The Trident Area Agency on Aging: What It Does for Charleston Families

One agency for three counties

South Carolina divides aging services into regions, each with an Area Agency on Aging. For Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties that agency is the Trident Area Agency on Aging, which has served as the region's Aging and Disability Resource Center since 2007. Its office is at 2456 Remount Road, Suite 305-C, in North Charleston, open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Families often do not know it exists until a hospital social worker mentions it. It is worth calling earlier, because several of its services have waiting lists.

What it offers

Source: Trident Area Agency on Aging; Trident Area Plan Update 2023-2027 (S.C. Department on Aging).

When to call

Call when a parent's needs are changing and you do not know where to start, when you need help comparing Medicare plans, when a caregiver needs a break, or when something is wrong in a facility. Information and referral staff can point to the right next step, whether that is a Community Choices referral, an OSS application or a local meal program.

The ombudsman program deserves special mention. Ombudsmen are free, independent advocates for residents of assisted living and nursing homes. They investigate complaints with the resident's permission and can help with disputed discharges, fee increases without proper notice and problems with personal funds.

What it does not do

The agency does not license facilities, which is DPH's job, and it does not decide Medicaid eligibility, which is SCDHHS's. It is not a placement service and does not recommend particular buildings. Abuse of an adult living at home goes to DSS Adult Protective Services at 1-888-227-3487, not to the agency.

Medicare counseling through SHIP

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program, known in South Carolina as I-CARE, is run locally through the Trident Area Agency on Aging. Counselors explain Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, Part D drug plans, Medigap policies and programs that help with costs, such as the Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help. They do not sell insurance.

Open enrollment for Medicare plans runs from October 15 to December 7 each year, and appointments fill quickly in the fall. Families helping a parent compare plans should call early in the season.

Support for family caregivers

The Family Caregiver Support Program helps people caring for an older relative at home with information, assistance and access to respite. Caregivers of someone with dementia often find this the most useful starting point, because respite and training can make the difference between keeping a parent at home and an emergency move.

Ask about support groups, training sessions and respite options when you call. Even if a waiting list exists, getting on it early is worthwhile.

Meals and nutrition

Home-delivered meals and group meals at senior centers are arranged through the Trident Area Agency on Aging and the county providers it funds. Meals do more than feed: the driver's daily visit is a check on someone who lives alone, and a group meal site offers company.

Funding for meals is limited and waiting lists can form, especially for home delivery in rural Berkeley and Dorchester counties. Ask about interim options, such as church programs and food bank partnerships, while an application is pending.

The agency's area plan also describes partnerships with community groups, including help completing long-term care Medicaid applications and coordination with BoldAge PACE. Those partnerships change over time, so ask what is currently available when you call. If a parent's needs are urgent, say so at the start of the call; staff can often point to the fastest route, whether that is a Community Choices referral, a hospital social worker or a licensed in-home care agency that can start within days.

Making the call productive

Before calling, write down your parent's county, age, main health conditions, the daily tasks they need help with, monthly income and approximate savings, and the question you most need answered. That lets staff route you quickly.

For other free resources, see where Charleston-area families get free help.