Costs and paperwork

Free senior programs: meals, transportation and senior centers

Updated October 15, 2026 · Reviewed against official sources

Many Latino families carry the care of their elders alone because they don't know public help exists, or because they think "that's only for people on Medicaid" or "only for people with papers." Some of these programs are broader than people think. In this post, we explain what's available, who can use it and how to ask for it, step by step.

The Older Americans Act in a nutshell

The Older Americans Act (OAA) is a federal law that funds services for people 60 and older. According to KFF, unlike Medicaid, it doesn't have an explicit income test, although services are aimed at people with the greatest economic or social need. These include people with limited English and people at risk of having to move into a care home.

According to KFF, services are delivered through more than 600 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), which work with thousands of community providers. What each one offers varies by area and demand, and some places have waiting lists. That's why it's worth calling early, even if the need doesn't seem urgent today.

What you can find

Meals

• Group meals (congregate meals): served at senior centers, churches and other places in the community. Besides eating, your loved one spends time with others, takes part in activities and sometimes gets health information.
• Home-delivered meals: for people who have a hard time leaving home. The person who delivers the meal also says hello, sees how your loved one is doing and can share information about other services.
• Meals on Wheels: a network of local programs. According to Meals on Wheels America, meals can be free, offered for a suggested donation or priced based on income. Most programs ask you to fill out an application and sometimes do a needs assessment.

For many grandmothers who always cooked for everyone, accepting a delivered meal is hard. You can present it as what it is: help so the family can have peace of mind while they work, and a friendly visit every day.

Transportation

According to KFF, the OAA funds transportation, including rides where someone goes along, to medical appointments or the grocery store. Ask your AAA whether your county has community vans, transportation vouchers or volunteer drivers.

Help at home and adult day centers

Some AAAs offer help with household chores, personal care, case management (a person who organizes the help) and access to adult day centers. You can read how they work in our guide to adult day care and look for options in our adult day centers section. If your loved one needs more hours than these programs offer, see our guide to home care for seniors.

Support for you, the caregiver

The National Family Caregiver Support Program offers guidance, counseling, support groups and respite care so the caregiver can rest. Read more in our guide to help for family caregivers, in our post on respite care and, if you feel you can't go on, in our post on caregiver burnout.

Free counseling

• SHIP: free, unbiased counseling on Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D and savings programs. Each state gives it a different name (HICAP in California, SHINE in Florida). You can find it at shiphelp.org.
• Legal assistance for older adults, funded in part by the OAA. It can help, for example, with a power of attorney and advance directives.
• Long-term care ombudsman: a free service that supports people who live in nursing homes and assisted living communities, and helps residents, families and staff sort out questions. See our guide to resident rights.

How to ask for help, step by step

1. Call the Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116. It's a public service of the Administration for Community Living (ACL). It's open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. If you prefer Spanish, ask for it when you call. It also has a chat on its website, eldercare.acl.gov.
2. Ask for the number of your Area Agency on Aging and of the nearest senior center.
3. Have on hand the address, your loved one's age, what they have trouble doing (cooking, bathing, going out) and whether they have Medicare or Medicaid.
4. Ask about everything in the same call: meals, transportation, help at home, respite for the caregiver and whether there's a waiting list.
5. Write down the name of the person who helped you, the date and the next steps.

If your family is worried about immigration status

The rules on public benefits and "public charge" have changed in recent years, and they aren't the same for every program. Before you apply for a benefit or drop one, talk with an immigration lawyer at a nonprofit organization or with an accredited representative. We sum up the basics in our guide to immigration status and benefits.

A note about federal changes

In 2025, the federal government announced a reorganization of the ACL, the agency that coordinates these programs. As of this writing, the Eldercare Locator and its phone number are still working, but some details could change. If a link or phone number doesn't respond, call your county's office of services for older adults.

💬Frequently asked questions

Do I have to have a low income to get these meals?

There's no income test like Medicaid's. Programs give priority to people with the most need, and many ask for a voluntary donation, but no one should go without service because they can't donate. Ask about the rules of your local program.

My mom is 58. Can she use these services?

Most OAA services are for people 60 and older. Some caregiver supports may have different rules, so it's worth asking your AAA.

What do I do if there's a waiting list?

Ask them to put your loved one on the list, and ask about other options in the meantime: community meal sites, churches, food banks or county programs. Call back every so often to confirm their place on the list.

What if they already need more help than these programs give?

You can explore options with our search tool, see services near you or compare the cost of help at home with the home care calculator.

Sources

• KFF, "What to Know About the Older Americans Act and the Services it Provides to Older Adults": https://www.kff.org/medicare/what-to-know-about-the-older-americans-act-and-the-services-it-provides-to-older-adults/ (accessed October 15, 2026)
• ACL, Nutrition Services: https://acl.gov/programs/health-wellness/nutrition-services (accessed October 15, 2026)
• ACL, Older Americans Act: https://acl.gov/about-acl/older-americans-act-oaa (accessed October 15, 2026)
• ACL, Find Help (Eldercare Locator phone number and hours): https://acl.gov/HousingandServices/FindHelp (accessed October 15, 2026)
• Meals on Wheels America, "Find Meals and Services": https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/find-meals-and-services/ (accessed October 15, 2026)
• SHIP, State Health Insurance Assistance Programs: https://www.shiphelp.org/ (accessed October 15, 2026)

This is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Rules vary by state and by year: confirm with the official agency that applies to you.

👉Keep reading

Help for family caregivers

What the National Family Caregiver Support Program is, who qualifies, its five services and how to apply. Plus FMLA and Medicaid for family caregivers.

Respite care: how to take a few days off from caregiving

What respite care is, where it's offered, who can help pay for it (Medicaid, the VA, hospice), and how to ask for it without feeling guilty.

Adult day care

What adult day care is, how it differs from adult day health care, what it costs and how to pay for it with Medicaid, PACE, CBAS or the VA.

Immigration status and benefits

Who can get Medicaid and Medicare based on immigration status in 2026: emergency Medicaid, state programs and public charge. An informational guide.