Free Senior Living Resources for Chattanooga Families

Southeast TN Area Agency on Aging & Disability (SETAAAD) – Nutrition Program

📞 Phone: 866-836-6678

🌐 Website: setaaad.org/nutritional-programs

📋 Description: Provides congregate (group) meals and home-delivered meals for seniors.

✅ Eligibility: Age 60+; priority given to those with greatest economic or social need.

United Way 2-1-1

📞 Phone: 211 or 423-265-8000

🌐 Website: unitedwaycha.org

📋 Description: Connects callers with food pantries, meal programs, and emergency food assistance.

✅ Eligibility: Varies by program – income-based selection.

Chattanooga Office of Family Empowerment (OFE)

📞 Phone: 423-643-6434

🌐 Website: chattanooga.gov/services/assistance-programs

📋 Description: Offers emergency rental, mortgage, utility assistance, and case management.

✅ Eligibility: Hamilton County residents; must meet income guidelines (often at or below 200% FPL).

LIHEAP – Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

📞 Phone: 423-643-6434

🌐 Website: chattanooga.gov – Energy Assistance Program

📋 Description: One-time credit or bill payment to help seniors with heating and cooling bills.

✅ Eligibility: Income at or below 60% of Tennessee State Median Income; must be a Hamilton County resident with proof of ID, SSNs, income, utility account history, and citizenship.

City of Chattanooga Property Tax Freeze

📞 Phone: 423-643-7274

🌐 Website: chattanooga.gov – Property Tax Freeze

📋 Description: Freezes city property taxes for qualifying seniors.

✅ Eligibility: Age 65+; homeowner; income at or below state-set threshold (varies annually).

Affordable Housing Programs – City of Chattanooga

📞 Phone: 423-643-7353

🌐 Website: chattanooga.gov – Affordable Housing Programs

📋 Description: Supports development of affordable housing and provides access to low-income housing resources.

✅ Eligibility: Income-based; varies by program.

CARTA – Care-A-Van Paratransit Service

📞 Phone: 423-698-9038

🌐 Website: gocarta.org – Care-A-Van

📋 Description: Door-to-door bus and transit service for seniors and people with disabilities.

✅ Eligibility: Requires application; intended for individuals unable to use regular buses due to disability.

MyRide Southeast Tennessee (via SETAAAD)

📞 Phone: 866-836-6678

🌐 Website: setaaad.org/transportation-services

📋 Description: Volunteer-based rides to medical appointments and shopping.

✅ Eligibility: Age 60+; must be ambulatory (able to enter and exit the vehicle independently).

Hamilton County Community Health Services

📞 Phone: 423-209-8000

🌐 Website: health.hamiltontn.org

📋 Description: Low-cost immunizations, medical, dental, and related health services.

✅ Eligibility: Hamilton County residents.

Erlanger Community Health Center

📞 Phone: 423-778-2800

🌐 Website: erlanger.org

📋 Description: Federally Qualified Health Center providing primary care and dental services.

✅ Eligibility: Open to all; sliding-scale fees based on income.

MobileMOC (FREE CLINIC serving 11 counties in and around Chattanooga)

🌐 Website: WebMobile.com

🌐 Website: Locations, days and hours of care

Description: MobileMOC (Medical Outreach Clinic) is a free clinic, specializing in older adult care (serving ages 18+), providing primary care (annual wellness exams, preventative screenings, sick visits, chronic disease management, diagnostic testing).

Provides free transportation

Operated through the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Nursing

Find TennCare / Medicaid Doctors in Chattanooga

🌐 Website: TennCare Provider Search

📋 Description: Searchable listing of doctors and medical groups that accept TennCare, including which providers are currently accepting new patients.

✅ Eligibility: Generally low-income Tennessee residents.

Find Medicare-Enrolled Providers by City or ZIP

🌐 Website: medicare.gov – Care Compare

📋 Description: Search for Medicare-enrolled providers including doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers, hospice, home health, and more.

Nursing Homes & Rehab Facilities by County (Chattanooga Area)

🌐 Resource List: View PDF on Google Drive – Comprehensive list of nursing homes and rehab facilities in and around Chattanooga, organized by county.

Galen At Home

📞 Phone: (423) 497-5359

📍 Address: 5864 Hwy 153, Suite 112, Hixson, TN 37343

🌐 Website: galenmedical.com/galenathome

📍 Areas Served: Chattanooga, Hixson, Ooltewah, North Georgia, Ringgold/Battlefield, Gunbarrel, Southside, and more.

