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Aging

SC4A 2026 Needs Assessment Survey

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Aging, Disability, and Transportation Resource Center (ADTRC)

Lower Savannah Council of Governments operates South Carolina’s only Aging, Disability, and Transportation Resource Center (ADTRC). The Resource Center’s purpose is to inform and assist people in our region about topics related to aging, disabilities, family caregiving, benefits, resources and transportation options that support independent, healthy and engaged community living. The center serves Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, and Orangeburg Counties. This center combines programs relating to public and human service transit with information and assistance to link to other health and human service-related resources, benefits and options. People call the center throughout each day with requests and questions in many diverse areas. ADTRC Transit staff advocate for unmet needs for transportation in underserved areas. Staff answer questions about aging issues, long term care, family caregiving and a number of benefits and resources, including Medicare.

In 2003, LSCOG became South Carolina’s first Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), in partnership with our state unit on aging, now located in the Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging. Now there are ADRCs in states all around the country and every region in South Carolina. In 2010, Lower Savannah Council of Governments (LSCOG) expanded the ADRC to include transportation options thus becoming the Aging, Disability, and Transportation Resource Center (ADTRC). The ADTRC offers help to the public in planning for or finding benefits, resources, options counseling and services to meet their needs relating to older adults, family care-giving and physical and developmental disabilities.

Area Agency On Aging (AAA)

Lower Savannah Council of Governments is the officially designated regional agency charged with responsibilities under the Older Americans Act. The AAA/ADTRC works in partnership with the South Carolina Department on Aging. The Area Agency on Aging:

  • Conducts needs assessments
  • Develops plans for networks of in-home and community based services to serve older adults and their families
  • Contacts with local service provider agencies in each county to provide the services called for in the plan, using Older Americans Act and State funds, matched with local funds
  • Oversees programs like home delivered meals, group dining, home living support, transportation and wellness services in Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, and Orangeburg counties
  • Acts as a focal point for information, networking and advocacy for and on behalf of older adults
  • Carries out a wide range of functions related to advocacy, planning, coordination, inter-agency linkages, information sharing, brokering, monitoring and evaluation

Family Caregiver Support Program

The Family Caregiver Support Program provides support for family members caring for loved ones. This assistance includes:

  • Occasional breaks from caregiving responsibilities
  • Grants for a variety of services to help prevent caregiver burnout

In the United States, family members provide 80% of the long-term care given. Demands of caregiving may be physically, emotionally and financially exhausting. Many family members may not identify with the term caregiver, but view themselves as just a spouse, a daughter, a son or a friend. A person of any age who is primarily responsible, on an unpaid basis, for coordinating, overseeing or giving care for someone close is considered in our program to be a family caregiver.

The Family Caregiver Support Program helps the following caregivers:

  • Caregivers caring for an individual age 60 or older, who needs assistance with daily living tasks.
  • Caregivers responsible for the care of individuals of any age with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia.
  • Older caregivers age 55 or older (not parents) who are raising a related child age 18 or younger.
  • Older relative caregivers (including parents) age 55 or older caring for an adult (age 18-59) with a disability.

You can access the Family Caregiver Application by clicking here.

Disclaimer: Applications submitted by Social Workers or Providers will not be processed.

For Respite Care for any caregiver not listed above, contact the SC Respite Coalition.

SC Respite Coalition
PO Box 493
Columbia, SC 29202
866.345.6786

Family Caregiver Frequently Asked Questions can be found by clicking here.

Information, Referral, and Assistance

This program can assess an individual’s needs, help determine options and an appropriate course of action, direct the individual to useful programs or services, and contact providers or agencies to help the individual access needed services when necessary.

Medicare Benefits Counseling

Lower Savannah ADTRC Benefits Counselors help Medicare beneficiaries access and navigate the Medicare program by providing accurate, free, non-biased and individualized information and counseling on Medicare and its related programs. Counselors assist beneficiaries as they select the best choice of coverage for themselves based on income, medication taken and pharmacy preference, among other factors. Their expertise covers:

  • Medicare
  • Medicare Supplemental Insurance
  • Medicaid
  • Low Income Assistance Programs
  • TRICARE

Counselors also work to prevent and report Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse to keep others from taking advantage of seniors and people with disabilities. 

The Senior Medicare Patrol Program (SMP) staff help Medicare beneficiaries read and understand their Medicare Summary Notices, identify false claims, report illegal billing practices, protect their identity and avoid scams. SMP staff reaches out to Medicare beneficiaries through one-on-one counseling, community events and presentations to groups and organizations.

Medication Assistance Program (MAP)

Lower Savannah ADTRC staff and volunteers assist individuals who have no prescription insurance benefits within person help to find pharmaceutical company programs which may provide free or low-cost medications prescribed for them by their physicians. The program is a lifesaver for people who lack the means to pay for their prescription medications. Since the program started in late 2004, Lower Savannah staff members have helped citizens obtain over $8.4 million in savings on prescription medications. The program currently operates in Aiken and is supported by the United Way of Aiken County.

Program Guidelines

To qualify for the program, new clients must meet the following requirements: 

  • Must be an Aiken County Resident
  • Must have no insurance or other prescription coverage

Information Needed for the Initial Interview

  • Original prescription written for a 90-day supply and 3 refills, if medically appropriate (Each medication must be written on a separate prescription sheet one per page.)
  • Physician name, address, and phone number (usually on prescription)
  • Social Security Card
  • Photo ID
  • Proof of income for ALL household members. Specific documentation needed will be identified during initial phone consultation.

Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

The Long Term Care Ombudsman is an advocate for residents. Duties of the Ombudsman include:

  • Routine visits to nursing homes and residential care facilities
  • Provide information to consumers and family members
  • Conducts complaint investigations, including investigations of allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation, to ensure that residents rights are being honored by the facility staff and that the care and services needed are being provided
  • Provides training on various topics to facility staff members to improve the quality of services provided to the residents

The Friendly Visitor Volunteer Program furthers the Long Term Care Ombudsman’s mission and program requirements by providing companionship, interaction and education about residents’ rights through the volunteer’s routine friendly visits with residents in the assigned facility. Volunteer Friendly Visitors have extensive training prior to beginning their volunteer work and are supervised by the Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman staff.

Elderly Legal Services

The South Carolina Legal Services Corporation is the provider for Title III B Elderly Legal Services. This program provides citizens of the region (Age 60 or older) with legal services to address their needs in the areas of:

  • Income protection
  • Health care
  • Long term care
  • Housing issues
  • Protective services
  • Defense of guardianship
  • Protections from abuse, neglect or exploitation

The Title III B Legal program must concentrate their services to low income, minority seniors in rural areas; however, as an Older Americans Act program seniors cannot be turned down for service simply due to their monthly income.

Health Care Advanced Directives Information and Education

Staff members provide information and assistance to individuals in the development of advanced directives ensuring that medical professionals and loved ones are aware of the individuals wishes at life’s end.

Public Transit

Please click here to find out more information about Public Transit.

Contact Information

For more information on ADTRC services or if you are interested in volunteering, please contact us at 803-649-7981.

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