Caregiver Respite and Support Groups in Sumner County

Sumner County caregivers can begin with the Greater Nashville Regional Council Area Agency on Aging and Disability, which serves Sumner County and connects older adults, adults with disabilities and family caregivers to available programs. Call 615-862-8828 or the Tennessee statewide Information and Assistance line at 1-866-836-6678. Other options include Tennessee Caregiver Coalition support groups and respite vouchers, the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline, local adult respite providers and short-term care communities. Availability, eligibility, cost and schedules must be confirmed directly before making arrangements.

If you care for an older adult, a person with dementia, an adult with a disability or another family member who needs regular help, you do not have to identify every service on your own. For Sumner County, the most useful first step is to contact the Greater Nashville Regional Council’s Area Agency on Aging and Disability or Tennessee’s statewide Information and Assistance line. These programs can help identify available services, eligibility requirements and local referral options...

Start here: official caregiver resource contacts for Sumner County

Resource — What it can help with — How to start

Greater Nashville Regional Council Area Agency on Aging and Disability — Local information, screening and connections to aging and disability programs serving Sumner County — Call 615-862-8828

Tennessee Information and Assistance — Statewide connection to the Area Agency on Aging and Disability serving your county — Call 1-866-836-6678 or email [email protected]

Tennessee Caregiver Coalition — Respite information, caregiver support, senior companion services and respite-voucher information — Call 615-269-8687

Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline — Dementia information, caregiver support, care planning, local referrals and crisis assistance — Call 800-272-3900

The Greater Nashville Regional Council is the designated Area Agency on Aging and Disability for Sumner County and 12 other Middle Tennessee counties. Its staff help callers understand available programs and determine which options may fit their needs. Some services depend on age, disability, care needs, income, funding and current provider capacity.

When you call, be ready to explain where the person lives, what help is needed, whether the caregiver and care recipient live together, how often supervision is required and whether there are mobility, medication, behavioral or memory-related concerns.

Respite care options in and near Gallatin

Respite care is temporary care that gives the usual caregiver time to work, attend an appointment, handle a family obligation, rest or take a longer break. It may occur at home, during the day, in a community setting or through a short-term residential arrangement. The right option depends on whether the person can safely participate in a structured program and what level of hands-on care is required.

Adult day and structured daytime respite

My Happy Place Center in Gallatin describes its purpose as providing respite for caregivers of adults with different needs. Its public business profile lists part-time, daily and full-time weekly options and gives the location as 650-7A Nashville Pike, Gallatin. A local special-needs resource page describes the adult program as Day Dreamers and lists weekday programming, but families should call to confirm the current schedule, enrollment process, staffing, transportation and care limitations..

A structured daytime program may work well when the care recipient benefits from activities, social interaction and supervision but does not need 24-hour nursing care. Ask whether the program can safely manage wandering, transfers, incontinence, medication reminders, dietary needs, seizure plans or dementia-related behaviors before enrolling.

In-home and companion respite

In-home respite can be arranged through a private provider, a public program or a volunteer-based service. The Tennessee Caregiver Coalition’s Senior Companion Program describes supportive visits for older adults, including companionship, selected daily-living assistance and respite for family caregivers. The program says companions do not provide lifting, transportation or medication administration, so it may not fit every household.

The Tennessee Caregiver Coalition also maintains a statewide respite helpline and explains that it can help caregivers identify resources without endorsing a particular provider or facility. Call 615-269-8687 before assuming a program is free or available in your area.

Short-term residential or nursing respite

Some assisted-living, memory-care and skilled-nursing communities offer short-term stays, but availability varies by location, care level and room capacity. NHC states that respite care is available at its skilled-nursing facilities. NHC Place Sumner in Gallatin lists a health-care center, assisted living and memory care at 140 Thorne Blvd. Families should contact the campus directly to ask whether respite is currently offered, what assessments are required and what payment arrangements apply..

Brookdale’s general respite information describes temporary in-home support and short-term stays in select communities, while the Brookdale Gallatin location page lists assisted living at 400 Hancock St. Because the general respite service is not automatically available at every location, ask Brookdale Gallatin directly whether it accepts respite stays or can refer you to an appropriate service..

Do not wait until a hospital discharge, caregiver illness or family emergency to begin asking about short-term care. Residential respite may require an assessment, medical records, medication information, a care plan and advance payment.

Caregiver support groups and dementia resources

Support groups can help caregivers compare practical strategies, reduce isolation and learn from people facing similar situations. They are not a substitute for medical care, emergency services or professional counseling, but they can be a useful part of a broader care plan.

