Low-income services and household assistance for Georgia senior citizens can help provide senior discounts on things like power, gas, food, housing, and other social services. Seniors in Georgia may find help in many places.
Types of Available Assistance for Seniors in GA
Georgia seniors who need low-income services and support will be pleased to find that a number of options are available. An important part of finding assistance is the willingness to ask questions and weigh your options. Remember too, if you find a program that is especially helpful, inquire about other services or options that may be available. Chances are you might find a good resource just by talking with a number of people.
Household Assistance for Georgia Senior Citizens
Several programs for assistance for Georgia senior citizens exist. If you are a senior yourself, or a friend/loved one of a senior, keep in mind that information is one of the biggest factors for getting help. The more senior citizens learn about what benefits are available and find out that applying for them is easy in most cases, the more these senior benefits will reach the people who need them the most.
Electric and Gas Bills
There is low-income assistance for seniors who qualify. In Georgia, you usually have to be over the age of 65, own your own home, and have a household income that is lower than $12,000 to $15,000 annually. Each program has different qualifications for income, so contact the companies directly to find which ones are in your range. These programs include:
- Atlanta Gas Light gives low-income seniors monthly senior discounts on bills for up to $14.00. Call 404-657-3426 or 1-800-869-1150 outside Atlanta.
- Carroll Electric Membership Corporation provides monthly discounts up to $2.50 for seniors ages 62 and over. Call 770-832-3552
- Georgia Natural Gas gives a $14.00 discount to eligible low-income senior customers who apply. Call 770-850-6200 or 1-877-850-6200 outside Atlanta.
- Georgia Power offers a senior discount of $24 a month for low-income customers who fit certain criteria. Call 1-888-660-5890.
- Snapping Shoals EMC has senior citizen low-income assistance and discounts for seniors who make less than $20,000 a year. Call 770-786-3484.
Health and Social Services
There are many places where seniors who need healthcare in Georgia can receive guidance on how to receive and make use of their benefits. There are also services available for saving money on groceries and allowing seniors to remain independent for as long as possible.
- Georgia Cares provides free, unbiased, and factual information to seniors and their caregivers regarding health insurance, prescription drugs, and additional benefits and programs to Medicare recipients. Call 1-866-55-AGING (24464) for more information.
- The Georgia Gateway Program, formerly known as the Compass program, provides tools for seniors through their aging services as well as an online application to apply for food stamps.
- Georgia Relay helps provide seniors and individuals who are hard of hearing or disabled with reliable telephone access using video, texting, and internet. Call 1-888-297-9461.
Housing Options for Seniors in Georgia
Seniors in Georgia may need help with finding safe, affordable housing or living arrangements that are equipped with appropriate services. There are a number of different kinds of housing options available in the state, many of which offer more than one type of housing within their individual communities, and a few examples include:
- Retirement communities
- Independent living facilities
- Assisted living facilities
- Senior citizen apartments and condominiums
- Low Income Housing for Senior Citizens
Sunrise Senior Living Communities
Sunrise Senior Living maintains multiple communities throughout Georgia. Each of these offers assisted living as a housing option and may be the perfect option for seniors that are no longer able to live alone. Depending on the location of the community, housing options in addition to assisted living may include independent living, Alzheimer's care, and nursing and rehabilitation. These assisted living communities are located in:
- Alpharetta
- Atlanta (two locations)
- Decatur
- Dunwoody
- Johns Creek
- Lawrenceville
- Liburn
- Marietta
- Sandy Springs (two locations)
Holiday Retirement Communities
With more than 300 independent living communities in the United States and Canada, the Holiday Retirement Organization offers affordable senior housing with many amenities included. Residents are given the opportunity to stay free at any holiday retirement community located in North America while they are traveling. There are multiple Holiday Retirement communities located in Georgia in the following cities:
- Athens
- Lawrenceville
- Macon
- Decatur
- Columbus
- Savannah
- Evans
- Gainesville
Wesley Woods Retirement Communities
Providing affordable housing for senior citizens, the Wesley Woods retirement communities are located in North Georgia. Depending upon the individual community, housing accommodations include one and two-bedroom apartments, cottages, and efficiency units. These independent living communities are located in:
- Blairsville
- Atlanta
- Athens
- Augusta
- Newnan
- Roswell
Active Adult Retirement Communities
If you are thinking about moving to an active over 55 adult retirement community, the Lanier Village Estates, located in Gainesville, provides resource style amenities in a beautiful country setting. This retirement community is close to the Northeast Georgia mountains, the scenic beauty of Lake Sidney Lanier, and is less than an hour from downtown Atlanta. Amenities offered at this retirement community includes:
- A spacious indoor pool
- Fitness center
- Professional entertainment
- Day trips
- Numerous clubs and activities
Apartments for Low-Income Seniors
The South Rossville Senior Village Apartments, located in the city of Rossville, was a former elementary school that was turned into affordable rental units for seniors with low and median income. The complex features:
- Two libraries
- A community room with a kitchen
- A putting green
- Exercise facilities
- Walking trails
More Senior Housing Options in Georgia
Seniors have additional housing options including:
- St. George Village, located in Roswell, provides independent and assisted living.
- Cobblestone of Park Springs, located in Stone Mountain, provides assisted living in a campus style setting.
- The Clairmont Crest Apartments are located in Decatur.
- Belmont Village at Johns Creek provides both independent and assisted living.
- Summer Breeze is an independent living community located in Savannah.
Free Home Repairs for Seniors in GA
Seniors who are homeowners may be eligible for assistance in getting needed home repairs completed, especially if the seniors fall within a low-income bracket. Check with local organizations to see if assistance is available, or check eligibility with national or state programs.
USDA Home Repair Grant
Provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, these grants provide funds to very low-income seniors in Georgia for home repairs specific to safety or health issues. These grants do not have to be paid back.
HouseProud Atlanta
Specific to the Atlanta area, the HouseProud program provides free home repairs to low-income senior homeowners. The repairs are designed to weatherize the home or make it more accessible for aging residents.
Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity
Though perhaps best known for the building of new homes, the Habitat for Humanity of Southern Crescent offers home repairs for senior homeowners. This is not completely free assistance, as there is an application fee and homeowners must be willing to participate in the repair process alongside the volunteers.
Additional Assistance
Additional assistance may be available, as well.
- The Senior Citizens Council has volunteering and advocacy programs in Georgia.
- Appointment Companions provides Georgia seniors with transportation help, including errands and doctor appointments, for an hourly fee.
Respect for Wisdom
Georgia's state motto is Wisdom, Justice, Moderation. Perhaps the state's admiration of wisdom compels them to provide assistance to senior residents. A wealth of resources is available for seniors, including grants and low-cost services. Even if you don't reside within Georgia's state boundaries, you can still utilize their resources as ideas for where to begin searching for these opportunities in your own area.
