OPTIONS for Community Living
Home care when TennCare says no — OPTIONS for Community Living
If you're over income for Medicaid but still need in-home support, Tennessee's OPTIONS program fills the gap with sliding-scale home care through the Area Agencies on Aging.
You were denied TennCare because your Social Security is $50 too high, but the thought of using retirement savings for home care is terrifying. OPTIONS exists specifically for this gap — it's just not well known.
Why families choose Resource One for OPTIONS for Community Living
State-funded home care for Tennesseans over Medicaid income limits
Sliding-scale fees — free at or below 200% of the Federal Benefit Rate
Administered through your local Area Agency on Aging (AAAD)
No asset test (unlike Medicaid) and generally no long waiting list in West TN
Resource One coordinates directly with your AAAD case manager
What we provide
- ✓Personal care and attendant services
- ✓Homemaker services (housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation)
- ✓Companion care and supervision
- ✓Coordination with AAAD case managers
Who qualifies
Tennessee residents age 60 and older or adults with a disability who need in-home services but are not eligible for TennCare CHOICES. Services are free for those with income at or below 200% of the Federal Benefit Rate, with a sliding-scale co-pay above that threshold. Contact the statewide Eldercare line at 1-866-836-6678 to start the intake process.
How to start
Call the Tennessee Eldercare line at 1-866-836-6678 for intake.
Complete the AAAD needs assessment in your county.
Request Resource One as your provider — we coordinate with the AAAD case manager.
Common questions about OPTIONS for Community Living
Who qualifies for OPTIONS?
Tennessee residents age 60+ or adults with a disability who need in-home services but aren't eligible for TennCare CHOICES (usually because of income). There's no asset limit, unlike Medicaid.
How much does OPTIONS cost?
Services are free for Tennesseans with income at or below 200% of the Federal Benefit Rate. Above that, there's a sliding-scale co-pay that's still well below private-pay market rates.
How is OPTIONS different from TennCare CHOICES?
CHOICES is Medicaid — funded federally and through the state, administered by MCOs, with income and asset limits. OPTIONS is state-funded only, administered by Area Agencies on Aging, no asset test, with income-based sliding fees instead of eligibility cutoffs.
Who's my local Area Agency on Aging?
In Memphis and the Mid-South, OPTIONS is managed by the Aging Commission of the Mid-South. In Jackson and West Tennessee, it's Southwest Tennessee Development District. The statewide Eldercare line (1-866-836-6678) routes you to the right AAAD.
Can OPTIONS be combined with other programs?
OPTIONS can sometimes be combined with the National Family Caregiver Support Program or private pay to round out a full care plan. It cannot be combined with TennCare CHOICES — you're either in TennCare or you're in OPTIONS.
Related services
Ready to move forward with OPTIONS for Community Living?
We'll walk you through options, timelines, and funding — whether it's in this conversation or after a free in-home assessment.