Older adult gratefully receiving a crate full of healthy food from a meal program.

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CDA is your connection with California’s range of programs, services, and resources for the state’s growing population of older adults, adults with disabilities, residents of long-term care facilities, and family caregivers.

California Department of Aging (CDA)

Track the progress being made on any of the more than 200 Master Plan for Aging (MPA) initiatives, all designed to help build the most age- and disability-friendly state in the nation. California’s MPA prioritizes the well-being of older people with five bold goals covering housing, health, equity, caregiving, and finances. Learn more and read the MPA.

MASTER PLAN FOR AGING IMPLEMENTATION TRACKER

If you’re 60 or older and on a limited income, you might be able to get fresh produce, herbs, and honey at participating farmers markets. Check the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program to see if you qualify, or find your nearest Area Agency on Aging at 800-510-2020.

DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Need help paying your electricity or water bills? The California Department of Community Services & Development offers assistance to those in need, including older adults. A weatherization program also helps save energy, lowering utility costs. Find services in your area with this map.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES & DEVELOPMENT

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program, or public health insurance for low-income residents. Included are people with disabilities and specific diseases such as tuberculosis, breast cancer, or HIV/AIDS, pregnant women, and all people 50 and older, regardless of immigration status. Apply online or find the office in your county. The Department of Health Care Services also co-sponsors Covered California, a free service that connects Californians of all ages with brand-name health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Find help online or call 800-300-1506.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

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If you’re an older adult with health concerns, the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) senior health program offers lots of resources.

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

California Volunteers matches myriad programs and initiatives with people willing to give their time and talents. Many are perfect for older adults! Opportunities range from packing food at a local pantry and food deliveries to crisis counseling or mentoring homeless children, and much more. Check out the volunteer options in your area.

CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEERS

More than two million people in California, from children to older adults, are affected by potentially disabling mental health challenges. The hope of recovery drives the vision of the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC), which develops strategies to overcome the stigma that people often face. MHSOAC provides a roundup of telephone services for people needing help; veterans, for example, can call the Veterans Crisis Lifeline at 988 and press 1.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION

Composed of 25 appointees, the California Commission on Aging (CCoA) advises the governor and Legislature on programs and services affecting older adults. The commission meets publicly five times a year and works with public and nonprofit partners to address emerging challenges and opportunities. Call 916-419-7591 for more information.

CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON AGING

Consider exploring any of California's more than 200 state parks for free, if you’re 62 or older and qualify for the Golden Bear Pass. For details, contact parkpassinfo@parks.ca.gov.

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS

Disasters disproportionately affect older adults, people with disabilities, those who might struggle with transportation, children, and people with limited English skills. The Office of Access and Functional Needs (OAFN) works to help these populations with communication, transportation, and shelter before, during, and after emergencies. For more information, call 916-894-5209. Listos California also helps Californians of all ages prepare for emergencies.

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

Are you an older person looking to return to the workforce, or to transition to a new career? EDD provides a range of employment and training services across California through American Job Centers. Find a center in your area.

EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

How can an older person protect against financial abuse? The Department of Insurance’s Senior Gateway is a one-stop website offering older adults, their families, and caregivers multiple resources ranging from spotting scams and knowing one’s rights to reporting abuse and neglect. A good place to start is the Senior Gateway’s must-read Top 10 Safety Tips.

DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE

Older Californians on average own more assets but possess fewer digital skills, making them targets for fraud. The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation provides information to give consumers the tools to make smart financial decisions, including workshops and one-on-one consultations to help older adults protect against scams. Elder financial abuse can be reported on DFPI’s website.

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL PROTECTION & INNOVATION

Do you need help filling out tax forms? Do you know whether you’re eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit? Qualifying Californians 60 and older who need help filing their taxes can check out the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program. The Franchise Tax Board provides a locator service so you can find a counseling site in your area.

