Madison County, AL Senior Help Directory: Huntsville, Madison and New Hope Programs for Seniors and Families (2026)

Free, plain-English help for seniors and families in Madison County, AL. Education, not advice. Verify before you rely on it.

Start here (works anywhere)

• 211 (dial 2-1-1), Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116, BenefitsCheckUp.org, Medicare 1-800-633-4227, Social Security 1-800-772-1213, VA 1-800-827-1000, Alzheimer's 24/7 Helpline 1-800-272-3900, National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-372-8311, Crisis Lifeline 988

Three local front doors: Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG), Area Agency on Aging, 5075 Research Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35805, phone 256-830-0818, or through the statewide 1-800-AGE-LINE (1-800-243-5463) | STUDIO 60 Senior Center, formerly the Huntsville-Madison County Senior Center, 2200 Drake Avenue SW, Huntsville, AL 35805, 256-880-7080 | 2-1-1, also 1-888-421-1266, or text your ZIP code to 898-211, free and confidential.

Start with what makes this county unusually easy to navigate: almost everything is run from inside it. In a lot of Alabama counties the aging network sits in one city, the energy office in another, and the Medicaid long-term care network somewhere else again, and a family loses a week to referrals. Madison County is close to the opposite. TARCOG, the Area Agency on Aging for DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties, is on Research Drive in Huntsville, and its own published service list runs from Medicare and insurance counseling, home-delivered meals, nutrition, caregiver support, senior employment, prescription assistance, information and referral and Long-Term Care Ombudsman services all the way through the Medicaid Elderly and Disabled Waiver, which it administers. The community action agency that runs LIHEAP also runs weatherization here, from a central office in north Huntsville plus seven neighborhood sites. The Alabama Medicaid district office for Jackson, Limestone and Madison counties is on University Drive. The regional food bank is on Finney Drive. Even the statewide respite program is headquartered here. One area code covers nearly all of it.

The second thing to understand is the line that runs through everything, which is the Huntsville city limits. This is the single most useful fact on this page. Meals on Wheels delivers inside the city; outside it, you go to a neighborhood nutrition center. The Orbit bus and Access paratransit serve the city; the rural half of the county is served by TRAM, a separate county program at four times the fare. The CDBG home repair program is a City of Huntsville program and a Gurley address will not qualify. There are two Project Lifesaver programs, one run by the Sheriff and one by the Huntsville Police Department. None of this is a mistake or a gap, but a family that calls the wrong one first loses days. Before you dial anything below, settle whether the address is inside the city.

The third pattern is about the power bill, and it catches transplants. Much of Alabama is Alabama Power territory, and Alabama Power runs a well-known winter bill program for people 60 and older. Huntsville is not an Alabama Power town. The city is served by Huntsville Utilities, which sells electricity, natural gas and water, and Huntsville Utilities runs its own Project Share, launched in December 1988, with a different age floor: 62. If you read about a program elsewhere in the state and could not find it here, that is why. The Huntsville Utilities program is real, it is screened by the Salvation Army, and it has helped 32,419 families since 1988.

And one warning specific to this county's name, because it will cost you time. There is a Madison County, and inside it there is a City of Madison, and they are not the same government. The Madison Senior Center is a City of Madison Parks and Recreation facility. Madison Crossroads Senior Center is a different place entirely, up in Toney in the far north of the county. Triana is its own town with its own municipal building. On top of that, Madison County exists in many other states, several of them with well-optimized senior agencies. If a phone number you found does not start with 256, you are probably looking at the wrong Madison County.

Three more numbers belong on the refrigerator. The Alabama Adult Abuse Hotline at 1-800-458-7214 takes reports of suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult, and it is run by the Adult Protective Services Division of the Alabama Department of Human Resources. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman, reached through TARCOG at 256-830-0818, is who you call about a nursing home or assisted living facility rather than that facility's own management. And 2-1-1, which in Madison County is operated by Crisis Services of North Alabama under contract with the United Way of Madison County, will tell you which programs currently have money, which changes month to month.

Property tax relief (apply with the Madison County Tax Assessor, 256-532-3350)

Get the office title right first, because Alabama does not use one name for this job. Some counties have a Revenue Commissioner. Some have a Property Tax Commissioner. The Alabama Department of Revenue's official county office list shows Madison County with a Tax Assessor, currently Cliff Mann, at the Madison County Service Center, 1918 North Memorial Parkway, Huntsville, AL 35801, phone 256-532-3350, email CMann@MadisonCountyAl.gov. Madison County also has a separate Tax Collector, so if you call the wrong one you will be transferred. Exemptions are claimed with the Assessor.

The two dates, in the county's own words. A homestead exemption applies if you own a single-family residence and occupy it as your primary residence on October 1 of the tax year for which you are applying, and the deadline to apply is December 31st. On the additional senior and disability exemptions the county is equally specific: you must be eligible on October 1 and claim it no later than December 31, and it will apply to the following year's taxes. There is also a File Homestead Exemption Online option, and a satellite office at the Madison County Taxpayer Service Center, 100 Plaza Boulevard, Madison, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed for lunch from noon to 12:30.

What the exemptions actually are. The county publishes them alongside the state's lettered tiers:

• Basic homestead. Places the property in the 10 percent tax class and produces approximately a $48 per year savings.
• Over 65. Under Code of Alabama 1975 sections 40-9-19(d) and 40-9-21, if you are sixty-five years old or older, you are entitled to an exemption from the STATE portion of your property taxes. You may also be entitled to additional exemptions if the income of the person claiming the exemption and that of his or her spouse is twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) or less.
• Disability. Under section 40-9-21, if you are totally and permanently disabled, you are entitled to an exemption regardless of income or age. The county names acceptable proof: an award letter from Social Security, a benefits verification letter from the VA, or two PT-PA forms.

The statewide tiers behind that, which is where the real money is. Alabama sorts homestead exemptions into four lettered categories:

• H-1. Taxpayers under age 65 and not disabled: $4,000 assessed value state and $2,000 assessed value county.
• H-2. Taxpayers 65 and older with annual adjusted gross income of less than $12,000, or retired due to permanent and total disability regardless of age: exempt from all of the state portion, plus $5,000 of assessed value on the county portion including school district ad valorem taxes.
• H-3, age 65 and older. Taxpayers 65 and older with net taxable income of $12,000 or less on the combined taxpayer and spouse federal return: exempt from all ad valorem taxes. Not a discount. All of it.
• H-3, disabled. A taxpayer who is permanently and totally disabled is exempt from all ad valorem taxes, and the state is explicit that there is no income limitation.
• H-4. Age 65 and older with income greater than $12,000 on the most recent Alabama return: exempt from all of the state portion, plus the regular $2,000 county homestead exemption.

Read those against an actual tax return before deciding you do not qualify. The distance between H-4 and H-3 is the distance between a trim and a zero bill, and the deciding figure is net taxable income on the combined federal return, not gross income and not the size of a Social Security deposit.

Now the Madison County paperwork rule that trips up more people here than anywhere else, and it is about your driver's license. The county's homestead policy states that the address on your driver's license must match the property address and must have been issued on or before October 1. If you changed the address on your license between October 1 and December 31, the county requires both a homeowner's insurance policy AND a utility set date letter from Huntsville Utilities, and it publishes the number to get one: Huntsville Utilities customer service at 256-535-1200. Until the license is corrected the office can grant second home status at the 10 percent rate on those two documents, and once the license matches you come back for the rest. If you hold an out-of-state license, the county wants a statement from the prior taxing official, on their letterhead, that you no longer claim a homestead in their county. An active duty military ID substitutes for the license change with the insurance policy and set date letter. Given how many people move into this county for work and never change their license, this is worth checking before December.

Two more documentation notes. For the income-tested exemptions the county states that handwritten tax returns are not accepted, and that if you are not required to file, you must submit a verification of non-filing letter from the IRS or a copy of your transcript. If the property is held in a trust, bring a copy of the trust for review.

A newer statewide protection that helps whether or not you qualify on age. Under Act 2024-344, Alabama caps the annual increase in taxable assessed value for Class II and Class III real property, which includes owner-occupied residential property, at 7 percent. The base year was October 1, 2024, for collections beginning October 1, 2025, and the limitation continues through the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2027. The cap comes off when the property changes ownership, with exceptions for family transfers and transfers because of death, when the classification changes, or when significant improvements are added. In a county whose values have moved the way Huntsville's have, that is worth understanding before you open the notice.

