Caring for an aging loved one is one of the hardest jobs there is — and you shouldn't have to do it alone. Below are 30 verified Tennessee programs offering emotional support, respite, training, financial help, peer groups, and legal planning — most of them completely free.
Last updated July 2026
Start here in Tennessee
TN Dept of Disability and Aging — AAADs
One call connects Tennessee family caregivers to free counseling, respite, training, and support groups through their local Area Agency on Aging.
TN Dept of Disability and Aging — AAADs
Free
Statewide — 9 Area Agencies on Aging and Disability covering all 95 counties
Tennessee's primary caregiver entry point. Free information, referrals, and connection to all caregiver services through 9 AAADs. Tennessee merged its aging and disability agencies in 2023 into the Department of Disability and Aging — now a unified entry point. OPTIONS and CHOICES programs also accessible through AAADs.
Call 866-836-6678 to reach your local AAAD. Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging launched January 2023 — unified aging and disability services under one agency statewide
Alzheimer's Association Tennessee Chapter — 24/7 Helpline
Free
Statewide — Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Memphis offices serving all 95 counties
Around the clock emotional support, crisis assistance, and care consultations for dementia caregivers. TN Chapter serves all 95 counties through four regional offices. 130,000+ Tennesseans living with Alzheimer's; 260,000 caregivers providing 337 million hours annually.
Nashville: 615-467-0964 | Knoxville: 865-637-5003 | Chattanooga: 423-531-6400 | Memphis: 901-683-8811. Also: Alzheimer's Tennessee (www.alztennessee.org/) is a separate Knoxville-based nonprofit offering Caregiver Academy and Silver Alert Kit
Tennessee's dedicated caregiver coalition providing resources, advocacy, and connection for family caregivers statewide. Administers the NFCSP Supplemental Respite Grant Voucher program. Provides low- or no-cost respite through a voucher system. Partners with TN Department of Disability and Aging.
Call 615-269-8687 for respite vouchers and caregiver resources. TN Caregiver Coalition administers state respite voucher program — key NFCSP partner statewide
Free 24/7 connection to local health and human services including emotional support, crisis intervention, and caregiver resource referrals across all 95 Tennessee counties.
Call or text 211 anytime — also available online at unitedwaysoftn.org/211. Tennessee 211 connects to local resources in all 95 counties
Statewide — partnership with TN Dept of Disability and Aging
Low- or no-cost respite vouchers through the NFCSP Supplemental Respite Grant. Tennessee Caregiver Coalition administers the voucher program statewide. Caregivers use vouchers to purchase respite care of their choice. Contact Coalition or local AAAD to apply.
Contact Tennessee Caregiver Coalition at 615-269-8687 or your local AAAD at 866-836-6678 — voucher availability varies by funding cycle
NFCSP-funded temporary respite care for family caregivers of adults 60+ or any age with Alzheimer's through Tennessee's 9 AAADs. In-home and adult day respite options available statewide. Contact your local AAAD to arrange respite.
Contact AAAD at 866-836-6678 — respite availability and types vary by region across TN's 9 AAAD service areas
Tennessee's state-funded home and community-based services program providing respite care to caregivers of adults 18+ with physical impairments. Non-Medicaid — income-based eligibility with sliding scale. Provides meaningful daily relief without Medicaid requirement.
Non-Medicaid — broader eligibility than CHOICES Waiver. Contact AAAD at 866-836-6678. OPTIONS fills gap for families above Medicaid income limits needing respite
At least 30 days annual respite for caregivers of eligible veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. Tennessee Valley VA (Nashville, Murfreesboro), Memphis VA, Mountain Home VA (Johnson City), and other facilities serve Tennessee veterans.
Must be caring for veteran enrolled in VA healthcare — Nashville VA: 615-327-4751 | Memphis VA: 901-523-8990 | Mountain Home VA: 423-926-1171
Free education programs for dementia caregivers across all 95 TN counties. ALZ Talks webinars, Savvy Caregiver workshops, and care consultations through Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Memphis offices. TN ADRD State Plan updated 2024 guides statewide dementia education.
Virtual options available statewide — call helpline or visit chapter website for current TN schedule
Unique Tennessee nonprofit (separate from ALZ Association) providing free Caregiver Academy video training series, Silver Alert Kit for wandering, and Family Caregiver Support Group every Monday at 2pm ET/1pm CT virtual. Founded 1983 by Tennessee families.
Free virtual caregiver support group every Monday — no registration required. Caregiver Academy videos free online at alztennessee.org. Silver Alert Kit available by request
Statewide — UT Extension offices in all 95 counties
Evidence-based caregiver education through University of Tennessee Extension. Powerful Tools for Caregivers workshops, aging-in-place resources, and family caregiver programs in all Tennessee counties including rural Appalachian and western TN communities.
