SeniorTrust/ElderTrust

2018 Update

Background

Pursuant to the settlement of two related Chancery Court cases (SeniorTrust/ElderTrust) in Davidson County, Tennessee, approximately $36 million in funding will be granted to six different in-state organizations for the purposes of implementing statewide initiatives designed to improve older Tennesseans' lives. Through the efforts of the Court and a group of five philanthropic organizations that provided expertise, a process was developed to accept and carefully vet statewide proposals in four specific areas for innovation, ability to implement, and sustainability. The process took almost two years to complete.

The four areas were selected based upon statewide need and a history of limited resources.  They are:

  • Senior Affordable Housing
  • Senior Dental
  • Senior Legal Assistance
  • Senior Transportation

The Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD) is charged with oversight of grant administration. Because of the importance of this effort for older Tennesseans, TCAD and the five philanthropic organizations involved in the grant distribution all committed to continuing work (for no compensation) and oversight of these grants so that they achieve their overall purpose. 

 

Funded Projects

Housing

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis will provide home modifications for more than 1,000 older Tennesseans. These home modifications will allow seniors to age in place in their own homes. For information about this grant, contact: 

Shannon Morgan
Habitat For Humanity of Greater Memphis
Email: smorgan@memphishabitat.com
Phone: 901-322-3510

Westminster Home Connection

Westminster Home Connection will provide critical home repairs, as well as sort-pack-move services, for older Tennesseans in specified counties in the three regions of Tennessee:

  • West (Lake, Dyer, and Obion) 
  • Middle (Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Cheatham, Wilson, Williamson, Davidson, Hickman, and Maury)
  • East (Scott and Morgan)

These home modifications will allow seniors to age in place in their own homes, and the sort-pack-move services will assist older Tennesseans as they transition to other housing options. For information about this grant, contact: 

Keith Branson
Executive Director, Westminster Home Connection
Email: keith@westminsterhomeconnection.org
Phone:  615-693-2153

Dental

Interfaith Dental

Through education, transportation, and care, Interfaith Dental's “SMILE ON 60+” program will utilize a statewide network to provide oral health services and education to an estimated 65,000 older Tennesseans and aging service providers. Choose the nearest service location from among 13 options across the state. For information about this grant, contact: 

Holly Plemons
Interfaith Dental
SMILE ON 60+ Senior Program Director
Email: holly@smileon60plus.com
Phone: 615-988-9249

SMILE ON 65+
Hotline: 1-800-509-6055
Website: https://interfaithdental.com/smile-on

Nashville Public Television (NPT)

NPT will implement a multi-platform education and community engagement project about senior dental issues and produce a new documentary, Aging Matters: Senior Dental. For information about this grant, contact: 

Daniel Tidwell
Nashville Public Television
Email: dtidwell@wnpt.org
Phone: 615-687-9935

Legal

Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services

Through a first-of-its-kind alliance, the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) and the four Legal Aid Societies from across the state will provide direct legal assistance (accessing benefits, avoiding elder abuse, core housing issues, and estate planning) to approximately 8,500 older Tennesseans. View a map of alliance services by Tennessee county. For information about this grant, contact: 

Sonya Bellafant
Director of Tennessee Senior Law Alliance
Email: sbellafant@las.org
Phone: 615-780-7106

Nashville Public Television (NPT)

NPT will implement a multi-platform education and community engagement project focusing on senior legal issues and produce a new documentary, Aging Matters: Senior Legal Issues. For information about this grant, contact: 

Daniel Tidwell
Nashville Public Television
Email: dtidwell@wnpt.org
Phone: 615-687-9935

Transportation

Southwest Tennessee Development District

The MyRide TN  Senior Volunteer Transportation project will create and implement thirty new volunteer senior transportation projects across the state. These new projects are estimated to serve approximately 7,500 older Tennesseans. Check program availability throughout the state against a map updated in June 2019. *Note that several programs are scheduled to launch in April 2019. 

For information about this grant, contact: 

Shelley Hale
Executive Director, Southwest TN Area Agency on Aging and Disability
Email: shale@swtdd.org
Phone: 731-668-6403