What we are routing rather than stating. Madison County's published pages do not say that the senior exemption must be refiled every year, and some other Alabama counties do say exactly that about theirs. What Madison County does publish is that a homestead exemption must be claimed, exemptions are not automatic, and that if any change is made to your deed, you may need to re-claim your homestead exemption. We are not going to guess at an annual renewal rule the county has not published. Call 256-532-3350 and ask two questions in one breath: which exemption code am I on, and does anything I hold have to be refiled. We also found no published local Madison County senior exemption enacted on top of the state tiers, so ask about that in the same call rather than assuming either way.

Food

Meals on Wheels, which is a City of Huntsville-limits program. STUDIO 60 runs it from 2200 Drake Avenue SW, and the rules are refreshingly plain. Meals are delivered by volunteers Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., year round, with some holidays excluded, and each meal includes an entree, vegetable, fruit, bread and milk. There is no charge, though an income-based donation is suggested. Eligibility is age 60 or over, residing in the Huntsville city limits, primarily homebound, and unable to cook or with no one at home to prepare meals, and STUDIO 60 states outright that income is not a determining factor. The program serves 235 homebound individuals in Huntsville each month across 22 routes, which takes more than 500 volunteers a month. Call 256-382-0920 or email MOW.CMGR@seniorview.com.

Nutrition centers, which is how the rest of the county eats. Eight centers across Madison County serve the same meals, and many also offer games, crafts and classes, with some providing local delivery. At STUDIO 60 itself, the Courtyard Cafe serves hot meals Monday through Friday at 11 a.m., and lunch must be reserved that same morning between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. by checking in at the kiosk, at the front desk, or by phone, first come first served, with a suggested donation. The centers, cross-checked against TARCOG's own senior center directory:

• STUDIO 60 Senior Center, 2200 Drake Avenue SW, Huntsville, AL 35805, 256-880-7080, open Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m. to noon
• Robert "Bob" Harrison Senior Wellness and Advocacy Center, 6156 Pulaski Pike, Huntsville, AL 35810, 256-519-2040, manager Bernettea Carter
• Madison Senior Center, 1329 Browns Ferry Road, Madison, AL 35758, 256-772-6242, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Madison Crossroads Senior Center, Pulaski Pike, Toney, AL 35773, 256-813-3036, manager Michele Georgantis
• New Hope Senior Community Center, 123 Church Avenue, New Hope, AL 35760, 256-723-2208, director Dean Manley
• New Market Senior Center, 3687 Winchester Road, New Market, AL 35761, 256-379-2877, director John Humphrey
• New Sharon Senior Center, 775 Butter and Egg Road, Hazel Green, AL 35750, 256-828-3215, manager Faye Baran
• Gurley Senior Center, 339 Third Street, Gurley, AL 35748, 256-776-9830, manager Maryann Schnur

Two honest notes on that list. TARCOG's directory and the City of Madison's own website give different street addresses for the Madison Senior Center, and we have used the city's own, 1329 Browns Ferry Road, since it is the city's own facility. TARCOG and STUDIO 60 also disagree on the street number for Madison Crossroads in Toney. Both agree on the phone numbers, so call first rather than driving on an address from any directory, this one included.

The regional food bank. The Food Bank of North Alabama serves an 11-county region from 225 Finney Drive, Huntsville, AL 35824, phone 256-539-2256, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a second location in Florence. It distributes to relief organizations rather than to individuals directly, and its Find Food tool locates the nearest partner agency. It also runs mobile food pantries and a direct service branch. We did not find a CSFP senior box program published on its own site, which several other Alabama food banks do run, so ask about that by name rather than assuming it exists here.

The emergency food pantry network that is built for this county specifically. The Huntsville Assistance Program, an alliance of local churches, runs three Emergency Food Pantries serving Madison County residents, up to four times per year. You need proof of Madison County residency, such as a utility bill in your name, and a photo ID, and you must have a home in Madison County with a kitchen. The locations:

• HAP Central and Downtown, 206 Beirne Avenue NE, Huntsville, AL 35801, open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1:00 to 3:00. This site moved as of September 2, so an older address you find elsewhere is out of date.
• HAP Madison and West, 103 Gin Oaks Court, Madison, AL 35758, inside Harvest Pointe Methodist Church, currently Tuesdays 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on a temporary schedule due to staffing
• HAP Toney and North, 11588 Pulaski Pike, Toney, AL 35773, next to Madison Cross Roads Elementary, Wednesday and Friday 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., with hours subject to volunteer availability and food inventory

SNAP, and the short form most seniors are never told about. Ask the Madison County Department of Human Resources about the Alabama Elderly Simplified Application Project. The state's current form, revised October 2025, describes it as being for households where all members are age 65 or older, who purchase and prepare food separately from other people in the home, with no household member receiving earnings from work. Many websites repeat 60, which reflects an older description of the project. Ask for it by name. The Madison County office is at 2206 Oakwood Avenue NW, Huntsville, AL 35810-4499, director Corey K. Williams, hours 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., with Food Assistance at 256-427-6000, a Food Assistance Hotline at 256-427-6097, EBT inquiries at 256-427-6096 or 1-800-997-8888, and JOBS and TANF at 256-427-6050. For help completing the form the state publishes 1-800-438-2958.

Energy and utility help

LIHEAP and weatherization are the same agency here, which is not true everywhere in Alabama. ADECA, the state agency that funds both, assigns Madison and Limestone counties to Community Action Partnership of Huntsville/Madison and Limestone Counties, Inc., central office 3516 Stringfield Road NW, Huntsville, AL 35810-0975, main line 256-851-9800, with the automated appointment scheduler at 256-907-1550. Neighboring counties are often split between an energy agency in one town and a weatherization agency in another. Here, one call covers both.

Eight places to be seen, and several are not in Huntsville. All of them route through the main number with an extension:

• Central Office, 3516 Stringfield Road NW, Huntsville 35810, 256-851-9800
• One Stop Shop, 2201 Clinton Avenue, Huntsville 35805, extensions 664 or 665
• Cavalry Hill Friendship Center, 2900 Fairbanks Street, Huntsville 35810, extension 663
• Area 7, located inside the New Market Senior Center, 3687 Winchester Road, New Market 35761, extension 632
• Madison and Triana, in the Triana Municipal Building, 640 6th Street, Triana 35756, extension 668
• New Hope, 5414 Main Drive, New Hope 35750, extension 667
• Ardmore, 26465 First Street, Ardmore 35739, extension 660
• Athens, 409 S Marion Street, Athens 35611, extensions 661 or 662, which only serves Athens Utilities customers and is in Limestone County

How LIHEAP works here. Households are eligible for one regular heating payment and one regular cooling payment per year, and payments go directly to the vendor. Households with members who are elderly, disabled, or with children 18 or younger may qualify for additional crisis assistance if funding is available. ADECA sets the income ceiling at 150 percent of the federal poverty level and states plainly that ADECA does not accept or process applications, so the local agency is the only real door. You can apply face to face by scheduling through 256-907-1550, or contactlessly through the state's LITT Lite portal by uploading photos of your documents and signing electronically. Bring Social Security cards for everyone in the household, a current valid photo ID, a current utility or gas bill in the head of household's or spouse's name, a lease if you live in income-based housing, and proof of gross income for the previous month for everyone in the household.

Huntsville Utilities Project Share, which starts at 62. This is Huntsville Utilities' own contributor-funded program, launched in December 1988, and it is a different thing from the similarly named program run by the state's investor-owned utility. It qualifies utility customers aged 62 or older and utility customers certified as disabled or handicapped, who must be on a low or fixed income which does not exceed the state household income eligibility guidelines as specified by the Alabama Department of Human Resources. The Salvation Army screens potential recipients, determines eligibility and decides who will receive assistance. The scale is real: in January, February and March of 2026 alone, Project Share assisted 844 families, awarding $192,860.15, an average of $228.51 per family. Huntsville Utilities is at 112 Spragins Street, Huntsville, AL 35801, main number 256-535-1200, outages 256-535-4448.

One piece of Project Share most people never hear about. Thirty percent of Project Share donations go toward home improvements to create long-term energy savings, combined with grant awards and TVA contributions, and participants for energy improvements are qualified through HUD criteria for very low-income residents of Madison County. That is a home-repair benefit hiding inside a bill-payment program. Ask about it by name.

If both are out of funds this month. The Huntsville Assistance Program grants help paying a portion of a utility bill, only once within a 12-month period, and the logistics are strict: the Financial Assistance Line is 256-539-2320, and it is answered ONLY from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Mondays, until all available appointments are filled. You will attend an appointment with a trained volunteer and must bring proof of Madison County residency and a photo ID. The Salvation Army Huntsville Corps, 2114 Oakwood Avenue NW, Huntsville, AL 35810, also provides emergency rent and utility assistance. And Community Action Partnership itself provides emergency assistance on a case by case basis, depending on funding and eligibility, which may cover food vouchers, utilities, rent, mortgage assistance, medical or dental care, prescription medicine, bus tickets or fuel.