Tennessee Caregiver Coalition peer support

The Tennessee Caregiver Coalition lists a virtual Caregiver Peer Support Group on the fourth Monday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. Central Time. Registration and the online meeting method may change, so use the organization’s current events page or call its helpline before joining. The coalition also lists a virtual Caring in Color group for Black caregivers.

The coalition’s group-respite programs are separate from a support group: they provide supervised activities for older adults or children while caregivers take a break. Current locations and registration requirements should be confirmed before relying on a specific date or venue.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s support

For a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or another memory disorder, the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline is available at 800-272-3900. The association says its specialists can discuss local resources, care planning, respite options, caregiver stress, safety concerns and support groups. Help is available by phone at any time, and interpreter services are available.

Alzheimer’s Tennessee also maintains a support-group directory that includes condition-specific and caregiver groups, including virtual options. Because the directory changes and the reviewed page did not clearly identify a current Sumner County meeting, contact the organization or use its current directory to find the nearest appropriate group.

Financial help and public-program screening

The Tennessee Caregiver Coalition’s Family Directed Respite Voucher Program can reimburse eligible family caregivers for certain respite expenses. The program currently states that caregivers must live in the same home as the person they care for, applications are accepted April 1 through June 30, reimbursement can be up to $600 per household each year and there are no income limits. The program requires proof of diagnosis and a new application each year. Rules and funding can change, so review the current application instructions before paying for care.

The state’s CHOICES program provides long-term services and supports for qualifying TennCare members who are older adults or adults with physical disabilities. The state directs people who are not current TennCare members to their local Area Agency on Aging and Disability for application assistance. Eligibility and covered services are determined through the program’s requirements; do not assume that CHOICES will cover a particular respite provider.

The Tennessee Department of Health also directs caregivers to their local Area Agency on Aging, the Tennessee Aging and Disability Resource Center, the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition and dementia organizations when looking for respite or caregiver support.

How to choose a respite or support option

Start by matching the service to the caregiver’s actual need:

• A few hours for an appointment or rest: Ask about a companion, in-home aide, adult day program or group respite program.
• Regular weekday supervision: Compare adult day services, transportation and meal arrangements.
• Dementia-related guidance: Contact the Alzheimer’s Association Helpline and ask about caregiver education, support groups and local care-planning help.
• A weekend, vacation or caregiver recovery period: Ask senior-living and skilled-nursing communities about short-term respite stays well in advance.
• A sudden caregiver crisis: Call the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition’s helpline and the Area Agency on Aging and Disability. If there is immediate danger, a medical emergency or suspected abuse or neglect, call 911 or the appropriate emergency authority.

Before choosing a provider, ask:

1. What ages, diagnoses and care needs do you accept?
2. Is the service licensed or affiliated with a public program?
3. What are the days, hours and minimum booking requirements?
4. Can staff help with bathing, toileting, transfers, meals or medication reminders?
5. What happens if the person becomes ill or has a behavioral change?
6. Is transportation available, and is it included in the price?
7. What documents, assessments, immunizations or emergency contacts are required?
8. What is the total cost, deposit, cancellation policy and payment method?
9. Can the caregiver visit before enrollment or schedule a trial period?
10. Who should be contacted after hours?

A practical caregiver checklist

Before making the first call, gather:

• The care recipient’s name, address, date of birth and emergency contacts.
• A concise list of diagnoses, allergies, medications and mobility needs.
• Information about memory loss, wandering, falls, communication or behavioral concerns.
• The caregiver’s preferred schedule and the specific break needed.
• Insurance, TennCare, Veterans Affairs or long-term-care-insurance information, if applicable.
• Questions about cost, transportation, meals, activities and cancellation policies.

Keep a written record of each agency or provider contacted, the staff member’s name, the date of the call, eligibility information, promised follow-up and any documents requested.

When to ask for urgent help

Call 911 for an immediate medical emergency, fire, serious injury, dangerous wandering situation or threat to someone’s safety. For dementia-related concerns that are not an immediate emergency, the Alzheimer’s Association Helpline can provide around-the-clock information and help identify next steps. For a caregiver who is suddenly unable to provide care because of illness, injury, hospitalization or another crisis, contact the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition and the Area Agency on Aging and Disability as soon as possible.

Last verified: August 15, 2026. This guide is general information, not medical, legal, insurance or financial advice. Services, eligibility, schedules, prices and availability can change; confirm details directly before arranging care.