FRANCHISE TAX BOARD

Older state employees nearing the end of their career can consult the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) for information on preparing for retirement and retirement benefits. And retired state workers who want to continue working for the state can register to return to work on a temporary basis.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

CalPERS offers a variety of resources to help older state employees nearing and after retirement. The Retirement Estimate Calculator can help people decide if it’s time to retire while the Retirement Planning Checklist helps them understand the necessary steps to take up to one year in advance.

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM

Retired public school educators, from kindergarten through community college, receive benefits through CalSTRS, the largest educator-only pension fund in the world. Contact CalSTRS at 800-228-5453.

CALIFORNIA STATE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Where should people who served in the armed forces turn for help? CalVet is for veterans of all ages and their families to learn about housing, health care, jobs, education, and home loans. These services are in demand as the veteran population ages and more people require access to medical facilities and long-term care services, CalVet says. Each year for the next several years, 30,000 newly discharged members of the armed services are expected to settle in California — more than any other state. For more information, call 800-952-5626.

Department of Veterans Affairs

If CalVet denies state benefits — such as a home loan, student waiver, or admission into a veteran's home — a veteran may appeal directly to the California Veterans Board. This seven-person panel meets publicly several times a year, serving as an advocate for veterans. Contact the board at CalVetBoard@calvet.ca.gov.

California Veterans Board

The OAG investigates and prosecutes Medi-Cal fraud, elder abuse, and crimes against older adults in care facilities. Contact the OAG Hotline at 800-722-0432 or use its online fraud and abuse complaint form.

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

It’s against the law for anyone to discriminate against older Californians and other protected classes in employment, housing, business establishments, and state-funded programs. Complaints can be made to the Civil Rights Department, which investigates hate crimes including those committed against older people. For more information, call (800) 884-1684.

CALIFORNIA CIVIL RIGHTS DEPARTMENT

Did you know that the California Department of Motor Vehicles will not take away a driver's license when someone reaches a certain age? It all depends on mental and physical condition and ability to follow traffic laws — regardless of age.

DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES

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Human Services

• Through contracts with CDA, 33 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) throughout the state provide numerous services for older Californians. They offer help with transportation, housing, preparing for emergencies, preventing falls and injuries, reducing fraud, dealing with dementia, and more. To find your local AAA, call CDA’s Aging and Adult Info Line at 800-510-2020 or visit the CDA website. • Are you interested in sharing a meal with other older adults in your community? Or maybe you’d like meals delivered to your home? Your Area Agency on Aging has the answer, regardless of your income. • Do you need support as you’re caring for an older loved one? California’s Area Agencies on Agency and Caregiver Resource Centers offer counseling, respite care, legal services, access assistance, and more. • Need someone to help unravel Medicare options? Find friendly assistance in your area through the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, otherwise known as HICAP, by calling 800-434-0222. • Do you have concerns about someone in a long-term care facility? Call the California Long-Term Care Ombudsman CRISISline at 800-231-4024. • If you’re lonely or feeling down, you’ll always find a friendly voice willing to listen at Friendship Line California, 888-670-1360. • California's Aging Resource Guide contains helpful links, phone numbers, and informative articles on an array of issues affecting older Californians, including housing, vaccines, and elder abuse. • Ever wonder how many older adults live in your county, and their breakdown by race and ethnicity? Would you like to see how both measures are projected to change in the next 15 years? The County Profiles of Older Adults tool on California’s MPA Data Dashboard presents that information and more, including statistics on how many older adults in any of California’s 58 counties live in poverty, live alone, speak no English, have Alzheimer’s or another dementia, or struggle to pay housing costs. • Aging and Disability Resource Connection refers older adults to a variety of supportive services, helping them identify counseling options, get quick access to help people avoid institutionalization, or transition back home from hospitals, nursing homes, or other facilities.

