👵 CALIFORNIA SENIOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS & RESOURCES
🍎 FOOD & NUTRITION
OLDER CALIFORNIANS NUTRITION PROGRAM (SENIOR MEALS)
What It Provides:
- Free or low-cost meals at senior centers
- Home-delivered meals (similar to Meals on Wheels)
- Nutrition education
- Wellness checks
- Social activities and support networks
Basic Eligibility:
- Age 60+
- Spouse of eligible participant (any age)
- Certain disabled individuals at participating sites
Home-Delivered Meals:
- Age 60+
- Difficulty leaving home
- Unable to regularly shop or prepare meals independently
Contact:
California Aging & Adult Services
Phone: 1-800-510-2020
Email: info@aging.ca.gov
SENIOR FARMERS’ MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM (SFMNP)
What It Provides:
- Benefits to purchase:
- Fresh fruits
- Vegetables
- Herbs
- Raw honey
Basic Eligibility:
- California resident
- Age 60+
- Household income at or below 185% of federal poverty level
Contact:
California Department of Food & Agriculture
Phone: 916-214-1381
Email: Grants@cdfa.ca.gov
CALFRESH (SNAP / EBT)
What It Provides:
- Monthly grocery benefits on EBT card
Basic Eligibility:
- California resident
- Income limits apply
- Special deductions available for many seniors
Contact:
Phone: 1-877-847-3663
Website: BenefitsCal.com
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🏥 HEALTHCARE
MEDI-CAL FOR SENIORS
What It Provides:
- Doctor visits
- Hospital care
- Prescription medications
- Long-term care
- Dental services
- Vision services
- Transportation assistance
Basic Eligibility:
- California resident
- Meet income requirements
- Age 65+ or qualifying disability
Contact:
Phone: 1-800-541-5555
HICAP (MEDICARE COUNSELING)
What It Provides:
- Medicare enrollment assistance
- Medicare Advantage guidance
- Prescription drug plan assistance
- Billing issue resolution
- Appeals support
Basic Eligibility:
- Medicare beneficiaries
- Family caregivers
Contact:
Phone: 1-800-510-2020
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💵 CASH ASSISTANCE
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI)
What It Provides:
- Monthly cash benefits
Basic Eligibility:
- Age 65+
- Blind or disabled
- Limited income and resources
Contact:
Social Security Administration
Phone: 1-800-772-1213
STATE SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENT (SSP)
What It Provides:
- Additional California cash payment added to SSI
Basic Eligibility:
- California residents receiving SSI
Contact:
County Social Services Office
CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR IMMIGRANTS (CAPI)
What It Provides:
- Monthly cash assistance
Basic Eligibility:
- Age 65+, blind, or disabled
- Not eligible for SSI because of immigration status
- Meet income/resource limits
Contact:
County Social Services Office
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🏡 IN-HOME CARE & PERSONAL ASSISTANCE
IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES (IHSS)
What It Provides:
- Bathing assistance
- Dressing assistance
- Meal preparation
- Cleaning assistance
- Transportation
- Medication reminders
- Personal care
Basic Eligibility:
- California resident
- Medi-Cal eligible
- Age 65+, blind, or disabled
- Living in own home
Important:
- Family members can often be paid caregivers
Contact:
County Social Services Office
FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM
What It Provides:
- Respite care
- Caregiver training
- Counseling
- Support groups
- Resource referrals
Basic Eligibility:
- Family members caring for seniors
Contact:
Phone: 1-800-510-2020
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🚗 TRANSPORTATION
SENIOR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS
What They Provide:
- Medical transportation
- Grocery shopping trips
- Dial-a-Ride services
- Volunteer driver programs
- Senior shuttle services
Basic Eligibility:
- Varies by county
Contact:
Area Agency on Aging (AAA)
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👵 COMMUNITY & SOCIAL PROGRAMS
AREA AGENCIES ON AGING (AAA)
What They Provide:
- Meals
- Transportation
- Legal assistance
- Caregiver support
- Housing referrals
- Benefits counseling
- Adult day programs
- Senior center activities
Basic Eligibility:
- Generally age 60+
Contact:
Phone: 1-800-510-2020
ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS
What They Provide:
- Health monitoring
- Socialization
- Meals
- Therapy services
- Activities
Basic Eligibility:
- Older adults needing supervision or assistance
Contact:
Area Agency on Aging
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⚖️ LEGAL & ADVOCACY SERVICES
LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR SENIORS
What It Provides:
- Housing dispute assistance
- Elder abuse assistance
- Benefits appeals
- Consumer fraud help
- Advance directives
Basic Eligibility:
- Usually age 60+
Contact:
Area Agency on Aging
LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN
What It Provides:
- Advocacy for nursing home residents
- Advocacy for assisted living residents
- Complaint investigations
Contact:
Phone: 1-800-231-4024
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💡 UTILITIES & HOME EXPENSES
LIHEAP
What It Provides:
- Utility bill assistance
- Emergency utility payments
- Weatherization assistance
Basic Eligibility:
- Low-income households
Contact:
Phone: 1-866-675-6623
CARE PROGRAM
What It Provides:
- 20%–35% discount on gas and electric bills
Basic Eligibility:
- Income-qualified households
- Recipients of qualifying public benefits
Contact:
Apply through utility provider
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💼 EMPLOYMENT FOR OLDER ADULTS
SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (SCSEP)
What It Provides:
- Paid job training
- Part-time community service employment
- Employment assistance
Basic Eligibility:
- Age 55+
- Low income
- Unemployed
Contact:
Area Agency on Aging
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🚨 ELDER ABUSE & EMERGENCY SERVICES
ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES (APS)
What It Provides:
- Elder abuse investigations
- Neglect investigations
- Financial exploitation assistance
- Self-neglect intervention
Contact:
Phone: 1-833-401-0832
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☎️ MOST IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBER
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING
Phone: 1-800-510-2020
Email: info@aging.ca.gov
Can connect seniors to:
- Meals
- Transportation
- Housing resources
- Medicare counseling
- Legal services
- Caregiver support
- Employment programs
- Area Agency on Aging services
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QUICK REFERENCE
Groceries:
- CalFresh
- Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
Free Meals:
- Older Californians Nutrition Program
Care at Home:
- IHSS
Medicare Help:
- HICAP
Cash Assistance:
- SSI
- SSP
- CAPI
Transportation:
- AAA Senior Transportation Programs
Utility Assistance:
- LIHEAP
- CARE
Caregiver Support:
- Family Caregiver Support Program
Employment:
- SCSEP
Elder Abuse Help:
- APS
One-Stop Resource:
- Area Agency on Aging (AAA)
- California Department of Aging
- 1-800-510-2020