Georgia Aging Services for Grandparent Caregivers
If you're 55 or older and raising a grandchild in Georgia, the Division of Aging Services (DAS) and its network of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) run programs specifically for you. These aren't the same as TANF or Medicaid — they're caregiver support services funded under Title III-E of the Older Americans Act, and they address needs the cash benefit programs don't touch.
What the Division of Aging Services Offers
DAS operates under the Georgia Department of Human Services (the same department that houses DFCS) and coordinates services for older adults across the state. For grandparent caregivers specifically, DAS funds:
Respite care: Temporary relief from caregiving so you can attend medical appointments, handle personal business, or simply rest. Respite may be provided through in-home aides, adult day programs, or temporary out-of-home care for the child. Ask your local AAA whether it is available and what, if anything, you would pay.
Information and assistance: DAS and its local AAAs help older caregivers identify and access all available benefit programs — not just aging services, but TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, CAPS, and legal aid referrals. This is a coordination function, pulling together the fragmented agency landscape into one conversation.
Support groups and counseling: Many AAAs run or fund support groups specifically for grandparents raising grandchildren. These groups provide emotional support, practical problem-solving, and connections to other caregivers navigating the same system. Individual counseling may also be available.
Emergency assistance: Some AAAs may offer limited supplemental material aid, such as school supplies, assistive equipment, or home modifications. Availability depends on local services and funding.
Area Agencies on Aging: Your Local Connection
Georgia has 12 AAAs, each covering a multi-county region. They're the local delivery arm for DAS programs and the first point of contact for grandparent caregivers seeking support. The statewide AAA information line is 1-866-552-4464 — calling this number connects you with the AAA serving your county.
Your local AAA can:
- Assess your needs and connect you with available services
- Refer you to the Kinship Navigator Program for benefit navigation help
- Enroll you in respite care or support groups
- Help you find legal aid, transportation assistance, and home-delivered meals
- Connect you with the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC), a one-stop system linking older adults and caregivers to community services
Who Qualifies
Title III-E caregiver support services target caregivers aged 55 and older who live with and serve as primary caregivers for a child under 18 or an adult child aged 18–59 with a severe disability. Biological parents are excluded from these relative caregiver services. Ask your local AAA about the eligibility and cost rules for the specific service you need.
The GRG program is separate from AAA services. Low-income grandparents aged 60 and older who are the primary caretakers of their grandchildren may receive a $50-per-child monthly subsidy through DFCS. AAA services don't require TANF participation.
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How This Fits with Other Programs
DAS and AAA services complement the benefit programs without replacing them. You can use AAA respite care while also receiving TANF child-only cash, SNAP, Medicaid for the child, and CAPS childcare subsidies. Eligibility and benefit calculations are program-specific. For example, child support above the $50 TANF disregard can reduce a child-only TANF grant.
The practical value for grandparent caregivers: AAA staff know the local service landscape in ways that a Gateway application can't capture. They know which county DFCS offices process kinship cases faster, which legal aid clinics have shorter waitlists, and which community organizations offer emergency help. One call to 1-866-552-4464 can save weeks of phone tag across agencies.
For a complete walkthrough of every financial benefit, healthcare program, and application process available to kinship caregivers in Georgia, our kinship financial help guide covers the full picture — from TANF and GRG through CAPS, SNAP, Medicaid, and the aging services network.
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Download the Georgia Kinship Benefits Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.