Adult & Aging Services

The Adult and Aging Services Section provides an array of services to enhance the quality of lives of older and disabled adults. Our mission is to enable individuals to live independent and meaningful lives in their own homes for as long as possible. When this is no longer possible, services are provided to assist individuals in locating alternative living arrangements.

Adult Services Intake assesses needs and links individuals with the most appropriate service. The intake process begins with an inquiry from a prospective client, family member, a member of the community, or an agency. The Intake Unit Social Workers are knowledgeable about not only services provided directly by the Adult and Aging Services Section, but those of other community agencies. An Intake Social Worker is available during hours of operation, Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm to talk with any individual who either comes into the office with questions or calls on the phone. To speak with an Intake Social Worker, call 704-862-7540.

• Adult Care Homes - Licensure involves the activities to license, supervise and monitor group-care homes and homes for elderly and disabled adults.
• Adult Placement Services - provides placement services for disabled and elderly adults in need of adult care homes, intermediate or skilled nursing care.
• Adult Social Work Services - provides social workers to assess an individual's situation, develop a plan of service and work with an individual until stabilization occurs
• Congregate Meals - are weekday meals served to individuals in group settings. Individuals also participate in structured activities and fellowship. Adult and Aging Services operates sites at the following locations:
  • Southpoint Township - Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church, 503 N Main Street, Belmont
  • Riverbend Township - Burge Memorial Methodist Church, 312 W Glendale Avenue, Mt. Holly
  • Gastonia Township - Linwood Terrace Community Building, 1600 Conrad Avenue, Gastonia
  • Riverbend Township - Christ's Lutheran Church, 203 S Main Street, Stanley
  • Crowders Mountain Township - Allan Farris Community Center, 220 S 14th Street, Bessemer City
  • Cherryville Township - Cherry Manor Apartments, 201 S Dixie Street, Cherryville
• Day Care for Adults - provides day care activities in a supervised setting for disabled and elderly adults. The centers are at the following locations:
  • East Gaston Center - 1122 S Main Street, Mt. Holly
    Phone: 704-827-9183
  • Gastonia Center - 900 Roberts Dr., Gastonia
    Phone: 704-866-3677
• Family Caregiver Support Program - provides assistance to family and volunteer caregivers who provide care for their loved ones at home. Services include referrals to community agencies, education, and funding for respite services and supplemental services such as home modifications, nutritional supplements and adaptive equipment. All of this is focused on making the caregiver's role more manageable
• Guardianship Services - are provided to elderly/disabled individuals to ensure essential services when no suitable relative is available
• Home-Delivered Meals - are meals served to individuals who are homebound, unable to prepare meals and have no one available to prepare meals for them. This program is facilitated through the gracious outreach efforts of over 950 volunteers
  • We are always in need of volunteers to deliver noon time meals. If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity and have an hour available, please call 704-862-7540 to find out about delivering meals in:
    • Belmont
    • Bessemer City
    • Cherryville
    • Cramerton
    • Dallas
    • Gastonia
    • Lowell
    • McAdenville
    • Mt. Holly
    • Stanley
• In-Home Aide Services - provides services to assist elderly and disabled individuals in remaining in their own homes
• Protective Services for Adults- responds to calls for the evaluation of concerns regarding abuse, neglect, self-neglect or exploitation of elderly and/or disabled adults and the mobilization of services to meet essential service needs
  • To report instances of abuse, neglect or exploitation of an older or disabled adult, please call 704-862-7575 immediately. Your call will be kept confidential
• Special Assistance In-Home Program - is an alternative to assisted living; qualified Medicaid eligible adults receive a package of individually designed services to prevent or delay entrance into long term care
• Senior Transportation Services - provide transportation to individuals age 60 and older to medical appointments and community resources such as grocery shopping and trips to the pharmacy

How to Apply for Services

The individual needing services or someone acting on the individual's behalf can call the Intake Line at 704-862-7540 to request assistance. Requests for assistance can also be made in person at the Adult and Aging Services Division of the Department of Social Services, 330 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Way, Gastonia, North Carolina.