Medicare, Medicaid, prescriptions

Free Medicare counseling from two places in this county, neither of which sells anything. SHIP, Alabama's State Health Insurance Assistance Program, is funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and administered by the Alabama Department of Senior Services through the Area Agencies on Aging. TARCOG at 256-830-0818 runs it for the region, and STUDIO 60 at 256-880-7080 runs it locally. Both state the same guarantee in nearly the same words: counselors and volunteers are not affiliated with any insurance company and will not attempt to sell insurance, and all counseling records are strictly confidential. What SHIP covers is broad: Medicare benefits, choosing among Prescription Drug Plans, Medigap, long-term care insurance, Medicare savings programs, Medicaid, plan comparisons, billing and claims, home health benefits, claims and appeals, and rights and protections. If you only make one call in October, make it this one.

Medicaid, and where the office actually is. The Alabama Medicaid Huntsville District Office is at 6515 University Drive NW, Suite B, Huntsville, AL 35806-1775, phone 855-733-3160, fax 877-295-8813, and it serves Jackson, Limestone and Madison counties. District offices process applications for elderly and disabled programs, applications for nursing home care, and applications for programs that help pay Medicare premiums. The statewide Recipient Call Center is 1-800-362-1504, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Elderly and Disabled Waiver, and the reason it matters more here than PACE. The E&D Waiver provides home and community-based services to the elderly and individuals with disabilities at risk for nursing facility placement. Covered services include personal care, homemaker, respite, adult day health, companion services and home-delivered frozen meals. Eligibility requires full Medicaid benefits or eligibility through Medicaid deeming, with income not exceeding 300 percent of the federal poverty level and limited assets. In Madison County, TARCOG administers the waiver and employs the case managers, so 256-830-0818 starts it.

Prescription help. SenioRx is Alabama's prescription assistance program, and its reach is wider than the name suggests. It covers Alabamians who are age 55 or older with a chronic medical condition and no or limited prescription drug insurance meeting certain income limits, any age with a disability, or anyone who has reached the Medicare Part D coverage gap. Apply through your Area Agency on Aging, which here is TARCOG at 256-830-0818, or the statewide 1-800-AGE-LINE (1-800-243-5463).

Home repair and safety

The City of Huntsville program, and the age floor is 62 rather than 65. The CDBG Home Rehabilitation Program rehabs owner-occupied homes to improve living conditions through exterior modifications. The published eligibility is four things: you must own the home, and rental or leased property is not eligible; you must be 62 years of age or older and/or certified disabled; you must reside at the property; and total gross household income from all sources cannot exceed 80 percent of the area median income, adjusted for family size, as currently determined by HUD. Request assistance at comdev@huntsvilleal.gov. Community Development is on the 3rd floor of Huntsville City Hall, 305 Fountain Circle, Huntsville, AL 35801, phone 256-427-5400, manager Scott Erwin. Volunteer crews from local companies and organizations do a good deal of the work, including yard cleanup, exterior painting, siding, roofing and securing doors and windows.

Weatherization, which covers the whole county. Administered by Community Action Partnership at 256-851-9800. Income must not exceed 200 percent of the federally established poverty level, and the program is aimed particularly at the elderly, people with disabilities and families with children. Understand how the queue works before you call: qualifying applicants are assigned priority points based on state-regulated guidelines and placed on a waiting list, and selection follows those points and funding availability. A licensed assessor then determines which measures the house gets. Work can include sealing outside air infiltration, attic, wall and floor insulation, duct sealing, HVAC tune-ups and repairs, repairing leaky windows and doors, LED bulb replacement, and health and safety checks. Apply early, because the list is the bottleneck, not the work.

Two routes for a rural Madison County homeowner. There is no published county-run senior home repair grant outside the city, so the honest answer is that this takes two calls rather than one: weatherization at 256-851-9800, and the energy improvement side of Huntsville Utilities' Project Share, which qualifies participants through HUD criteria for very low-income residents of Madison County, reached at 256-535-1200. If neither fits, 2-1-1 tracks which local church and volunteer programs currently have capacity.

Homemaker services, for the house rather than the structure. STUDIO 60's Homemaker Program, funded by Title III-B of the Older Americans Act through the Alabama Department of Senior Services and the TARCOG Area Agency on Aging, provides in-home light housekeeping to promote independent living for adults 60 and over with health or physical limitations that prevent them from doing household chores. Routine services are sweeping, vacuuming and mopping, dusting, cleaning the bathroom and bedroom, and cleaning the kitchen and living room, with other chores pre-approved. Two conditions matter: the program states plainly that this is not a maid service, and clients must provide their own cleaning supplies. There is no cost, though donations are encouraged. Contact Victoria Watkins, Homemaker Supervisor, at 256-513-8324 or hmksup@seniorview.com.

Rent, housing, emergency cash

Public housing, with a wait you should start now. The Huntsville Housing Authority is at 200 Washington Street NE, Huntsville, AL 35801, phone 256-539-0774, open Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., executive director Antonio McGinnis. As of this writing HHA publishes a 6 to 12 month wait-list for Public Housing, states that applications are being accepted at the main office at 200 Washington Street, and notes that online applications are currently unavailable. That means a physical trip. For the Housing Choice Voucher program, contact HHA directly at cdanson@hsvha.org rather than relying on third-party waitlist trackers, which go stale fast.

Emergency cash, in the order that actually works. Start with 2-1-1, which knows which funds are open this week. Then the Huntsville Assistance Program at 256-539-2320, remembering that the line is answered only from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Mondays and that assistance comes once in any 12-month period. Then the Salvation Army Huntsville Corps at 2114 Oakwood Avenue NW, which offers emergency rent, mortgage and utility assistance. Then Community Action Partnership at 256-851-9800, whose emergency services may cover food vouchers, utilities, rent, mortgage assistance, medical care, dental care, prescription medicine, bus tickets or fuels on a case by case basis, depending on funding and eligibility.

A veteran's household has an extra door here. The Madison County Veterans Service Office is described below, and Alabama's county veterans service offices exist to help veterans, dependents and survivors file claims for both federal and state benefits. Survivor benefits in particular go unclaimed simply because no one ever asks.

Transportation

Inside the Huntsville city limits: Orbit for the bus, Access for door to door. The city's fixed-route system is Orbit, which runs Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fare structure is where the senior discount lives. A one-way fare is $1, but it is 50 cents for seniors 65 and older, disabled citizens, Medicare or Medicaid cardholders with valid ID, students with a valid student ID, and children 6 and under. You must show qualifying ID to use the discounted fare. A book of 20 one-way tickets is $18 and a monthly pass is $30, with free transfers. Tickets are sold at the Huntsville Transit Center, 521 Pratt Avenue, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, or through the Token Transit app. Service animals are welcome on all city transit vehicles.

Access, the paratransit side. The city runs 19 radio-dispatched, ADA-accessible vehicles providing specialized, door-to-door, demand-response service. Two groups are eligible: persons with disabilities who, because of their disability, are unable to ride regular city buses, and senior citizens who are over 65 and do not live near a bus route, the second when space is available. An application must be completed and returned before any trip can be scheduled, and certification can take up to 21 days, though someone with a disability and immediate needs may receive conditional eligibility inside the ADA service area during that time. One Personal Care Attendant travels free of charge with an ADA-eligible passenger, and it is important to indicate the need for one when you apply.

The Access logistics that decide whether it works for you. Tickets are $2.00 each, one per boarding, and drivers accept no cash or checks. Reserve by emailing Access@HuntsvilleAL.gov or calling 256-427-6857 extension 1 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; trips may be scheduled the day before or up to a month ahead, and reservations are required by 5 p.m. the day before. On the day, be ready one hour before the time you are scheduled to arrive, and the vehicle will wait no more than five minutes. Drivers assist you from the main entrance door onto the van and from the van to the main entrance of your destination, but will not enter a house or building and will not carry parcels over 10 pounds. Bring no more than two bags per person. A pattern of no-shows, defined as more than three in a month and 7 percent over the past 12 months, can cost you ten business days of service. Call 256-427-6811 with questions, or 256-427-6829 about the free Access Huntsville app for booking and real-time tracking.

Outside the city: TRAM, which has no age test at all. Transportation for Rural Areas of Madison County is a federally funded FTA Section 5311 public transportation program open to the general public who reside in rural Madison County, with the Madison County Commission providing matching funds. There is no disability requirement and no age requirement. The office is at 819 Cook Avenue, Suite 137, Huntsville, AL 35801, transit manager Katrina Banks-Love, phone 256-532-3792, email tram@madisoncountyal.gov, office hours Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

TRAM's schedule is the thing to plan around, and it is tighter than a city bus. Transportation runs Monday through Thursday 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Friday 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with morning pickups from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., and final pickups leaving Huntsville begin at 1:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon on Friday. A 2:30 p.m. specialist appointment in Huntsville does not work on TRAM. Round-trip tickets are $10.00 and one-way tickets are $8.00, tickets are required to board, they are non-refundable and do not expire, and drivers do not handle money. Riders are urged to schedule 24 hours in advance, and reservations are accepted weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., with none taken after 3:00 for the following day. Cancellations must be made at least one hour before pickup, the driver waits five minutes, and two no-shows within 60 days means a five-day suspension. If the Madison County Courthouse is closed, TRAM is closed.

A few local rides that are not public transit. The Madison Senior Center publishes a bus transportation request form for its members. STUDIO 60's Center for Adult Day Care provides transportation to and from the Center for those living within the city limits. And TARCOG's advocacy and support services at 256-830-0818 include transportation assistance, which is worth asking about when the trip is medical.

Legal help

Start with TARCOG, because this county's Area Agency on Aging employs its own lawyer. That is not true everywhere, and it is the best legal front door here. TARCOG employs a full-time, licensed attorney to provide legal assistance to senior adults age 60 and over living in DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties. The subjects are exactly what goes wrong in later life: Medicare and Medicaid issues, income maintenance, long-term care, individual rights, consumer matters, powers of attorney and health directives, and basic estate planning. TARCOG does not charge a set fee for its services, though voluntary donations are encouraged against a published suggested contribution table.

How to get an appointment, and what the attorney will not take. For Madison County, call 256-830-0818, and appointments generally take place at the TARCOG office in Huntsville. You can also complete the Request for Legal Assistance form and email it to legalintake@tarcog.us, or mail it to TARCOG, ATTN: LEGAL, P.O. Box 1087, Huntsville, AL 35805, and TARCOG recommends encrypting any email containing personal information. TARCOG's own downloadable forms include an Advance Directive for Health Care and an Alabama Durable Power of Attorney. The attorney does not assist with criminal matters, filing bankruptcy, or fee-generating cases. Two useful extras: home visits can occasionally be scheduled for people receiving services through Hospice, Home Health, Alabama Cares and Medicaid Waiver programs, and facility visits can sometimes be arranged for seniors living in nursing homes.

Then Legal Services Alabama, which has an income test. LSA's statewide intake is 1-866-456-4995 in English and 1-888-835-3505 en Espanol, with the call center open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and you can apply online at legalservicesalabama.org. AlabamaLegalHelp.org, which is a project of Legal Services Alabama and the Legal Services Corporation, lists the Huntsville office at 610 Airport Road, Suite 200, Huntsville, AL 35802, local 256-536-9645, toll free 1-888-741-7129, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., serving Madison County along with Colbert, Cullman, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Marshall and Morgan counties. Family income must generally be at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level. Other directories publish a different Huntsville street address for LSA, so call the toll-free intake line first rather than driving to an address you found online.

And the two protective lines. The Alabama Adult Abuse Hotline is 1-800-458-7214, run by the Adult Protective Services Division of the Alabama Department of Human Resources under the APS Act of 1976, which requires DHR to receive and investigate reports of suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of adults who cannot protect themselves. For a problem inside a facility rather than a home, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman through TARCOG at 256-830-0818 is the right call, and it is a different function from filing an abuse report.

Caregiver support

Alabama Cares, and the eligibility rule that surprises people. TARCOG administers Alabama Cares, part of the National Family Caregiver Support Program, at 256-716-2442. Three groups have access: primary family caregivers of frail older adults aged 60 or older; older relative caregivers, not parents, including grandparents age 55 or older, caring for children ages 18 and younger with or without disabilities; and older relative caregivers and parents, including grandparents age 55 or older, caring for adults ages 19 to 59 with disabilities. The services are information, counseling, support groups, training, assistance through short-term case management, supplemental services, and respite.

Read the eligibility conditions before you get your hopes up on respite. TARCOG publishes three: there must be a caregiver, family member, friend or church member, who provides care two or three times per week; the care recipient must be 60 years or older and need help with at least three activities of daily living such as bathing, cooking, household chores, transportation, taking medicines, transferring or walking; and there is no income limit, but there is a cost share based on the care recipient's income. On respite specifically, TARCOG is candid that due to limited funding, this service is available for family caregivers who have the greatest burden and highest need for relief. Income will not prevent you from receiving services, but it is used when prioritizing.

Two Project Lifesaver programs, both free, and which one you call depends on your address. The Madison County Sheriff's Office runs Project Lifesaver of Madison County in partnership with the Pilot Club of Huntsville, providing wristband transmitters at no cost to people with Alzheimer's, dementia, autism or other cognitive disorders who have a history of wandering and becoming lost. It is an active radio system, not a passive ID bracelet: when a caregiver reports the client missing, a specially trained search and rescue team searches with a mobile locator, and recovery times average less than 30 minutes. The county program currently has over 60 people enrolled. Contact Sgt. Travion Ragland at tragland@madisoncountyal.gov, Deputy Kadarius McBride at kmcbride@madisoncountyal.gov, or Deputy Jerry Johnson at jjohnson2@madisoncountyal.gov, or call the non-emergency line 256-722-7181.

Inside the city, the Huntsville Police Department runs its own Project Lifesaver for people with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, autism, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injury and other cognitive challenges. Participants wear a small radio-frequency device on the wrist or ankle. HPD states there are no fees for participation, that the program is funded through private donations, corporate support and grants, and that program volunteers conduct monthly check-ins to ensure equipment is functioning and provide needed supplies. Enroll by emailing PoliceChief@huntsvilleal.gov. HPD's Crisis Intervention Team is at 256-705-3089.

Adult day care, which is usually what an exhausted caregiver actually needs. STUDIO 60's Center for Adult Day Care has operated since 1981 and provides care and companionship for adults 18 and older who need assistance or supervision during the day. It is open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with full or part-time openings, a complete hot balanced lunch and afternoon snack, supervised gardening and outdoor activities, health and fitness programs, and monthly parties. Long-term care insurance is accepted, and transportation to and from the Center is available to those living within the city limits. Cancellations require two weeks' notice. Call 256-880-7094 to arrange a tour and a free one day visit, director Julie Born.

Alabama Lifespan Respite is headquartered in this county, and right now it is closed. The statewide respite reimbursement program is a program of UCP Huntsville, at 256-859-8300 or al.respite@ucphuntsville.org. As of this writing its own application page states: applications are closed at this time, and please check back in October. If you received respite reimbursement after July 2025 there is no need to reapply, since re-enrollment information is sent to recipients annually. When it reopens, read the conditions first: you cannot currently be receiving respite services through any other program, including Medicaid Home and Community Based Services waivers; only one caregiver per household is eligible; you cannot be both the primary caregiver and the respite provider, because the program reimburses you after you have paid a third party; the provider must be at least 18 and live outside the care recipient's home; you must submit proof of diagnosis; and there is a 30-day processing period before the reimbursement check arrives. If you are already on the Medicaid waiver, use the waiver's respite through TARCOG instead of waiting.

Support groups, in person, in this county. STUDIO 60 hosts a Diabetic Support Group on the first Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in the cafeteria, information at 256-880-7080, and a Bereavement Support Group run by Hospice Family Care in the Art Room on the second and fourth Wednesdays at 1:15 p.m., information from Anthony Ford at 256-650-1212. For dementia specifically, the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-272-3900 is free, staffed around the clock every day of the year, and can point you to current local support group meetings. The Alzheimer's Association's Alabama Chapter lists only a Birmingham office on its own site, so use the helpline rather than driving to a local address you found elsewhere.

PACE

There is no PACE program serving Madison County, and it is worth saying plainly so you stop looking.

PACE, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, bundles primary care, hospital care, medical specialty services, prescription drugs, dentistry, nursing home care, personal care, physical therapy, adult day care, nutritional counseling, lab and x-ray services, social services and transportation for people who need nursing-home-level care but want to remain at home. It is excellent where it exists. Alabama Medicaid's own material lists the eligibility criteria, and one of them settles the question: an applicant must meet the nursing home level of care, be able to live safely in the community at the time of enrollment, be 55 years of age and older, and live in a designated PACE service area, currently Mobile and Baldwin counties. Those are on the Gulf Coast. There is no PACE site anywhere in north Alabama.

What to ask for instead. The nearest equivalent available here is the Medicaid Elderly and Disabled Waiver, and the phone number is one you already have. TARCOG administers the waiver in Madison County, so 256-830-0818 reaches the waiver, the meal programs, the SHIP counselor, the caregiver program and the staff attorney in a single call. Then contact the Alabama Medicaid Huntsville District Office at 855-733-3160 about the eligibility paperwork. And ask TARCOG the follow-up question that saves families weeks: what can start now, while the waiver application is pending.

Frequently asked questions

Dad is 79, has owned the same place near Gurley since 1988, and lives on Social Security and a small pension. What is he actually entitled to? Possibly a zero property tax bill. The Alabama Department of Revenue's H-3 category for age 65 and older with net taxable income of $12,000 or less on the combined federal return is exempt from all ad valorem taxes, and Madison County's own guidance says the same thing in county terms. The deciding number is net taxable income on the return, not gross and not the Social Security deposit, so take the return to the Tax Assessor at the Madison County Service Center, 1918 North Memorial Parkway, 256-532-3350. Check the driver's license first: the county requires the license address to match the property and to have been issued on or before October 1. And note the calendar. You must be eligible on October 1 and claim it no later than December 31, and it applies to the following year's taxes.

We just moved here from out of state for my son's job and my mother came with us. Can she claim anything this year? Possibly, but the paperwork is the hurdle rather than the age. Madison County requires homeowners with an out-of-state driver's license to produce a statement from the prior taxing official, on their letterhead, that you no longer claim a homestead in their county. Until the license is changed, the office can grant the 10 percent assessment rate on the strength of a homeowner's insurance declaration page covering October 1 plus a utility set date letter from Huntsville Utilities, which you get by calling 256-535-1200. Once the license is updated, come back for the rest. Out-of-state license transfers are handled at the Department of Public Safety at 1115 Church Street in Huntsville, with offices also in Athens, Decatur, Scottsboro and Guntersville. Start this in October, not on December 30.

Mom's power bill is past due and she is 84 on a fixed income. Who actually helps? Three calls, in this order. First 256-907-1550 to schedule a LIHEAP appointment with Community Action Partnership, or apply contactlessly through the state's LITT Lite portal. Second, because she is over 62, ask about Huntsville Utilities Project Share, screened by the Salvation Army, through 256-535-1200. Third, if both are out of funds this month, the Huntsville Assistance Program at 256-539-2320, remembering that the line is answered only from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Mondays. And 2-1-1 will tell you who currently has money, which changes week to week.

My mother stopped driving. She is 77 and lives out past New Market. How does she get to the doctor? TRAM, at 256-532-3792, because she is outside the Huntsville city limits. There is no age test and no disability test, since TRAM is open to the general public in rural Madison County. Fares are $8.00 one way and $10.00 round trip, tickets must be bought in advance from the TRAM office, and drivers handle no money. Book 24 hours ahead by calling between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on a weekday. The critical detail is the return trip: final pickups leaving Huntsville begin at 1:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon on Friday, so schedule the appointment in the morning. If she lived inside the city, the answer would be Access at 256-427-6857 extension 1 at $2.00 a ticket instead.

My husband has dementia and I have not slept properly in months. What is in Madison County? Four calls, in this order. 256-716-2442 for Alabama Cares through TARCOG, but read the eligibility first: the care recipient must be 60 or older and need help with at least three activities of daily living, and although there is no income limit there is a cost share based on his income. 256-880-7094 for STUDIO 60's Center for Adult Day Care, which is open 7:30 to 4:30 weekdays, accepts long-term care insurance, provides transportation inside the city limits, and will give you a free one day visit to try it. 256-722-7181 or PoliceChief@huntsvilleal.gov for a free Project Lifesaver bracelet, before there is an incident rather than after. And 1-800-272-3900, the Alzheimer's Association's free 24/7 helpline, at whatever hour you are actually awake.

We are looking at a nursing home for my mother and cannot afford it. Is there an alternative? Yes, and it is not PACE, because PACE does not operate anywhere near this county. Ask about the Medicaid Elderly and Disabled Waiver, which covers personal care, homemaker services, respite, adult day health, companion services, case management and home-delivered frozen meals for people at risk of nursing facility placement. Eligibility requires full Medicaid or eligibility through deeming, with income not exceeding 300 percent of the federal poverty level and limited assets. In Madison County that waiver is run by TARCOG at 256-830-0818, the same agency that handles meals, Medicare counseling and the staff attorney. Then call the Alabama Medicaid Huntsville District Office at 855-733-3160, which serves Jackson, Limestone and Madison counties, about the paperwork.

Mom is 73 and I think she qualifies for food stamps, but she will not sit through an interview. She may not have to, but check her age against the right rule. Alabama's Elderly Simplified Application Project uses a short form, and the state's current version, revised October 2025, is for households where all members are age 65 or older, who purchase and prepare food separately from others in the home, with no earnings from work. At 73 with no wages, she likely fits. Ask for it by name at the Madison County DHR office, 2206 Oakwood Avenue NW, Huntsville, 256-427-6000. For help filling out the form, the state publishes 1-800-438-2958.

My father is in a nursing home here and something is wrong. Can I raise it without him facing retaliation? Call the Long-Term Care Ombudsman through TARCOG at 256-830-0818. The ombudsman program exists specifically to investigate and resolve complaints on behalf of residents of long-term care facilities, and it is a separate function from the facility's own management. If what you are describing is abuse, neglect or exploitation rather than a care dispute, that goes to the Alabama Adult Abuse Hotline at 1-800-458-7214 instead.

I keep finding a "Madison Senior Center" and a "Madison Crossroads Senior Center" and I cannot tell them apart. They are two different places about twenty miles apart. The Madison Senior Center is a City of Madison Parks and Recreation facility at 1329 Browns Ferry Road, Madison, AL 35758, 256-772-6242, open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with its own membership packet, caregiver packet and monthly program guide. Madison Crossroads Senior Center is in Toney, in the far north of the county near the Tennessee line, at 256-813-3036. Both are Madison County. Neither is the county government. And if a number you found starts with anything other than 256, you have found one of the Madison Counties in another state.

Is there anything in this county that is just a good place to go? Yes, and it is county-owned. The Robert "Bob" Harrison Senior Wellness and Advocacy Center at 6156 Pulaski Pike, Huntsville, AL 35810, 256-519-2040, sits on a campus in the foothills of Wade and Drake mountains, and Madison County's own facility directory lists what is inside: a heated indoor pool, a jacuzzi, an indoor walking track, a fitness gym, a game room, computer stations, a sewing room, an outdoor walking trail, a nutrition site and a Little Pantry site. Membership is open to adults 40 and older at $180 per year, which is an unusually low age floor, and the center runs water aerobics, chair yoga, Zumba Gold, strength training, quilting, gardening, monthly health screenings and weekday nutritional lunches. If a parent is isolated more than they are unwell, this is often the better first call.

Is there anything for a Madison County veteran or a veteran's widow? Yes, and it is free. The Madison County Veterans Service Office, service officer Terrence Peoples, is at 819 Cook Avenue NW, Suite 137, Huntsville, AL 35801, phone 256-532-1662, fax 256-532-1562, open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. County veterans service offices help veterans, dependents and survivors file and process claims for benefits from both the federal VA and the state of Alabama. Madison County also has one of Alabama's five state veterans homes inside it, the Floyd E. "Tut" Fann State Veterans Home, 2701 Meridian Street, Huntsville, AL 35811, 256-851-2807. Eligibility requires an honorable discharge with a minimum of 90 continuous days of active duty, with a 24-month rule for those who enlisted after September 7, 1980 or were commissioned after October 16, 1981; qualification under U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs criteria for skilled nursing care or domiciliary and assisted living; and residence in Alabama during the immediate past 12 months. Applications come from the county veterans service office or from va.alabama.gov. Read the state's own list of what the homes do not provide before you plan around one: the first item on it is free nursing home care.

Sources

• Alabama Department of Revenue, County Offices, Appraisal and Assessment Records: the official statewide list of county property tax offices, which lists Madison County's office as Tax Assessor, official Cliff Mann, "Madison County Courthouse, 1918 N. Memorial Parkway, 2nd floor, Huntsville, AL 35801," phone 256-532-3350, and which shows that Alabama counties variously use the titles Revenue Commissioner, Tax Assessor, Property Tax Commissioner and Tax Collector: https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/property-tax/county-offices-appraisal-assessment-records/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Madison County, AL, Tax Assessor, Homestead Exemption Information: the county's own homestead policy, source of "One can be granted a homestead exemption if the single-family residence is their primary residence on October 1 of the tax year for which the property owner is applying. Deadline to apply is December 31st"; the driver's license rules including "Address on driver's license must match the property address & be issued on or before Oct. 1" and the requirement for "a homeowner's insurance policy AND utility set date letter from Huntsville Utilities" when the license is changed between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, with the Huntsville Utilities customer service number 256-535-1200; the out-of-state license requirement for "a statement from the prior taxing official, on their letterhead"; the active duty military ID provision; "Handwritten tax returns are not accepted"; the IRS verification of non-filing or transcript requirement; the trust document requirement; the approximately "$48 per year savings" and 10% tax class; the OVER 65 YEARS OLD EXEMPTION and DISABILITY EXEMPTION text; the full H-1 through H-4 table; the Tax Assessor contact block including Cliff Mann, the Madison County Service Center address and CMann@MadisonCountyAl.gov; and the Department of Public Safety location at 1115 Church Street: https://www.madisoncountyal.gov/departments/tax-assessor/homestead-exemptions . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Madison County, AL, Tax Assessor, Ways to Save on Taxes: source of "A homestead exemption must be claimed, exemptions are not automatic. If any change is made to your deed, you may need to re-claim your homestead exemption," and "Additional exemptions are available to homeowners over age 65 or who are totally and permanently disabled. Must be eligible on October 1 and claimed no later than December 31 and will apply to the following year's taxes," plus the taxassess@madisoncountyal.gov address: https://www.madisoncountyal.gov/departments/tax-assessor/save-on-taxes . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Madison County, AL, Tax Assessor, Satellite Office: "Madison County Taxpayer Service Center, 100 Plaza Blvd., Madison, Alabama. Open 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Monday - Friday. Satellite offices are closed for lunch 12:00 - 12:30": https://www.madisoncountyal.gov/departments/tax-assessor/satellite-offices . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Alabama Department of Revenue, 7% Cap Information, HB73 (Act 2024-344): the 7 percent cap on annual increases in taxable assessed value for Class II and Class III property, base year October 1, 2024 for collections beginning October 1, 2025, continuing "through the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2027," and the cap-removal conditions: https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/property-tax/7-cap-information-hb73-act-2024-344/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG), About Area Agency on Aging: "We serve DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison, and Marshall counties"; "For senior or disabled services, or to make a referral, please call 256-830-0818"; and the service categories including Information & Referral, caregiver support, prescription assistance, legal assistance, Long-Term Care Ombudsman Services, senior employment, senior center nutrition and transportation, case management, home-delivered meals, homemaker and personal care services, Medicare/Insurance Counseling (SHIP) and aging at home services: https://tarcog.us/serving-people/about-area-agency-on-aging/ . TARCOG's mailing and street address, "5075 Research Dr NW, Huntsville, AL, 35805," is published in the site footer at https://tarcog.us/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• TARCOG, Program Summaries: "The Elderly and Disabled Waiver program provides home and community-based services to the elderly and individuals with disabilities at risk for nursing facility placement," and the nutrition program description: https://tarcog.us/serving-people/program-summaries/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• TARCOG, Legal Services for Seniors: "TARCOG employs a full-time, licensed attorney to provide legal assistance to senior adults age 60 and over living in DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties"; the list of general areas of assistance; "TARCOG does not charge a set fee for its services"; the excluded matters (criminal, bankruptcy, fee-generating); legalintake@tarcog.us and "TARCOG: ATTN: LEGAL, P.O. Box 1087, Huntsville, AL 35805"; "Madison County 256-830-0818, Appointments generally take place at the TARCOG office located in Huntsville"; and the home and facility visit provisions for Hospice, Home Health, Alabama Cares and Medicaid Waiver clients: https://tarcog.us/serving-people/other-services/legal-services-for-seniors/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• TARCOG, Support for Caregivers (Alabama Cares): the three eligible caregiver groups; "A person's income will not prevent them from receiving services"; the eligibility conditions including care two or three times per week, care recipient 60 or older needing help with at least three activities of daily living, and "There is no income limit, but there is a cost share based on the care recipient's income"; the seven service types; and the phone number 256-716-2442: https://tarcog.us/serving-people/caregiver-residential-services/support-for-caregivers/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• TARCOG, Medicare/Insurance Counseling (SHIP): "SHIP counselors and volunteers are committed to help you make informed choices for yourself regarding your insurance benefits. Counselors and volunteers are not affiliated with any insurance company and will not attempt to sell you insurance. All counseling records are strictly confidential," and that SHIP "is funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is administered by the Alabama Department of Senior Services and the Area Agencies on Aging": https://tarcog.us/serving-people/health-wellness-services/medicare-insurance-counseling-ship/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• TARCOG, Senior Center Directory: the Madison County entries used above with managers and phone numbers, including Bob Harrison Senior & Wellness Center (Bernettea Carter), Gurley Senior Center (Maryann Schnur, 256-776-9830), Madison Crossroads Senior Center (Michele Georgantis, 256-813-3036), New Hope Sr. Comm. Center (Dean Manley), New Market Senior Center (John Humphrey), New Sharon Senior Center (Faye Baran, 256-828-3215), STUDIO 60 Senior Center, Huntsville Adult Day Care and Huntsville Meals on Wheels. NOTE: this directory's street addresses for the Madison Senior Center and Madison Crossroads differ from those published by the City of Madison and by STUDIO 60, which is why this page tells readers to call rather than drive on a directory address: https://tarcog.us/serving-people/senior-center-directory/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• STUDIO 60 Senior Center (seniorview.com), About: "STUDIO 60 was incorporated in 1974 as the Huntsville-Madison County Senior Center"; the 47,500-square-foot Drake Avenue center; services "of no cost to residents of Huntsville and Madison County, Alabama, who are ages 60 and above"; center hours "Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m."; and Center for Adult Day Care hours and the number (256) 880-7094: https://seniorview.com/about/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• STUDIO 60, Meals on Wheels: delivery "Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., year round"; "There is no charge, but an income-based donation is suggested"; "Meals on Wheels delivers to most areas within the Huntsville city limits"; eligibility "ages 60 or over, residing in the Huntsville city limits, primarily homebound, and unable to cook for themselves or have no one residing with them to prepare meals. Income is not a determining factor"; "we serve 235 homebound individuals in Huntsville each month"; "more than 500 volunteers a month"; "We currently have 22 routes throughout Huntsville"; and coordinator Lisa Allport at (256) 382-0920: https://seniorview.com/services/meals-on-wheels/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• STUDIO 60, Nutrition Centers: the Courtyard Cafe rule that "Lunch must be reserved every morning between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m."; "there are seven additional senior centers serving the same meals throughout Madison County"; and the center list with addresses and phones: https://seniorview.com/services/meals/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• STUDIO 60, Homemaker Services: "This program is funded by Title III-B of the Older Americans Act through the Alabama Department of Senior Services and the TARCOG Area Agency on Aging"; "This is not a maid service"; "Homemaker Program clients must provide their own cleaning supplies"; the eligibility list; and supervisor Victoria Watkins at (256) 513-8324: https://seniorview.com/services/homemaker-services/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• STUDIO 60, Center for Adult Day Care: "care and companionship for adults 18+ who need assistance or supervision during the day"; "The Center has provided caring, affordable services for our clients since 1981"; "Transportation is available to and from the Center for Adult Day Care to those living within the city limits"; "Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted"; the 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekday hours; the two-week cancellation rule; and "Schedule a FREE one day visit! Call (256) 880-7094": https://seniorview.com/services/center-for-adult-day-care/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• STUDIO 60, State Health Insurance Program and Support Groups: the SHIP scope and the non-affiliation guarantee at https://seniorview.com/services/health-insurance/ ; the Diabetic Support Group (first Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., 256-880-7080) and the Hospice Family Care Bereavement Support Group (second and fourth Wednesdays, 1:15 p.m., Anthony Ford 256-650-1212) at https://seniorview.com/services/support-groups/ . Staff directory including Janet Porch, Kathryn Kestner, Julie Born, Lisa Allport and Victoria Watkins at https://seniorview.com/contact-us/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• ADECA, Agencies Administering Alabama's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): the official region map, which assigns Region 2, Madison and Limestone Counties, to "Community Partnership Huntsville/Madison and Limestone Counties, Inc., 3516 Stringfield Road NW Huntsville, AL 35810-0975, Call center: 256-907-1550, Main office: 256-851-9800": https://adeca.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/LIHEAPRegionsMap.pdf . Verified September 3, 2026.