• Older adults who need protection from abuse, neglect, or exploitation can turn to local Adult Protective Services agencies, administered by the California Department of Social Services with offices in each county. APS investigates reports of mistreatment of anyone 60 and older as well as adults with disabilities of any age. • In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), another Social Services program, helps people remain safely in their own homes instead of moving to care homes. This includes Californians 65 and older, people who are blind, and people with disabilities of any age. Services include housecleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, laundry, bathing, grooming, transportation to medical appointments, and protective supervision for people with mental disabilities. Find your local IHSS office. • Older adults and their families who are looking for information on adult care can visit Resources for Clients and Families. • Find information on all licensed facilities. To file a complaint, call 844-538-8766 or email letusno@dss.ca.gov. • Do you have a guide dog or service dog? You might qualify for $50 a month toward the cost of food, grooming, and health care for the dog through Social Services’ Assistance Dog Special Allowance program. Email ADSAUser@dss.ca.gov or call 916-657-2628 to learn more.

• Apply for cash aid through CalWORKS, Cash Assistance Programs for Immigrants (CAPI) and other programs. • Get CalFresh food benefits online or by calling 877-847-3663. • Report fraud. • Prepare for disasters. • Get financial help for older adults legally caring for grandchildren through the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP) program.

• Popular websites offer valuable information on chronic conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease and stroke. • CDPH’s Patients, Residents, and Families webpage offers resources to:

• Find the right long-term care home. • Learn about care home residents’ rights. • File a complaint against a care facility. • Find an enforcement office near you or call 833-422-4255 for general information.

Transportation and Preparedness

Once drivers reach 70, however, they must renew a driver's license in person at the DMV every five years. A step-by-step video explains how drivers can start the renewal process online from a mobile phone, tablet, or computer. And drivers can choose a no-fail, self-paced eLearning preparation course as an alternative to taking the knowledge exam at the DMV office. The video also shows how to schedule a visit to the DMV office to finish the renewal. The DMV also offers other resources designed to help older people drive safely and maintain independence — plus sample exams, information on vision tests and behind-the-wheel tests, preparation tips, and explanations for how aging affects driving. And people who pass an approved mature driver improvement course may qualify for reduced insurance premiums.

Jobs and Finances

Veterans

Justice

Older couple viewing the computer together.

• Social Services can also help older people:

Did you know that the state regulates 13,500 licensees involved in the funeral industry throughout California? Consumers can get information or file complaints on cemeteries, funeral homes, crematories, and more with the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. Copies of death certificates and other vital records are available from the California Department of Public Health.

CEMETERY AND FUNERAL BUREAU

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Does your difficulty in hearing, seeing, speaking, or remembering affect your ability to use a telephone? If so, you might benefit from specialized phone equipment offered by the CPUC’s Deaf and Disabled Telecommunication Program, also known as California Connect. Examples include phones with big buttons or amplified volume. Call 800-806-1191 (including ASL Now) for more information; TTY 800-806-4474. People whose utilities are regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission may be eligible for the CPUC’s California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program. This provides discounts of up to 35% on electricity bills and 20% discounts on natural gas bills. See if you qualify. The CPUC also offers discounts on home and cell phone bills to qualifying users through its California LifeLine Program. Ask your phone company about this service or call 866-272-0357 for general information.

DEPARTMENT OF MANAGED HEALTH CARE

Older adults and other Californians wanting to compare health plans can visit the Department of Managed Health Care’s informative Health Plan Dashboard. It features health plan contact information, enforcement actions, and data on enrollment, finances, and complaints.

CENTER FOR DATA INSIGHTS AND INNOVATION

Have questions about the quality of health care? Check out Consumer Reports from the Center for Data Insights and Innovation (CDII), which rates health plans and medical groups. The former Office of the Patient Advocate is now part of CDII. It remains dedicated to providing Californians with data to help them make informed decisions about their health care.

CALIFORNIA STATE COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

SCDD’s 31 members are appointed by the governor to advocate for people with disabilities. For information, call 833-818-9886.