UT Extension in every Tennessee county — reaching rural communities across Appalachian, Middle, and West Tennessee
TN Dept of Disability and Aging — Caregiver Training
Free
Statewide — through 9 AAADs
Caregiver training and skills-building through Tennessee's 9 AAADs. Covers dementia care, stress management, and navigating TennCare CHOICES and OPTIONS programs. TN ADRD State Plan 2024 update guides expanded caregiver training statewide.
Contact AAAD at 866-836-6678 — also see Freedom for Family Care Act 2025 which expanded family caregiver payment options through TennCare Medicaid waiver programs
Comprehensive caregiver education library including fact sheets, online programs, and Tennessee-specific resource directory. Especially valuable for rural and Appalachian Tennessee caregivers.
No registration required for most online resources
Free caregiver tools, guides, and education in English and Spanish. AARP TN reports 1.2 million family caregivers providing $14 billion in unpaid care annually. AARP TN active on paid family caregiving legislation and Freedom for Family Care Act implementation.
AARP membership not required — AARP TN guide available to help caregivers navigate CHOICES, OPTIONS, and new Freedom for Family Care Act provisions
TennCare CHOICES — Paid Family Caregiver (Agency with Choice)
Free
Statewide
Tennessee's Medicaid HCBS program paying adult children and relatives $10-14/hour as paid personal care attendants through the Agency with Choice model. TennCare managed care plans (BlueCross, UnitedHealthcare, Amerigroup) administer CHOICES. Spouses generally not eligible. Must be TennCare-eligible.
Must be TennCare-eligible at nursing facility level of care — contact TennCare at 800-342-3145 or local AAAD. Agency with Choice model: family member is employed by home care agency, care recipient directs the care
Freedom for Family Care Act — Family Caregiver Rights
Free
Statewide — TennCare Medicaid Waiver Programs
Landmark 2025 Tennessee law prohibiting provider agencies from discriminating against family members becoming paid caregivers for Medicaid waiver enrollees or TennCare-eligible children under 21. Expands who can be paid through existing waiver programs. Contact TN Disability Coalition for guidance.
New 2025 law — contact tndisability.org or call 615-383-9442 for guide on how to use the Freedom for Family Care Act. Applies to TennCare waiver enrollees statewide
Tennessee's state-funded non-Medicaid program providing personal care and home-based services to adults 18+ with physical impairments. Sliding scale fees based on income. OPTIONS fills gap for Tennesseans above Medicaid income limits needing home care support.
Non-Medicaid — contact AAAD at 866-836-6678 for eligibility and to apply. OPTIONS does not typically pay family members directly but coordinates services
Monthly stipend for caregivers of eligible veterans with 70%+ service-connected disability. Also includes CHAMPVA health insurance. VA legacy cohort protected through September 2028.
Must be caring for veteran with 70%+ service-connected disability rating
Federal program providing information, counseling, training, respite, and supplemental services to family caregivers of adults 60+ or any age with Alzheimer's. Relative caregivers 55+ raising children also served. Contact local AAAD.
Contact AAAD at 866-836-6678 — Relative Caregiver Program (grandparents 55+ raising children) is a distinct TN program through DCS that may also qualify for stipends
Free caregiver support groups throughout Tennessee from Nashville to Memphis to Knoxville to Chattanooga. Virtual groups available statewide. ALZConnected online community 24/7.
Call helpline or visit chapter website to find group by zip code — virtual options available statewide across all 95 TN counties
Alzheimer's Tennessee — Weekly Virtual Support Group
Free
Statewide — virtual
Free Family Caregiver Support Group meets every Monday at 2pm Eastern / 1pm Central via virtual platform. Open to all Tennessee dementia caregivers regardless of county. No registration required — join any Monday.
Every Monday 2pm ET / 1pm CT — no registration required. Unique recurring weekly virtual group — consistent and accessible for all TN caregivers
Caregiver support groups through Tennessee's 9 AAADs covering all 95 counties. Groups for general caregiving, Alzheimer's, and relative caregivers. Contact AAAD to find groups in your area.
Contact AAAD at 866-836-6678 — support group availability and format varies by region across TN's 9 AAAD service areas
Free online peer community of 25,000+ caregivers active 24/7. Especially valuable for Tennessee caregivers in rural Appalachian or western TN communities where local groups may be limited.
AARP membership not required — virtual peer support 24/7
Middle Tennessee — Davidson, Rutherford, and surrounding counties
Free civil legal services to low-income Tennesseans including elder law, advance directives, powers of attorney, TennCare, housing, and consumer protection. Elder law division handles POA, medical directives, and wills for adults 60+.
Toll-free: 800-238-1443. East TN: Legal Aid Society of East Tennessee (865-637-0484) | West TN: West TN Legal Services (731-423-0616). All income-eligible or 60+
Tennessee SHIP — State Health Insurance Assistance Program
Free
Statewide — TN Dept of Disability and Aging
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling for Tennessee beneficiaries and caregivers. Certified counselors help navigate Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D drug plans statewide. Access through SHIP line or local AAAD.
