Centers for Independent Living
Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
Pat Puckett, Executive Director
1431 C McLendon Drive
Decatur, GA 30033
Ph: 770-270-6860
Fax: 770-270-5957
TTY: 770-270-5671
E-Mail: silcga@mindspring.com
Jenny Manders
Institute on Human Development and Disability
The University of Georgia
River's Crossing Building
850 College Station Road
Athens, GA 30602-4806
Ph: 706-542-2418
Fax: 706-542-4815
TTY: 706-542-6629
Citizen Advocacy Programs
300 College Avenue or PO Box 311
Athens, GA 30603
ph: (706) 549-0063
fax: (706) 549-5656
Atlanta Citizen Advocacy
376 Oakdale Road
Atlanta, GA 30307
ph: (404) 523-8849
fax: (404) 523-0477
Greater Augusta Citizen Advocacy
Lamar Building, Suite 604
753 Broad Street
Augusta, GA 30901
ph: (706) 724-1490
fax: (706) 724-4446
P.O. Box 1013
Milledgeville, GA 31061
Ph & fax: (912) 452-6968
Wachovia Bank Building, Suite 833
315 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030
Ph & fax: (404) 373-0118
P.O. Box 1635
Gainesville, GA 30503-1635
ph: (770) 536-0314
fax: (770) 536-0328
Southern Trust Building
682 Cherry Street, Suite 905
Macon, GA 31201
ph: (912) 743-1521
fax: (912) 743-1522
127 Abercorn Street, Suite 100
Savannah, GA 31401
ph: (912) 236-5798
fax: (912) 236-1028
Currently there are five Centers for Independent Living (CILs) located in Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Gainesville, and Macon. Each CIL provides peer support services, skills training, information and referral, and advocacy (non-legal) for people with disabilities in the surrounding counties.
Disability Link (formerly Disability Action Center)
755 Commerce Drive, Suite 415
Decatur, GA 30030
PH: 404-687-8890 (V or TTY) or 800-239-2507
Serving: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, DeKalb, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, and Rockdale
Southeast Georgia
LIFE (Living Independence for Everyone)
17-19 East Travis Street
Savannah, GA 31406
PH: 912-920-2314 (V); 912-920-2419 (TTY); or 800-948-4824
Serving: Appling, Bulloch, Bryan, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Montgomery, Tattnal, and Toombs
East Georgia
Walton Options for Independent Living
PO Box 519
Augusta, GA 30903-5019
PH: 706-724-6262 or TTY 877-821-8400
Serving: Burke, Columbia, Elbert, Emanuel, Glascock, Hancock, Jackson, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lincoln, McDuffie, Oglethorpe, Richmond, Screvin, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, and Wilkes
Central Georgia
Disability Connections
170 College Street
Macon, GA 31201
PH: 912-743-9801 (V); TTY users call Ga. Relay at 800-255-0135
Serving: Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Putnam, Twiggs, and Wilkinson
North Georgia
Access Center for Independent Living
PO Box 908484
Gainesville, GA 30501
PH: 770-534-6656; TTY users call Ga. Relay at 800-255-0135
Serving: Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White
Northwest Georgia
TRAC (Tri-State Resource & Advocacy Corporation)
5800 Building, 5708 Uptain Road – Suite 350
Chattanooga, TN 37411-5507
PH: 423-892-4774 (V or TTY) or 800-868-8724
Serving: Bartow, Catoosa, Chatooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield
Southwest Georgia
BAIN (Bainbridge Advocacy Individual Network)
521 West Broughton Street
Bainbridge, GA 31717
PH: 912-246-0150; TTY users call Ga. Relay at 800-255-0135
Serving: Baker, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, and Thomas
Long Term Care Ombudsman Programs
151 Spring St., NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 371-3800
Serving: Cobb, Cherokee, Clayton, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale
Central Savannah River Area Ombudsman Program
Senior Citizens Council
535 15th Street
Augusta, GA 30901-1019
(706) 826-4480
Serving: Burke, Columbia, Emanuel, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, and Wilkes
