-6802, or 1-800-372-6013), and call 2-1-1 Tennessee for referral help. The Tennessee Housing Development Agency administers the program statewide.

Estimated bill savings: $174–$750 a year

Henderson County Community Hospital in Lexington, restored and reopened by Braden Health after a period of closure, runs a 24/7 emergency department, inpatient care, imaging and lab. It offers "self-pay pricing, payment plans, and a financial assistance program based on household income" for uninsured or under-insured patients: complete the financial assistance application posted on its Insurance Information page or ask for a financial counselor at registration, and bring the form to your appointment (business office 731-968-1855, main line 731-968-3646). For care at West Tennessee Healthcare's Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, the system's own financial assistance program applies: free care generally below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines and sliding-scale discounts between 200 and 400 percent; call Patient Financial Services at 731-541-8730.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

In this county: Charity care is income-based and decided under each hospital's own financial assistance policy; the hospital makes the final decision, so this shows as a may-qualify result. Henderson County Community Hospital does not publish its income thresholds; West Tennessee Healthcare does (200%/400% FPL). Not legal or financial advice.

Volunteer drivers give Henderson County seniors age 60 and older door-through-door rides to doctor appointments, grocery shopping, the barber or beauty shop, and social gatherings. A yearly membership costs $25 and includes the first 3 rides; each ride after that is $2. Riders must be able to walk on their own or with a walker or cane. Call MyRide West Tennessee at 1-844-803-0169 to join or to book a ride.

Southwest Human Resource Agency operates rural public transportation for Henderson County, linking residents to doctors, grocery stores, senior centers, employment, and recreation, with medical trips to Jackson, Memphis, and Nashville. The service is open to the general public and is designed to help older adults, people with disabilities, and riders with medical needs. Call the dispatch center at least 24 hours ahead to schedule a ride and confirm the fare.

Estimated service value: $200–$1,500 a year