Information and Assistance

The Information and Assistance (I&A) program is a way to connect people to health and human services needs, as well as provide information of a more general nature. When people are uncertain about what is available for them, or even about what they really need, they are able to describe what is happening, are provided information, and then pointed in a direction to best suit their individual situation.

I&A specialists, on the community level, help a caller determine what they need, then find the best way to get help. These specialists are trained to establish whether a caller may be eligible for certain programs, to help in crisis situations, and to provide extra help when needed. With the right information, people can often solve their problems and improve their lives!

A quick way to get services you need is to call the Information & Assistance toll-free line at 1-866-836-6678. Another good source of information is the Resources section on the homepage of this website.

Before contacting an I&A program, or prior to using an online I&A program database, be prepared to write down the information that is provided to you. You may be asked to answer a few questions about yourself, such as: where you live; if you have a family; income level; etc. This information may be necessary in order to assist in finding the right program for your particular needs. I&A services provide free and confidential information and will not share any personal information that you provide.

The Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability's Information and Assistance program is established by the Older Americans Act and guided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living. It is a member of, and follows the standards set forth by, Inform USA, formerly known as the National Association of State Units on Aging and the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS).