Loading...
Free personalized senior living guidance for families
(858) 283-4504Loading...
Pennsylvania · Everything here is free · Reviewed July 2026
If you're an older Pennsylvanian, or the adult child of one, and the cost of care feels overwhelming, take a deep breath. You are not alone, and you are not out of options. Pennsylvania has a strong network of free and low-cost programs for seniors, and many of them are designed to help you stay in your own home.
Not sure where to start? Call for free1-800-753-8827Your one-stop line for finding in-home care, meals, caregiver support, and local services across Pennsylvania.
This page is for people who have Medicare, Medicaid (called Medical Assistance in Pennsylvania), or both, and who can't afford to pay privately for senior living. Everything here is free to call and free to use.
You don't have to understand it all at once. One phone call is enough to get started, and the person who answers will help you find the next step.
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 seniors want to remain at home, and Pennsylvania has programs to help.
They'll walk you through your options to get started with in-home care.
Enroll in CHC to start receiving in-home long-term care services.
A note on assisted living: Pennsylvania's Medicaid generally does not pay the room-and-board rent at private assisted living or personal care homes. But there is a small state supplement that can help some low-income residents, and your Area Agency on Aging can explain your options.
Pennsylvania calls its Medicaid program Medical Assistance (MA). For seniors, it can cover doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and long-term care.
For long-term care specifically, most older adults receive services through Community HealthChoices (CHC) — Pennsylvania's managed-care program that combines Medicare and Medicaid long-term services for people who are 65 or older, or who have a disability. CHC can cover nursing home care and, importantly, care in your own home.
To qualify for Medical Assistance, your income and savings need to be under certain limits. These limits change every year, and there are special rules for married couples and for people who need long-term care. Don't count yourself out. Let them check for you.
Call or apply online for Medical Assistance, Pennsylvania's Medicaid program.
Get free, in-person help applying at your County Assistance Office, or call PA Link to be connected.
Once you have Medical Assistance and need long-term care, enroll in Community HealthChoices (CHC) through the Independent Enrollment Broker.
In Pennsylvania, the letters "PACE" are used for two completely different programs. It's confusing, so here's how to tell them apart.
PACE and PACENET — prescription help. This is Pennsylvania's popular program that helps older adults pay for prescription drugs. If you're 65 or older and meet the income guidelines, PACE and PACENET can dramatically lower what you pay at the pharmacy.
The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly — in Pennsylvania, this is called LIFE (Living Independence for the Elderly). LIFE is for people who need nursing-home level care but want to stay at home. One team handles everything: doctors, medicine, therapy, meals, and rides. For people with both Medicare and Medicaid, LIFE is usually free.
So: if you need help paying for pills, call PACE/PACENET. If you need full daily care while living at home, ask about the LIFE program.
Helps older adults pay for prescription drugs. Apply if you're 65 or older and meet the income guidelines. Also reachable at 1-800-225-PACE.
LIFE (Pennsylvania's PACE program) is available only in certain areas — call PA Link or search online to see if it serves your area.
If you're on Medicare
If Medicare's monthly cost is straining your budget, two programs can help. Many who qualify never sign up because no one told them.
Call the Statewide Customer Service Center to apply.
PA MEDI counselors can help you apply for a Medicare Savings Program — free.
Apply for the prescription drug subsidy through Social Security.
PA MEDI offers free, one-on-one Medicare counseling with no sales pitch. This is the same program that used to be called APPRISE. It's run through the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and your local Area Agency on Aging.
Counselors can help you understand what Medicare covers and what it costs, compare Medicare drug and Medicare Advantage plans, enroll in programs that lower your Medicare costs, and sort out a bill or a denied claim.
Reach a PA MEDI counselor Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's free.
Everyday essentials
Adds money to a card for the grocery store. Apply through the Statewide Customer Service Center or online.
Available through your Area Agency on Aging. Call PA Link to find the program near you.
Dial 211 to find a food pantry near you.
Can point you to senior housing and rental help.
HUD-subsidized senior apartments
Sets rent based on your income. Find them at hud.gov or by dialing 211.
LIHEAP
Helps pay heating bills, through your County Assistance Office or 211.
Guidance & protection
Pennsylvania has 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), one covering every county. These local offices are the heart of senior services, arranging home-delivered meals, in-home care assessments, caregiver support, protective services, and more, much of it free or based on what you can afford.
One call connects you to the office serving your county.
If you're facing eviction, a benefits denial, debt, or possible financial abuse, free legal help is available.
Pennsylvania's legal aid network
Offers free civil legal help to low-income seniors. Find your local office online.
Free legal help for low-income seniors.
To report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an older adult. Available 24 hours a day.
If a loved one is in a nursing home or personal care home and something isn't right, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a free advocate who works for the resident. They investigate complaints and protect residents' rights.
A free, confidential advocate for residents of long-term care facilities.
Reach the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program directly.
The Consumer Voice
Find additional help and information about long-term care ombudsman services.
A free local helpline for food, housing, bills, and more.
A free federal service connecting you to trusted help for older adults anywhere.
Make one call. Start with PA Link at 1-800-753-8827 and describe what’s going on.
Call for free1-800-753-8827Medical Assistance is the name for Pennsylvania's Medicaid program. It provides free or low-cost health coverage to people with limited income, including many seniors, and it covers long-term care both at home (through Community HealthChoices) and in nursing homes.
Generally, no. Medicare doesn't pay assisted living rent and only covers short nursing home stays after a hospital visit. For ongoing long-term care, you'll look to Medical Assistance and Community HealthChoices.
Yes. Every program here is free or based on what you can afford. Some, like the Medicare Savings Programs and PACE/PACENET, actually save you money each month.
Very likely. The Medicare Savings Programs can pay your Part B premium (about $185 a month). Call the Statewide Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930 or PA MEDI at 1-800-783-7067 to apply.
Care at home means an aide or nurse comes to you so you can stay in your own place. A nursing home provides 24-hour care in a facility. Pennsylvania's Community HealthChoices and LIFE programs are built to help people stay home when it's safe.
Yes. PA Link (1-800-753-8827) and your local Area Agency on Aging exist for exactly this, and PA MEDI (1-800-783-7067) handles Medicare questions. You don't have to do it alone.
Reaching out for help is an act of love and courage, whether it’s for yourself or someone you care about. The people who answer these lines want to help. Please make that first call.
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.