Unbiased — not affiliated with insurance industry. Also accessible through AAAD at 866-836-6678
Free advocacy for caregivers with concerns about nursing home or assisted living quality. Investigates complaints and protects residents' rights across all 95 Tennessee counties.
Complaint line ext. 117: 615-741-2056. Home health complaint: 800-541-7367. Also contact local AAAD at 866-836-6678 for regional ombudsman
Free legal advocacy for Tennesseans with disabilities and their caregivers. Tennessee's federally designated Protection and Advocacy agency. Covers disability rights, TennCare, housing, CHOICES access, Freedom for Family Care Act implementation, and abuse/neglect.
Local: 615-298-1080. Free services for people with disabilities and their family caregivers — all 95 TN counties. Active on Freedom for Family Care Act 2025 implementation
Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services — LawHelp TN
Free
Statewide — online resource
Free online legal information and connection to legal aid organizations across all 95 Tennessee counties. Covers elder law, advance directives, powers of attorney, TennCare, housing, and more. Tennessee's centralized legal aid resource locator.
Free 24/7 online access — find legal aid in your Tennessee county. Available in English and Spanish
Honest answers to what Tennessee family caregivers ask most.
Most free caregiver help in Tennessee flows through TN Dept of Disability and Aging — AAADs, which works hand-in-hand with the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD) and the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) network. Call 866-836-6678 to be connected to your county's AAA or Aging and Disability Resource Center — they provide free caregiver counseling, support groups, respite vouchers, and caregiver education statewide.
In many cases, yes. The primary pathway is TennCare CHOICES in Long-Term Services and Supports. TennCare CHOICES includes a Consumer Direction option letting Medicaid members hire family (other than a spouse) as paid personal-care workers. The care recipient must meet Tennessee Medicaid's financial and functional eligibility rules. To apply or confirm what's currently available, call 866-836-6678 and ask specifically about Medicaid self-direction or consumer-directed personal-care services.
Free or low-cost respite in Tennessee comes from three main places: (1) TN Dept of Disability and Aging — AAADs and your local Area Agency on Aging, which can issue respite vouchers under the National Family Caregiver Support Program — call 866-836-6678; (2) the VA Caregiver Support Program (1-855-260-3274) for caregivers of enrolled veterans; and (3) the ARCH National Respite Locator at archrespite.org, which lists licensed Tennessee respite providers by ZIP code.
Tennessee veteran caregivers can access two main VA programs. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) pays a monthly stipend of roughly $1,750–$3,200 for caregivers of post-9/11 and (now expanded) earlier-era veterans with a 70%+ service-connected disability who need help with daily activities. The Program of General Caregiver Support Services offers free training, peer mentoring, and REACH VA stress coaching for caregivers of any era veteran enrolled in VA healthcare. Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 or visit caregiver.va.gov to apply.
Yes. The Alzheimer's Association Tennessee Chapter runs in-person and virtual support groups across the state and operates a free 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900 in English and Spanish. Local Area Agencies on Aging also coordinate dementia-specific groups through Tennessee's family caregiver support program — TN Dept of Disability and Aging — AAADs can refer you. For broader caregiver support groups (not dementia-specific), the Family Caregiver Alliance and Well Spouse Association also serve Tennessee families online.
Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee / West Tennessee Legal Services is the main free civil legal aid resource for income-eligible Tennessee residents. They can help with advance directives, financial and healthcare powers of attorney, guardianship questions, Medicare and Medicaid appeals, and consumer or housing problems facing aging adults. Tennessee Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program provides separate free advocacy specifically for residents (and their families) in Tennessee nursing homes, assisted living, and other long-term care settings. Many Tennessee bar associations also run lawyer-referral services with reduced rates for caregivers and seniors.
988 is the free, confidential 24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline available to anyone in the U.S., including Tennessee family caregivers who feel overwhelmed, isolated, hopeless, or in emotional distress. Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. For non-crisis support — finding food, transportation, rent help, or caregiver respite — dial 211 to reach a Tennessee-trained United Way navigator who can route you to local programs.
Tennessee's Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and Area Agency on Aging (AAA) network is the single point of entry for county-level caregiver services. Call 866-836-6678 and you'll be routed to the ADRC or AAA serving your county. They handle benefits screening, options counseling, and direct connections to counseling, respite, training, transportation, and financial-help programs. Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD) oversees the network statewide and can also help if a local office is hard to reach.
Save these Tennessee resources to your free care plan
Your care plan keeps every Tennessee caregiver resource — phone numbers, eligibility, and next steps — in one calm, organized place.
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Source: LTCareNav.com research, updated on July 2026. Programs, phone numbers, and eligibility rules change frequently — please verify contact information directly with each organization before referral. This page is informational and not legal, medical, or financial advice.