Trident Area Agency on Aging

Trident Area Agency on Aging is an Aging Services Agency in Charleston, SC. This not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization serves as an Aging and Disability Resource Center, providing assistance, advocacy, and answers on aging for older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers in the Trident Area. The agency creates a single, coordinated information system to help individuals seeking long-term care make informed decisions. It operates under the Older Americans Act, passed in 1965, which established the primary vehicle for organizing community-based social and nutrition services for older Americans and their families.

The organization operates several specialized programs to address regional needs. The Eligibility Screening and Assessment Coordination Program provides a holistic approach for area seniors in determining the level of need for Older Americans Act services, including home delivered meals, senior center transportation, group dining, and home care services in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. The Family Caregiver Support Program offers training, peer support, and counseling to help families cope with the emotional and physical stresses of caregiving. It supports caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease, older relative caregivers raising children, and those caring for adults with disabilities, providing respite services such as in-home care and adult day programs. The Information and Referral Assistance Program guides individuals through long-term care planning and explains eligibility for services. The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for residents in long-term care facilities by investigating complaints and negotiating on their behalf. The State Health Insurance Assistance Program provides counseling for Medicare, Medicare Supplement, Medicare Savings Program, and Medicare Advantage Plans, as well as Senior Medicare Fraud Awareness.

The agency is led by Executive Director Stephanie Blunt and is governed by a Board of Directors and an Advisory Council. The Board oversees management, policy development, and fundraising, while the Advisory Council advises on priority areas and identifies the needs of seniors, adults with disabilities, and caregivers. The staff includes Finance Director Lisa Natividad, Deputy Finance Director Lauren McNally, Information and Referral Assistance Specialist Lavonia Graham, Dementia Consultant Don Bagwell, State Health Insurance Assistance Program Coordinator Angela Edwards, Assessment Coordinator Julie Courtright, Assessor Crystal Mahone, Aging Services Specialist Jennifer Plum, Receptionist Amanda Bonner, Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman Cawana Tisdale, Long Term Care Ombudsman Lessie Jefferson, Family Caregiver Advocate Ekima Richardson, Program Assistant Geneva Parker, and Assessor Laquan Shannon. The organization receives grants and donations to fund its services.

Trident Area Agency on Aging provides essential advocacy and coordinated care for seniors and caregivers in Charleston, SC, ensuring they have access to the resources and support needed to maintain their quality of life.

BizScoreAI awards the business a Schema & Structure score of 100 out of 100, which ensures that AI assistants and search engines clearly understand the organization's services through structured data and headings. The agency also achieves a Performance score of 72 out of 100, reflecting a solid website loading speed that retains visitors and supports search engine ranking.

Services:

• Eligibility Screening and Assessment Coordination
• Family Caregiver Support
• Information and Referral Assistance Program
• Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
• State Health Insurance Program