• ADECA, Alabama Weatherization Assistance Program: "the applicant's income must not exceed 200% of the federally established poverty level"; the priority for "the elderly, people with disabilities and families with children"; "ADECA does not accept or process applications for assistance"; and the Madison County agency listing for Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison & Limestone Counties, Inc. at (256) 851-9800: https://adeca.alabama.gov/weatherization/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Community Action Partnership Huntsville/Madison & Limestone Counties, Utilities Assistance: "Households are eligible for one LIHEAP regular heating payment and one LIHEAP regular cooling payment per year. Households that have members who are elderly, disabled or have children 18 years of age or younger, may qualify for additional crisis assistance if funding is available"; "Schedule an appoint by calling our automated scheduler at 256-907-1550"; the LITT Lite contactless portal; and the required documentation list: https://caa-htsval.org/utilities-assistance/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Community Action Partnership, Weatherization: "Qualifying applicants are assigned priority points based on state-regulated guidelines and are placed on a waiting list"; the licensed assessor process; and the list of allowable measures: https://caa-htsval.org/weatherization/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Community Action Partnership, Agency's Service Locations: the eight sites and extensions used above, including Central Office at 3516 Stringfield Road NW, One Stop Shop at 2201 Clinton Avenue, Cavalry Hill Friendship Center at 2900 Fairbanks Street, Area 7 "Located in ~ New Market Senior Center, 3687 Winchester Road," Madison/Triana "Located in ~ Triana Municipal Building, 640 6th Street," New Hope at 5414 Main Drive, Ardmore at 26465 First Street, and Athens at 409 S Marion Street "(Only serves Athens Utilities' Customers)": https://caa-htsval.org/agencys-service-locations/ . Emergency services description at https://caa-htsval.org/emergency-services/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Huntsville Utilities, Project Share: "Project Share launched in December 1988"; "Who qualifies? Utility customers aged 62 or older. Utility customers certified as disabled or handicapped"; "Participants must be on a low or fixed income which does not exceed the state household income eligibility guidelines as specified by the Alabama Department of Human Resources"; "The Salvation Army screens potential recipients, determines eligibility and decides who will receive assistance"; "Thirty percent of Project Share Program donations go toward home improvements to create long-term energy savings... Participants for energy improvements are qualified through HUD criteria for very low-income residents of Madison County"; "Families helped since 1988: 32,419"; "During January, February, and March of 2026, Project Share assisted 844 families... a total of $192,860.15 was awarded... an average of $228.51 per family"; and the Huntsville Utilities Administration Building at 112 Spragins Street with the main number 256-535-1200 and outages at 256-535-4448: https://www.hsvutil.org/community_resources/programs/project_share.php . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Alabama Department of Human Resources, County Office Contacts, Madison County: director Corey K. Williams; assistant directors Kenyatta Robinson and Lori Bateman; "Office Hours: 7:30 am until 4:30 pm"; "Food Assistance (256) 427-6000"; "Food Assistance Hotline (256) 427-6097"; "Food Assistance EBT Inquiries (256) 427-6096 or (800) 997-8888"; "JOBS and TANF (256) 427-6050"; and the address "2206 Oakwood Avenue NW, Huntsville, AL 35810-4499": https://dhr.alabama.gov/county-office-contact/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Alabama Department of Human Resources, SNAP Simplified Application For The Elderly, Form DHR-FSD-2198 (Rev. 10-25): the current AESAP form, which states that all household members must be age 65 or older, must purchase and prepare food separately from other people in the home, and that no SNAP household member receives earnings from work, and which publishes the toll-free help line 1-800-438-2958: https://dhr.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Form-DHR-FSD-2198-AESAP-Application-Rev.-10-25.pdf . An older DHR project description gives the age as 60, which is why this page tells readers to ask for the program by name: https://dhr.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/AESAP_PROJECT_INFO.pdf . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Alabama Department of Human Resources, Adult Protective Services: "Call the Adult Abuse Hotline at 1-800-458-7214 to report suspected mistreatment," and the APS Act of 1976 description of DHR's duty to receive and investigate reports: https://dhr.alabama.gov/adult-protective-services/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Alabama Medicaid, Medicaid Office Locations: "Huntsville, 6515 University Drive, NW Suite B, Huntsville, AL 35806-1775, Serves: Jackson, Limestone and Madison counties, (855) 733-3160, (877) 295-8813"; the statement that district offices process applications for elderly and disabled programs, nursing home care and programs that help pay Medicare premiums; and "For additional help, call the Recipient Call Center (toll-free) at (800) 362-1504, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.": https://medicaid.alabama.gov/content/10.0_Contact/10.1_Medicaid_Contacts/10.1.1_Medicaid_Locations.aspx . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Alabama Medicaid, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE): the bundled service list and the eligibility criteria, including that an applicant must meet the nursing home level of care, be able to live safely in the community at the time of enrollment, be 55 years of age and older, and "live in a designated PACE service area, currently Mobile and Baldwin counties": https://medicaid.alabama.gov/content/5.0_Managed_Care/5.2_Other_MC_Programs/5.2.3_PACE.aspx . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Alabama Medicaid, Elderly and Disabled Waiver: the covered services (personal care, homemaker, respite, adult day health, companion services, home-delivered frozen meals) and the eligibility requirements including full Medicaid benefits or Medicaid deeming, income not exceeding 300% of the federal poverty level, and limited assets: https://medicaid.alabama.gov/content/6.0_LTC_waivers/6.1_HCBS_Waivers/6.1.2_Elderly_Disabled_Waiver.aspx . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Alabama Department of Senior Services (alabamaageline.gov): the statewide 1-800-AGE-LINE (1-800-243-5463) line and the program list including SHIP, SenioRx, Alabama Cares, Ombudsman, legal assistance, elderly nutrition, SCSEP and Medicaid waivers: https://alabamaageline.gov/helpservices/ . SenioRx eligibility, including age 55 or older with a chronic medical condition and no or limited prescription drug insurance meeting income limits, any age with a disability, or having reached the Medicare Part D coverage gap: https://alabamaageline.gov/seniorx/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• City of Huntsville, Orbit: hours "Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m."; the fare table including "One-Way Fare $1," ".50" for "Seniors 65+ and disabled citizens, Medicare/Medicaid cardholders with valid ID, Students with valid student ID, Children 6 and under," "Book of 20 One-Way Tickets $18," "Monthly Pass $30" and "Free Transfers"; "To use a discounted fare, riders must show qualifying I.D."; and ticket sales at "Huntsville Transit Center, 521 Pratt Avenue": https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/residents/streets/public-transportation/orbit/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• City of Huntsville, Access: "The City of Huntsville's 19 Access vehicles are radio dispatched and ADA accessible... An ADA Paratransit service application and reservations made in advance by 5 p.m. the day before are required"; the eligibility list including "Senior citizens who are over 65 and do not live near a bus route (when space is available)"; "The certification process can take up to 21 days"; "One Personal Care Attendant (PCA) may accompany ADA eligible passengers only, Personal Care Attendants travel free of charge"; "Tickets are $2.00 each" and "NO CASH OR CHECKS"; the general Access line "Phone: (256) 427-6811" and reservations at "(256) 427-6857, ext. 1 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday"; the one-hour readiness and five-minute wait rules; the driver limits including no entry into a house or building and no parcels over 10 pounds; the no-show pattern definition of "greater than three (3) no-shows in a month and seven (7) % during the past (12) months"; and the free Access Huntsville booking app, "For more information, call Tiffani Boone at 256-427-6829" (256-427-6829): https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/residents/streets/public-transportation/access/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Madison County, AL, Transportation for Rural Areas of Madison County (TRAM): "TRAM is a federally funded Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5311 public transportation program that is open to the general public who reside in rural Madison County, Alabama"; the physical address "819 Cook Avenue, Suite 137, Huntsville, AL 35801" and transit manager Katrina Banks-Love at (256) 532-3792; transportation hours "Monday - Thursday 6:30 AM - 3:30 PM, Friday 6:30 AM - 2:30 PM, Morning Pickup Hours 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM" and "Final pickups leaving Huntsville begin Monday - Thursday at 1:00 PM, Friday at 12:00 PM"; "Round-trip tickets: $10.00, One-way tickets: $8.00"; "Tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE and do not expire. TRAM drivers do not handle money"; "Riders are urged to schedule rides 24 hours in advance. Reservations are accepted weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m."; the one-hour cancellation rule, five-minute wait and "Two (2) no-shows within a 60-day period will result in a five (5) day suspension"; and "If the Madison County Courthouse is closed, TRAM operations are closed": https://www.madisoncountyal.gov/departments/planning-and-economic-development/tram . Verified September 3, 2026.
