Texas Area Agencies on Aging: who they are and how they help

What an Area Agency on Aging does

Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are funded largely through the federal Older Americans Act and coordinated in Texas by Health and Human Services. They serve people 60 and older, their families and caregivers, with priority for people with low incomes, older adults in minority groups and people in rural areas. Services listed by Texas HHS include:

• Information, referral and assistance
• Benefits counseling, including Medicare and Medicaid questions, and legal assistance
• Care coordination
• Caregiver support services
• In-home support services
• Nutrition services such as meals
• The long-term care ombudsman program, which advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living

An AAA is not a bathroom contractor and usually is not a direct funder of walk-in tubs. What it can do is help you sort out benefits, find local repair and modification programs, and support the caregiver, which is often where the real strain is.

How to reach yours

Call 1-800-252-9240. Texas HHS says this number connects you to the AAA serving your area. You can also search the Texas HHS directory. For Medicare and Medicaid questions and help finding long-term services, the Aging and Disability Resource Centers are at 1-855-937-2372.

Agencies for major regions

The Texas Administrative Code lists each agency by planning region. These are the ones serving the metros covered on this site. Confirm current details in the HHS directory.

Harris County and the Houston-Galveston region have their own agencies too; see regions we cover for where to find them.

What to ask when you call

1. "Is there a home repair or home modification program in my county right now?"
2. "Can you check whether my parent might qualify for Medicaid long-term services?"
3. "What caregiver support do you offer: training, respite, support groups?"
4. "Can you help with a Medicare plan review during open enrollment?"
5. "Is there anything for veterans I should know about?"

Keep a note of who you spoke with and when. Programs open and close with funding.

How AAAs fit with a bathroom project

A typical path looks like this: the AAA helps confirm what benefits a parent has, a doctor or therapist recommends a bathroom change, a program such as STAR+PLUS, a VA grant or a local repair fund may help, and a contractor gives an itemized quote for the program to review. Each piece has its own owner. We handle the last part, and we will provide paperwork in whatever form a program asks for.

Other statewide numbers worth saving

• Aging and Disability Resource Centers: 1-855-937-2372, for long-term services and Medicaid questions.
• 2-1-1 Texas: dial 2-1-1 for food, utility, transportation and repair referrals.
• Texas Long-Term Care Ombudsman: advocacy for residents of nursing homes and assisted living.
• Texas Veterans Commission: free help with VA claims.

Put these on the refrigerator for a parent who lives alone. In a crisis, nobody remembers phone numbers.

Common questions

Sources

• Texas HHS: Area Agencies on Aging directory
• Texas HHS: Area Agencies on Aging
• Texas HHS: Aging and Disability Resource Centers
• Texas Long-Term Care Ombudsman
• Texas 2-1-1 helpline

Agencies update their rules and amounts. Confirm with the linked source before you rely on a figure.

Related Texas guides

• Paying for a walk-in tubEvery Texas funding route, checked
• STAR+PLUS home modificationsMedicaid minor home modification rules
• Caregiver guideFor families helping a parent bathe
• Regions we coverMetro guides and how coverage works