Healing Hands Medical Providers Group

📞 Phone: (423) 269-2255

📧 Email: info@healinghandsmpg.com

🌐 Website: healinghandsmpg.com

🩺 Services: Primary care in-home visits, chronic disease management, physicals, labs, medication reconciliation. Serves Chattanooga and surrounding areas.

Always In Good Health

📞 Phone: (423) 867-4969

📍 Address: 1508 Tombras Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37412

🌐 Website: alwaysingoodhealth.com

🩺 Services: Patient-centered primary care and home medical care; provides in-home treatment.

Partners in Care, PLLC

📞 Phone: (423) 803-1397

📍 Address: 5616 Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411

🌐 Website: drterrymelvin.com

🩺 Services: Geriatric and family medicine; 24/7 in-home senior care visits.

Reliable Healthcare & Wellness (Direct Primary Care of Tennessee)

📞 Phone: (423) 551-6538 or (423) 269-2255

📍 Address: PO Box 743, Ooltewah, TN 37363

🌐 Website: reliableprimarycare.com

🩺 Services: Telemedicine with provider-led house calls when medically indicated; subscription-based primary care. Serves Greater Chattanooga area.

MedDash Mobile – Chattanooga

📞 Phone: (423) 800-3040

📧 Email: info@meddashmobile.com

🌐 Website: meddashmobile.com

🩺 Services: On-demand medical care in your home – sick visits, laceration repair, and more. Serves the Chattanooga area.

Hitchcock Family Medicine

📞 Phone: (423) 801-1010

📍 Address: 5104 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343

🌐 Website: hitchcock.md

🩺 Services: Direct primary care with membership model; includes house calls and after-hours visits. Serves Chattanooga and Hixson.

Centerstone Mental Health Services

📞 Phone: 877-467-3123

🌐 Website: centerstone.org

📋 Description: Counseling and support for mental health and addiction issues.

✅ Eligibility: Accepts Medicaid and Medicare; offers sliding-scale fees for uninsured.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

📞 Phone: 988 (call or text)

🌐 Website: 988lifeline.org

📋 Description: Free, confidential, 24/7 crisis support.

✅ Eligibility: Open to all callers.

Frontier Health Crisis Line

📞 Phone: 877-928-9062

🌐 Website: frontierhealth.org/crisis-response

📋 Description: 24/7 behavioral health crisis support.

✅ Eligibility: No restrictions; available to anyone experiencing a mental health crisis.

Therapists in Chattanooga Accepting Medicaid

🌐 Website: Psychology Today – Chattanooga Therapists (Medicaid)

📋 Description: Searchable directory via Psychology Today. Add filters for specific concerns including depression, trauma, aging, grief, and more.

CHOICES Program (TennCare Medicaid)

📞 Phone: 877-224-0219

🌐 Website: tn.gov – CHOICES Program

📋 Description: For low-income seniors; may cover personal care, homemaker services, and in-home care costs.

✅ Eligibility: Age 65+ or disabled; must meet Medicaid income and asset limits.

PACE – Ascension Living (Alexian Brothers)

📞 Phone: 423-698-0802

🌐 Website: ascensionliving.org

📋 Description: Full care program providing in-home services, adult day services, and medical management.

✅ Eligibility: Age 55+; must meet nursing-home level of care criteria; must be able to live safely at home; income and eligibility verified.

Salvation Army – Chattanooga

📞 Phone: 423-305-6200

🌐 Website: southernusa.salvationarmy.org/chattanooga

📋 Description: Provides clothing, basic household needs, and utility assistance programs.

✅ Eligibility: Based on need; documentation required.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee

📞 Phone: 800-572-7457

🌐 Website: laet.org

📋 Description: Legal assistance for elder abuse, housing rights, and benefits advocacy.

✅ Eligibility: Age 60+ or low-income adults; based on legal issue.

Elder Rights & Ombudsman Services (SETAAAD)

📞 Phone: 866-836-6678

🌐 Website: setaaad.org/elder-rights

📋 Description: Advocates for residents in long-term care facilities to protect rights and ensure quality of care.

✅ Eligibility: All seniors in licensed care facilities.

Chattanooga Community Centers

🌐 Website: chattanooga.gov/services/community-centers

📋 Description: Offer classes, social events, and recreational activities for seniors across multiple locations in Chattanooga.

✅ Eligibility: Many programs are open to all ages; senior-specific programs typically for ages 60+.

