Dementia and Memory-Care Resources in Gallatin and Sumner County

Gallatin and Sumner County families can begin with Tennessee’s Area Agency on Aging and Disability at 1-866-836-6678, the Tennessee Dementia Navigator program at 615-854-9610, or the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900. Local options include caregiver education, support groups, safety planning, respite referrals, senior services and state resources for comparing licensed long-term-care facilities. For immediate danger or a missing person, call 911.

At a glance

If you are helping a loved one who may have dementia, start with a care-navigation call rather than trying to identify a memory-care facility on your own. For Gallatin and Sumner County residents, the most useful first contacts are:

• Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability: Call 1-866-836-6678 to be directed to the agency serving your county. Area Agencies help older adults and people with disabilities connect with services and programs.
• Tennessee Dementia Navigator program: The state lists 615-854-9610 for referrals to dementia-navigation support. Navigators can help people living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia and their caregivers develop care plans and connect with local services.
• Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline: Call 800-272-3900 for confidential information, emotional support, crisis assistance and local-resource referrals. The service is available in more than 200 languages.
• Immediate danger or a missing person: Call 911 or local law enforcement. Ask about Tennessee’s Silver Alert process when a vulnerable adult with dementia or cognitive impairment is missing. Alzheimer’s Tennessee provides a Silver Alert Kit to help families prepare..

This guide is general information, not a diagnosis, treatment plan, legal opinion or recommendation of a particular facility.

Official dementia and caregiver resources

Tennessee Dementia Navigator program

The state’s Dementia Navigator program is designed to support both the person living with dementia and the caregiver. According to Tennessee’s program information, navigators may provide information about mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, help connect families with community activities and support groups, and assist caregivers with care planning and referrals for legal or financial planning. Cognitive screening offered through the program is informational and is not a medical diagnosis.

Call 615-854-9610 to ask about referral options and current coverage for Sumner County. A primary-care clinician can also help arrange medical evaluation when memory, behavior, medication management or daily functioning changes are causing concern.

Area Agency on Aging and Disability

Tennessee’s statewide AAAD referral number is 1-866-836-6678. The state says callers are automatically directed to the Area Agency serving their county. The agency network helps older Tennesseans and people with disabilities identify programs and services, including community-based supports.

For Gallatin residents, the city’s senior directory also identifies the Area Agency on Aging and Disability as an entry point for information and referrals, including Medicare counseling and home- and community-based services. Because directory information can change, use the current state referral number as the primary starting point.

Alzheimer’s Association Tennessee Chapter

The Alzheimer’s Association offers a free 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900. Its Tennessee support-group page lists caregiver and early-stage groups, including phone, video and in-person formats. The organization advises families to confirm meeting details before attending because schedules and locations can change.

The helpline can be useful when you need help with questions such as:

• What should we do after a dementia diagnosis?
• How can we prepare for a doctor’s appointment?
• What kinds of in-home or residential care should we compare?
• How can we respond to changes in behavior or communication?
• Where can a caregiver find emotional support or respite information?

Alzheimer’s Tennessee

Alzheimer’s Tennessee provides caregiver education, resource materials, support programs and safety information for people affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Its caregiver resource library includes information about communication, activities of daily living, behavior changes, hospitalization, stages of Alzheimer’s disease and safety.

Its statewide helpline is listed as 1-800-259-4283. The organization also offers a Silver Alert Kit and information about preparing for wandering.

Safety planning for dementia and wandering

Safety planning is most effective before a crisis. Consider creating a one-page information sheet with the person’s name, photograph, medical conditions, medications, communication needs, favorite places, likely routes and emergency contacts. Keep copies with family members and update them when information changes.

Ask the person’s health-care team or a dementia-navigation service about practical steps such as:

1. Identifying doors, exits or situations that create a wandering risk.
2. Deciding who should be called first if the person cannot be located.
3. Keeping a recent photograph and identifying information available.
4. Telling trusted neighbors what to do if they see the person alone or confused.
5. Reviewing identification bracelets, tracking options and other safety tools.
6. Preparing a medication and medical-history list for emergency responders.

If a person with dementia is missing, do not wait to see whether they return. Call 911 or local law enforcement, provide the recent photograph and identifying information, and ask whether a Silver Alert may apply. Alzheimer’s Tennessee says its kit was developed with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and local law-enforcement agencies to help families prepare.

How to compare memory-care and long-term-care options

“Memory care” can describe different arrangements, including a dementia-focused area within assisted living, a residential facility, nursing-home care, adult day services or in-home care. The right setting depends on medical needs, supervision, mobility, behavior, medication support, caregiver availability and finances.

Before touring or signing an agreement, ask each provider:

• What type of license does the facility or service hold in Tennessee?
• Is dementia care available throughout the building or only in a designated area?
• What happens if the resident’s needs increase?
• How are medications, meals, bathing, toileting and nighttime supervision handled?
• What staffing is available overnight and on weekends?
• How are falls, wandering, aggression, illness and hospital transfers handled?
• What services are included in the quoted rate, and what costs extra?
• Is there an entrance fee, deposit, minimum stay or move-out policy?
• How does the provider communicate with family members?
• What happens if the family can no longer pay the private rate?

Use Tennessee’s official health-facility resources to verify licensing and review available reports. The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission provides a facility-search function, licensure information and health-facility reports, including assisted-care-living and nursing-home information..

Do not rely only on online reviews or a sales tour. Ask for the complete fee schedule, resident agreement, staffing information, inspection or deficiency records where available, and the facility’s policy for changing care needs. Availability and pricing should be confirmed directly with each provider because they can change frequently.

Medical, legal and financial planning

A dementia care plan should be built with the person living with dementia when possible and with the care team. Tennessee’s dementia guidance describes care plans as a place to organize medical management, caregiver contacts, daily-living assistance, emergency contacts and advance-care documents.

Families may want to ask a qualified professional about:

• Medical evaluation and medication review
• Advance directives and other health-care decision-making documents
• Financial powers of attorney and account access
• Long-term-care insurance, if applicable
• Medicare, TennCare and Veterans Affairs questions
• Home modifications and transportation
• Respite care or adult day services
• Tax, estate-planning or elder-law issues

Do not assume that Medicare, TennCare or another program will pay for every form of memory care. Eligibility and covered services depend on the program, the person’s circumstances and the type of care. Confirm current rules with the responsible agency or a qualified adviser.

A practical first-week checklist

If your family is just beginning to respond to memory or dementia concerns, use this sequence:

1. Write down the changes you have observed. Include dates, safety concerns, medication problems, driving concerns, falls and changes in daily functioning.
2. Schedule a primary-care appointment. Bring the observation list, medication list and questions from the person and family.
3. Call a navigator or helpline. Start with the Tennessee Dementia Navigator program, the AAAD referral number or an Alzheimer’s Association helpline specialist.
4. Create a safety file. Add a photograph, emergency contacts, medical information and likely places the person may go.
5. List the care tasks. Separate what family members can safely do from tasks that require paid or clinical help.
6. Compare care settings. Request written information from providers rather than relying on verbal estimates.
7. Schedule caregiver support. A support group, education program or respite referral can help before the situation becomes an emergency.

For additional Gallatin and Sumner County aging, caregiver and civic resources, use the related MyGallatin searches below and confirm current details with the responsible organization before acting.

Last verified

August 15, 2026. Sources checked included the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging, Tennessee Department of Health, City of Gallatin, Sumner County Government, Alzheimer’s Association Tennessee Chapter and Alzheimer’s Tennessee. High-volatility details such as support-group schedules, facility availability, pricing and local program assignments should be rechecked before publication and whenever this guide is substantially updated.