Older adults may be at greater risk during heat waves, which have proved deadlier than other weather hazards. Assess your risk and learn how to stay cool and hydrated at HeatReadyCA.com. OCPSC also manages Save Our Water, the state’s water conservation program that helps people of all ages learn how to use water efficiently inside and outside.

OFFICE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

Need help paying your electricity or water bills? The California Department of Community Services & Development can help those in need, including older adults. A weatherization program also helps save energy, lowering utility costs. Find services in your area with this map.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES & DEVELOPMENT

People of all ages with disabilities can get help with jobs and independent living from California’s Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), which runs the largest vocational rehabilitation program in the United States. DOR has 80 field offices and oversees 28 Independent Living Centers. Find a location near you, or call 800-952-5544.

DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION

Many experts recommend that adults prepare an Advance Health Care Directive letting your doctor, family, and friends know which treatments you want or don’t want at the end of your life. This can include your preferences for diagnostic testing, surgical procedures, resuscitation, and organ donation. Advance Health Care Directive forms that are ready to be customized for your situation are available at the Office of the Attorney General. When completed, an Advance Health Care Directive may be registered with the California Secretary of State.

CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE

CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEERS

CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON AGING

DEPARTMENT OF MANAGED HEALTH CARE

Have questions about the quality of health care? Check out the Consumer Reports from the Center for Data Insights and Innovation (CDII), which rates health plans and medical groups. The former Office of the Patient Advocate, along with other units looking out for patients’ well-being, are joining CDII.

CENTER FOR DATA INSIGHTS AND INNOVATION

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES & DEVELOPMENT

FRANCHISE TAX BOARD

CALIFORNIA CIVIL RIGHTS DEPARTMENT

Need help with audiobooks or books and magazines in Braille? You can receive them, along with machines to read them, free of charge through the Braille and Talking Book Library at the California State Library. Eligible readers are assigned a personal reader advisor to help with book orders, author or subject searches, machine problems, temporary holds, and more. Apply online or call 800-952-5666.

California State Library

The Office of Traffic Safety takes a leadership role in making California roadways safe for everyone, including older adults. The agency compiles data, delivers safety grants, and conducts public awareness campaigns. Outreach includes “Go Safely, California,” a partnership with Caltrans to help people make informed choices, whether walking, driving, or bicycling.

Office of Traffic Safety

Every Californian deserves to age with dignity, safe from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Anyone can provide input at public meetings of the Elder & Disability Justice Coordinating Council.

California Elder and Disability Justice Coordinating Council

California Department of Aging (CDA)

OFFICE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

CALIFORNIA CIVIL RIGHTS DEPARTMENT

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

DDS provides tools for people with intellectual and development disabilities who are aging as well as their loved ones and caregivers at 21 regional centers throughout California.

California State Library

Another resource for low- and moderate-income taxpayers who could use a hand with tax returns is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The California State Controller works with the IRS to provide free basic tax return preparation to eligible individuals from February 1 through April 15, with dates and times varying by location.

CALIFORNIA STATE CONTROLLER’S OFFICE

California Privacy Protection Agency

Phishing. Data breaches. Malware. Identity theft. Californians of all ages are right to be worried about protecting their personal information. Fortunately, Californians have the strongest privacy rights in the country. The California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) wants older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers to know how to better keep personal information private and safe from scammers and fraudsters. The Frequently Asked Questions page provides an overview of the agency, the rights consumers have under the California Consumer Privacy Act, and how to exercise these rights.

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

The Centers for Disease Control says people aged 65 or older are more prone to heat-related health problems. California summers can get unbearably hot, so it’s vital that older Californians know how to plan and respond to an upcoming heat wave. The cutting-edge CalHeatScore is an important tool to prepare all Californians for extreme heat. Simply enter your ZIP code to receive locally tailored guidance. It also offers tips for staying safe — such as how to recognize signs of heat illness — and important resources, like locations of the nearest cooling centers.