Centralina Area Agency on Aging

The Centralina Area Agency on Aging coordinates planning and provider networks across nine North Carolina counties: Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union. For a Charlotte resident, it helps explain the regional service map and locate providers for the home address, without replacing a DSS assessment or a Medicaid decision.

Its service guide lists congregate and home-delivered meals, transportation for appointments and daily needs, homemaking, caregiver support, respite, wellness groups, legal assistance, and options counseling. Many services target people age 60 and older and are delivered through partners funded by federal, state, and local sources. Centralina cautions that services differ by county and that contributions may be accepted.

The toll-free line, 1-800-508-5777, connects callers with guidance and county contacts. For Mecklenburg, the regional page lists the Department of Social Services and 704-432-1111; elsewhere it lists each county’s council on aging or human-services office. If one program is full or does not fit, staff can help identify another regional option.

Centralina participates in the Family Caregiver Support Program, which may provide information, training, groups, and respite depending on the family’s circumstances. It also lists a free virtual caregiver portal and mobility services linking older or disabled adults to transportation. Ask whether help is delivered directly or by a contracted provider, what assessment is needed, and whether a contribution applies.

Regional guidance is especially useful for someone moving between nearby towns or leaving a hospital in a county other than Mecklenburg. Keep the exact address, phone number, ages, health condition, and tasks requiring help ready. The right program depends on residence and need, not merely living in the Charlotte metropolitan area.

Official program information