Senior benefits in Rhea County, Tennessee

Help for grandparents and other relatives who are raising a child related to them by blood or marriage. The Relative Caregiver Program is a one-stop place for information, referrals, and support that helps keep children with relatives and out of state custody. Services include case management and family advocacy (for example, going with you to custody hearings or school IEP meetings), support groups and workshops for relative caregivers, support groups for children and teens, recreation and limited respite for the children and caregivers, and emergency one-time financial or start-up help. Call 1-866-735-8752 for more information or to make a referral.

The Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability (SETAAAD), part of the Southeast Tennessee Development District, is the aging and disability resource point for Rhea County. As a one-call access point, it connects older adults, caregivers, and people with disabilities to in-home care, home-delivered and group meals, transportation, caregiver support, benefits counseling, the OPTIONS in-home program, and long-term-care help. Services are for adults 60 and older and for adults with disabilities, with priority for those in greatest need. Call 1-866-836-6678.

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

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay heating and cooling bills for lower-income households. In Rhea County, LIHEAP is delivered by the Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency (SETHRA); the program is funded through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA). Help is income-based. Apply through the local SETHRA office at 423-949-2191, or dial 2-1-1 Tennessee for a referral.

Estimated bill savings: $174–$750 a year

Rhea Medical Center in Dayton offers charity care and discounted care to patients who cannot afford their hospital bills. Help is based on family income, size, and resources. Free care is offered at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines; discounted care is offered at or below 300%. A patient financial counselor helps complete the application. Call 423-775-8563 to apply.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

In this county: Charity care is income-based. Rhea Medical Center offers free care at or below 150% of the federal poverty level and discounted care at or below 300%. The hospital reviews each application, so this shows as a may-qualify result.

Volunteer-assisted, door-to-door rides to essential appointments for older adults, run by SETAAAD as part of the statewide MyRide TN network. Trained volunteer drivers pick riders up at the door and stay with them through the appointment. Riders complete a short screening and application once, then call to schedule rides. Call (423) 424-4201 or email MyRide@sedev.org to start the screening.

SETHRA operates curb-to-curb, demand-response rural public transit in Rhea County. There are no fixed routes; rides are booked ahead by phone for medical visits, shopping, senior centers, and other trips. Older riders and riders with disabilities can get reduced fares. Senior-center vans are also available through the Area Agency on Aging and Disability. Call 423-949-2191 to schedule a ride.

Estimated service value: about $0 a year