• City of Huntsville, Community Development Block Grant: the CDBG Home Rehabilitation Program eligibility criteria in full, including "Must own the home. Rental or leased property is not eligible," "Must be 62 years of age or older and/or certified disabled," "Must reside at the property of the requested assistance," and "Total gross household income from all sources cannot exceed 80% of the area median income, adjusted for family size as currently determined by HUD"; the request address comdev@huntsvilleal.gov; the volunteer repair list; and the Community Development contact block at 305 Fountain Circle, 3rd floor, 256-427-5400: https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/residents/neighborhoods/community-development-block-grant/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• City of Huntsville, Project Lifesaver (Huntsville Police Department): the conditions covered; "Participants wear a small radio-frequency tracking device on the wrist or ankle"; "There are no fees for participation in the Project Lifesaver Program. The program is funded through private donations, corporate support and grants"; "Program volunteers conduct monthly check-ins to ensure equipment is functioning properly and to provide any needed supplies"; enrollment by emailing PoliceChief@huntsvilleal.gov; and the Crisis Intervention Team number 256-705-3089: https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/residents/public-safety/huntsville-police/community-resources/project-lifesaver/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Madison County Sheriff's Office, Project Lifesaver: "Project Lifesaver of Madison County provides wristband transmitters at no cost to people with Alzheimer's, dementia, autism, or other cognitive disorders who have a history of wandering and becoming lost"; "The Pilot Club of Huntsville, Inc. is proud to partner with the Madison County Sheriff's Office"; "Recovery times average less than 30 minutes"; "Project Lifesaver of Madison County currently has over 60 Alzheimer's and autistic persons enrolled"; and the contacts Sgt. Travion Ragland, Deputy Kadarius McBride, Deputy Jerry Johnson and (256) 722-7181: https://www.madisoncountysheriffal.org/project-lifesaver . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Alabama Lifespan Respite (a statewide program of UCP Huntsville), Apply for Respite: "Applications are closed at this time"; "Alabama Lifespan Respite is not currently accepting applications to the respite reimbursement program. Please check back in October"; "If you have applied for and received respite reimbursement after July 2025 there is no need to reapply"; and the caregiver considerations, including that the applicant cannot currently be receiving respite through any other program including Medicaid HCBS waivers, that only one caregiver per household is eligible, that the caregiver cannot also be the respite provider, that the provider must be at least 18 and live outside the care recipient's home, that proof of diagnosis is required, and that there is a 30-day processing period; contact 256 859 8300 (256-859-8300) and al.respite@ucphuntsville.org: https://alabamarespite.org/apply-for-respite/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Huntsville Assistance Program: the Emergency Food Pantry rules ("Maximum of four (4) times per year," proof of Madison County residency and photo ID, a home within Madison County with a kitchen) and the three current pantry locations and hours, including the note that the Huntsville site moved to 206 Beirne Avenue NE starting September 2: https://huntsvilleap.org/emergency-food-pantry/ . The Emergency Financial Assistance rules, including "Financial assistance may be granted only once within a 12-month time frame" and "Financial Assistance Line: 256-539-2320, Answered ONLY from 9:30 - 11am on MONDAYS": https://huntsvilleap.org/emergency-financial-assistance/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Food Bank of North Alabama: the 11-county region, the program list, and the locations block giving "225 Finney Drive, Huntsville, AL 35824, Phone: 256-539-2256" and hours "Monday-Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm": https://foodbanknorthal.org/ and https://foodbanknorthal.org/programs/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Huntsville Housing Authority: "Currently, HHA has a 6 to 12 month wait-list for Public Housing. Applications are being accepted at our main office at 200 Washington St. Online applications are currently unavailable"; the address 200 Washington St. NE, Huntsville, AL 35801; hours "Mon - Fri: 7:00 am - 6:30 pm"; phone 256-539-0774; and the Section 8/HCV contact cdanson@hsvha.org: https://hsvha.org/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, Find Your Veterans Service Office: "Madison County Veterans Service Office, City: Huntsville, Service Officer: Terrence Peoples, Street Address: 819 Cook Avenue NW, Suite 137, Huntsville, AL 35801, Tel: (256) 532-1662, Fax: (256) 532-1562, Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Counties Served: Madison": https://va.alabama.gov/service-officer/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, Alabama State Veterans Home application package (ADVA Form 33, May 2025): the address and phone for "Floyd E. 'Tut' Fann State Veterans Home, 2701 Meridian Street, Huntsville, AL 35811, (256) 851-2807"; the eligibility requirements including "a minimum of 90 continuous days of Active Duty service," the post-1980 and post-1981 24-month rule, "Must meet the qualifications as set forth by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs criteria for skilled nursing care or domiciliary/assisted living," and "Must have been a resident of the State of Alabama during the immediate past 12 months"; and the "What the Facility Will Not Provide" list, whose first item is "Free nursing home care": https://va.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ADVA-33-May-2025.pdf . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Robert "Bob" Harrison Senior Wellness and Advocacy Center: Madison County's own facility directory entry giving the address 6156 Pulaski Pike, Huntsville, AL 35810, phone (256) 519-2040, and the amenities list including heated indoor pool, jacuzzi, indoor walking track, fitness gym, game room, computer stations, sewing room, outdoor walking trail, nutrition site and Little Pantry site: https://www.madisoncountyal.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/68/ . The center's own site, source of "Ages 40+ welcome," "Only $180 per year for membership," and the program and amenity lists: https://www.theharrisoncenter.org/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Madison County, AL, facility directory entries for New Market Senior Center (3687 Winchester Road, New Market, AL 35761, (256) 379-2877, Director John Humphrey) at https://www.madisoncountyal.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/62/ and New Hope Senior Center (123 Church Avenue, New Hope, AL 35760, (256) 723-2208, Director Dean Manley, Nutrition Site) at https://www.madisoncountyal.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/63/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• City of Madison, AL, Senior Center: the physical address 1329 Browns Ferry Rd, Madison, AL 35758, phone (256) 772-6242, hours "Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.," and the published membership packet, caregiver packet, monthly program guide, lunch calendar and bus transportation request form: https://www.madisonal.gov/235/Senior-Center . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Legal Services Alabama and AlabamaLegalHelp.org: the statewide call center 866 456 4995 with hours "Mon- Fri | 8:30a-4:30p" at https://legalservicesalabama.org/ ; and the Huntsville office listing giving "610 Airport Rd. 200, Huntsville, AL 35802," "LOCAL: 256/536-9645 • TOLL FREE: 1-888-741-7129," that is 256-536-9645, weekday hours, the counties served including Madison, the 125 percent of federal poverty income test, and the intake numbers 1-866-456-4995 and 1-888-835-3505, on a site described as "a project of Legal Services Alabama and the Legal Services Corporation": https://www.alabamalegalhelp.org/organization/huntsville-office-legal-services-alabama . Other directories publish a different Huntsville street address, which is why this page routes readers to the intake line first. Verified September 3, 2026.
• The Salvation Army, Huntsville Corps, Utility Rent Assistance: the emergency rent, mortgage and utility assistance description, and the corps address "2114 Oakwood Ave NW, Huntsville, Alabama 35810": https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/al/huntsville/oakwood-ave-nw-corps/utility-rent-assistance/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• 211 Connects Alabama and United Way of Madison County: the local 2-1-1 arrangement, the toll-free number 888-421-1266, the text option (text your ZIP code to 898-211) and the online chat at 211ConnectsAlabama.org: https://www.211connectsalabama.org/contact-local/ and https://uwmadisoncounty.org/get-help/211-information-referral/ . Verified September 3, 2026.
• Alzheimer's Association, Alabama Chapter: the chapter's own office listing, which shows a Birmingham office and the "24/7 helpline 800.272.3900," and no separate Huntsville office, which is why this page routes readers to the helpline: https://www.alz.org/al/about . Verified September 3, 2026.
• National anchor lines used in the "Start here" section, all of which work from anywhere: Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116, a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging: https://eldercare.acl.gov/ . Medicare 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE), TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: https://www.medicare.gov/talk-to-someone . Social Security 1-800-772-1213: https://www.ssa.gov/agency/contact/ . VA 1-800-827-1000: https://www.va.gov/resources/helpful-va-phone-numbers/ . Alzheimer's Association Helpline 800.272.3900, free, 24/7, 365 days a year: https://www.alz.org/help-support/resources/helpline . National Elder Fraud Hotline 833-372-8311 (833-FRAUD-11), a free U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime resource for reporting fraud targeting people age 60 and older: https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/stop-elder-fraud/providing-help-restoring-hope . 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/ . Verified September 3, 2026.

Verified September 3, 2026. Program names, phone numbers, income limits, and deadlines change. Confirm directly with each program before you rely on it.

Ryan Riggins, NC Real Estate License #361546, eXp Realty. Riggins Strategic Solutions is an education and media company, not a real estate sales business. Not financial, tax, medical, or legal advice. Programs and contacts change, confirm directly before relying on them.