Coastal Ombudsman Program
Georgia Legal Services Program
10 Whittaker St.
PO Box 8667
Savannah, GA 31412
(912) 651-2180
Serving: Bulloch, Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh
Georgia Mountains Ombudsman Program
Peak Services
332 Washington St., NE, Ste 204
Gainesville, GA 30503
(770) 538-2685
Serving: Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White
Heart of Georgia Altamaha Ombudsman Program
Heart of GA Community Action Agency
213 Pine Street
PO Box 398
Eastman, GA 31023
(912) 374-4301
Serving: Appling, Bleckley, Candler, Dodge, Evans, Jeff Davis, Laurens, Montgomery, Tellfair, Toombs, Truetlen, Wayne, Wheeler, and Wilcox
Middle Georgia Community Action Agency
PO Box 2286
Warner Robins, GA 31093-2286
(912) 922-4464
Serving: Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Putnam, Twiggs, and Wilkinson
Northeast Georgia
Athens Community Council on Aging
135 Hoyt Street
Athens, GA 30601-2646
(706) 549-4850
Serving: Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton
Northwest Ombudsman Program
Georgia Legal Services Program
1100 Spring Street, NW
Suite 200-B
Atlanta, GA 30309-2848
1-800-822-5391 all locations
(404) 894-7707 Atlanta
(706) 272-2158 Dalton
Serving: Bartow, Catoosa, Chatooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding,, Pickens, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield
Southeast Georgia/South Georgia Ombudsman Program
South Georgia Council on Aging
1794 East Park Avenue
Valdosta, GA 31602-1727
(912) 241-1017
Serving: Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Tift, and Turner
Southeast Georgia/South Georgia Ombudsman Program
Ward Management
Rt. 2, Box 3504
Folkston, GA 31537
(912) 496-3948
Serving Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Pierce, and Ware
Southwest Georgia Ombudsman Program
SOWEGA Council on Aging
309 Pine Avenue
Albany, GA 31701-2508
(912) 432-1131
Serving: Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, and Worth
Southern Crescent/Chattahoochee-Flint Ombudsman Program
Georgia Legal Services
1100 Spring St., NW
Suite 200-A
Atlanta, GA 30309-2848
1-800-822-5391
(404) 894-7727
Serving: Carroll, Coweta, Fayette, Heard, Meriwether, and Troup
Southern Cresent/McIntosh Trail Ombudsman Program
McIntosh Trail Management Services
PO Drawer A
408 Thomaston Street
Barnesville, GA 30204
(770) 358-7874
Serving: Butts, Lamar, Newton, Pike, Spaulding, and Upson
West Central Georgia/Middle Flint Ombudsman Program
476 Lane Store Road
Americus, GA 31709
(912) 924-8304
Serving: Crisp, Dooly, Macon, Marion, Schley, Sumter, Taylor, and Webster
West Central Georgia/Lower Chattahoochee Ombudsman Program
Direct Service Corporation
2210 Wynnton Building
PO Box 5801
Columbus, GA 31906
(706) 323-7243
Serving: Chattahoochee, Clay, Harris, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Stewart, and Talbot
Medicaid is a federal/state health insurance program, the cost of which is shared by the federal and the state governments. Medicaid eligibility can be complicated but low income elderly or elderly with high medical expenses or long term care expenses may qualify through “Spend-Down Medicaid.” To learn more about Medicaid, contact the County Department of Family and Children Services in the county in which the older person lives. See Appendix B for a list of County DFACS offices.
Different Medicaid Programs of Interest to Older Georgians:
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB): Provides limited Medicaid to certain older and disabled Medicare beneficiaries whose income and resources do not exceed a certain level. This class of Medicaid pays Medicare premiums, deductibles, and co-insurance amounts.
Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLIMB): Provides limited Medicaid coverage for those persons whose income is slightly higher than the allowable amount for the QMB program. This coverage pays for the Part B Medicare premium only. The beneficiary will be responsible for Medicare's co-insurance and deductible under this program.
Qualified Working Disabled Individual (QWDI): Provides Medicaid to certain disabled persons who lose eligibility for SSI cash benefits because of increased employment income.
Public Law Medicaid: Provides Medicaid for some people who have lost their SSI/Medicaid because they received an increase in their Social Security check amount.
Adult Medically Needy Spend-Down: Provides Medicaid to those persons who ordinarily would be over the income limit for Medicaid but for the fact that they have high medical bills that are not covered by insurance. The medical bills cancel out the income that exceeds the defined limit. Sometimes the Medicaid coverage only lasts for a month or more until the person accumulates more medical bills.
Nursing Home Medicaid: Provides Medicaid to persons living in a Medicaid participating facility upon certification by a physician and the Georgia Medical Care Foundation (GMCF) that nursing home care is needed. This class of Medicaid allows a higher income and resources level than the other classes of Medicaid. Most of the income of the individual receiving Nursing Home Medicaid must go to the nursing home to pay the bill before Medicaid will step in to pay the remainder. The individual will be permitted to keep a certain amount to pay medical expenses not covered by Medicaid.
Community Care Services Program: Provides home and community-based support services to people who are Medicaid eligible, certified to need intermediate or skilled nursing home care, and assessed by the Care Management Team as needing services that may be met by the program. The CCSP program limits the amount of benefits a person can receive monthly except for a few exceptions. To access this program, contact your AAA first.
Mental Retardation Waiver Program: Provides home and community-based support services to Medicaid eligible mentally retarded and developmentally disabled adults who do not receive Medicaid benefits under a cash assistance program. Individuals must be deemed appropriate for Nursing Home/institutional care by a physician and the Georgia Medical Care Foundation. For information about the services available, contact the Regional Board for the service area of the person applying for services. A list of Regional Boards is attached at Appendix D.
Independent Care Waiver Program: Provides home and community based support services for adults who are severely physically disabled or who have Traumatic Brain injuries. Recipients must be deemed appropriate for nursing home care by a physician and the Georgia Medical Care Foundation.