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Free personalized senior living guidance for families
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California · Everything here is free · Reviewed July 2026
If you or someone you love is getting older and money is tight, you are not alone, and you are in the right place. California has many free programs that help seniors pay for health care, in-home help, food, and even a place to live. The hard part is knowing where to start.
Not sure where to start? Call for free1-800-510-2020This is your one call for almost anything about aging in California. They connect you to your local Area Agency on Aging and to resources for seniors and adults with disabilities near you. (This is California's Aging & Disability Resource Connection, or ADRC, front door.)
This page pulls the most useful California resources together in one spot. Every phone number here reaches a real government agency or a trusted nonprofit. None of these services will try to sell you anything, and none of them cost money to call.
Take it one step at a time. You do not have to understand every program today. Start with a single phone call, ask your questions, and let a trained person help guide you. That is exactly what these folks are here to do.
Tap what fits. You'll jump straight to the right help — no reading through the rest.
Still not sure? Just make the call above — they'll help you figure it out. One call is a great start.
Start here for most families
Most people would rather get care at home, and California has real programs to make that possible.
To apply, contact your county IHSS or social services office (start here if you are not sure who to call).
Start with Medi-Cal or visit the Department of Health Care Services and search for "Assisted Living Waiver" or "HCBA Waiver." Your Area Agency on Aging can also point you the right way.
Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program, and it covers a lot for seniors: doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescriptions; long-term care in a nursing home; In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) — paid help with bathing, dressing, meals, and housework so you can stay in your own home; and dental, vision, and rides to medical appointments.
Who can qualify? Medi-Cal is based mainly on your income. As of 2026, California also looks at your assets (things like savings) again, but the limit is generous — around $130,000 for one person, with more allowed for a spouse. Your own home usually does not count. These limits and rules change from year to year, so please do not count yourself out. Always call to check your own situation.
Call your county social services office, or the Medi-Cal Member Help Line to be pointed the right way.
Apply online (BenefitsCal)
Apply at BenefitsCal.com, California's official benefits website.
Visit your county human services or social services office. The Aging & Adult Information Line can help you find it.
PACE brings all of a senior's medical care, in-home help, and social support together under one team, so you can keep living in your community instead of a nursing home.
California has one of the strongest PACE networks in the country.
CalPACE
See whether a PACE program serves your area.
National PACE finder
Use the national finder to check whether a PACE program serves your area.
If you're on Medicare
If Medicare costs are eating into your budget, two programs can help.
Apply through Medi-Cal.
HICAP can walk you through applying for a Medicare Savings Program.
Apply for the prescription drug subsidy through Social Security.
HICAP stands for the Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program. It is California’s version of the national SHIP program, and it is one of the best-kept secrets for seniors.
HICAP counselors give free, unbiased, one-on-one help with Medicare. They can explain your options, compare plans, help with a denied claim or a confusing bill, and check whether you qualify for programs that lower your costs. They do not sell anything and have nothing to gain from your choices.
Free, unbiased, one-on-one Medicare counseling — explains your options, helps with a denied claim or a confusing bill, and checks whether you qualify for programs that lower your costs.
Everyday essentials
CalFresh — apply online (BenefitsCal)
CalFresh is California’s food-benefit program (formerly food stamps). It puts money on a card each month to buy groceries. Many seniors qualify and never realize it.
CalFresh — apply online (GetCalFresh)
Another way to apply online for CalFresh.
Apply by phone through your county, or call 211 for help.
For home-delivered meals (often called Meals on Wheels) and senior nutrition programs, contact your Area Agency on Aging through the Aging & Adult Information Line.
If you are worried about rent, utilities, or finding affordable senior housing, start with one of these:
Dial 211 for local help with rent, utility bills, and affordable housing.
Reach senior housing programs through your local Area Agency on Aging.
These lines can point you toward income-based senior apartments and emergency help in your county.
Guidance & protection
Every part of California has an Area Agency on Aging (AAA). Think of it as your local hub for senior services: meals, transportation, caregiver support, senior centers, and help figuring out what you qualify for.
Connects you to the right local office based on where you live.
The national line also connects you to the right local office based on where you live.
Free legal help for California seniors age 60 and older, run by Legal Services of Northern California.
You can also find local legal aid through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or by dialing 211.
If you have a concern about a nursing home or assisted living facility — quality of care, safety, or a resident's rights — a Long-Term Care Ombudsman can help, for free and confidentially.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Learn more (California Department of Aging)
Learn more about the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program.
National Ombudsman locator
Find the long-term care ombudsman program for any state.
Local help of all kinds, day or night.
A friendly national line that connects you to services near you.
Call the Aging & Adult Information Line at 1-800-510-2020. Tell them what is going on and ask what help is available near you. They will connect you to your local Area Agency on Aging.
Call for free1-800-510-2020Medi-Cal is California’s name for Medicaid. It is a health program for people with lower incomes, and it covers things Medicare does not, like long-term care and in-home help.
Mostly no. Medicare covers doctors and hospitals but not long-term help at home or in assisted living. Medi-Cal, IHSS, and California’s waiver programs are the ones that help with those costs.
Very possibly. Medi-Cal is designed for people with limited income, and the income and asset limits change each year. Do not assume you earn too much. Call 1-800-541-5555 and let them check.
Ask about Medicare Savings Programs through Medi-Cal (1-800-541-5555). The QMB program can pay your Part B premium and more. Also apply for Extra Help for prescriptions through Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.
Yes, that is often possible. IHSS pays for a caregiver to help you at home, and the HCBA Waiver helps people who would otherwise need a nursing home get care in their own home. Start at 1-800-510-2020 or 1-800-541-5555.
Absolutely. That is what HICAP (1-800-434-0222) and the Aging & Adult Information Line (1-800-510-2020) are for. These are free, and they are used to answering exactly these kinds of questions.
You have worked hard your whole life, and asking for help now is a smart, brave step, not something to feel bad about. Make that first call today, and let someone friendly help carry the load.
Program details, income limits, and contact information can change. The agencies linked above can confirm the most current specifics for your situation. This page is for general information and isn’t legal or financial advice.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Program details, income limits, and contact information can change — the linked agencies confirm the most current specifics.