United Way 2-1-1 (National)

📞 Phone: 211 or 1-866-921-3035

🌐 Website: 211.org

📋 Description: National referral service for food, housing, healthcare, and other community programs.

✅ Eligibility: No restrictions; directs callers to local qualifying programs.

Eldercare Locator

📞 Phone: 800-677-1116

🌐 Website: eldercare.acl.gov

📋 Description: Federal service that connects seniors to local aging and disability services across the country.

✅ Eligibility: Open to all U.S. residents.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (National)

📞 Phone: 988 (call or text)

🌐 Website: 988lifeline.org

📋 Description: 24/7 national lifeline for emotional support and suicide prevention.

✅ Eligibility: Open to all.

Chattanooga Vet Center

📞 Phone: 423-855-6570 (main) or 877-927-8387 (24/7 line)

📍 Address: 1300 Premier Dr, Suite 180, Chattanooga, TN 37421

🩺 Services: Free, confidential counseling for PTSD, MST, transition issues, grief, and family support.

✅ Eligibility: Any veteran, active service member, and their families – no cost.

Veterans Services Office – Hamilton County

📞 Phone: 423-209-7884

📍 Address: 455 N Highland Park Ave, Suite 204, Chattanooga, TN 37404

🩺 Services: VA benefits, pensions (including Aid & Attendance), health enrollment, burial benefits, education, medical transportation, housing benefits, and access to service records.

Veterans Services Office – Bradley County

📞 Phone: 423-728-7148

📍 Address: 155 Ocoee Street, Room 106, Cleveland, TN 37311

🩺 Services: VA benefits, pensions (including Aid & Attendance), health enrollment, burial benefits, education, medical transportation, housing benefits, and access to service records.

🌐 Director Info: View on Google Drive

Chattanooga VA Clinic

📞 Phone: 423-893-6500

📍 Address: 6401 Shallowford Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421

🩺 Services: Outpatient primary care, mental health, dental, telehealth, audiology, speech therapy, and homemaker services (non-medical in-home care).

✅ Eligibility: Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare.

Ocoee Region Veterans’ Coalition

🌐 Contact List PDF: View on Google Drive – Comprehensive contact list for various VA resources in and around Chattanooga.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) – Bradley County

📞 David Penner, Adjutant: 423-650-5549

📞 Wayne Walker, Commander: 610-984-5149

🩺 Services: Durable medical equipment for veterans, grab bars installed, ramps installed, and assistance with VA paperwork.

VA Health Care

📞 Phone: 800-698-2411 (find your local clinic)

🌐 Website: va.gov/health-care/eligibility

🩺 Services: Outpatient and inpatient care, prescriptions, mental health treatment.

✅ Eligibility: Honorable (or qualifying) discharge; typically 24+ months active duty (exceptions apply); income may affect copay classification.

VA Disability Compensation & Pension (Aid & Attendance / Housebound)

🌐 Website: va.gov

🩺 Services: Disability pay for service-connected conditions; extra monthly pension (Aid & Attendance or Housebound) for qualifying wartime veterans who need help with daily activities or are confined to their home. Eligibility varies by program – contact your local Veterans Services Office for guidance.

VA Homemaker & Home Health Aide Care

🌐 Website: va.gov – Homemaker & Home Health Aide

🩺 Services: Assistance with daily activities (dressing, eating, bathing) and respite care, supervised by a registered nurse.

✅ Eligibility: Enrolled VA patient with clinical need; arranged through VA social work.

Veterans Crisis Line

📞 Phone: Dial 988, then press 1 | Text: 838255

🌐 Chat: veteranscrisisline.net

📋 Description: 24/7 crisis counseling and suicide prevention.

✅ Eligibility: Open to service members, veterans, and their loved ones.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) – National

🌐 Website: dav.org

🩺 Services: Free assistance with VA claims, medical transport, job placement, and caregiver support.

✅ Eligibility: All veterans.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

🌐 Website: vfw.org

🩺 Services: Claims help, scholarships, emergency grants, and peer support.

✅ Eligibility: All VFW-accredited veterans. Find your local post at vfw.org.

Wounded Warrior Project (WWP)

🌐 Website: woundedwarriorproject.org

🩺 Services: Mental health, career services, family and chapter programs.

✅ Eligibility: Post-9/11 veterans (additional eligibility rules apply by program).

AmericaServes / IVMF

🌐 Website: ivmf.org

🩺 Services: Employment, education, housing, benefits navigation, and mental health services.

✅ Eligibility: Veterans and their families.