Every program and organization that helps older adults on the North County coast, in one place: what it does, who it's for, the number to call, the official site, and our plain-English guide. Each listing was checked against its official source, and the sources are re-checked every morning. Pick a town and a need; the listings that fit move to the top.
The directory
- County Aging & Independence Services (AIS) · 800-339-4661
The County's front door for older adults: IHSS, MSSP, home-delivered meals, caregiver support, and Adult Protective Services (24/7 for abuse reports).
For: Adults 60+ and their families · official site · our guide - IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) · 800-339-4661
Paid help at home; the parent can choose a family member as the caregiver.
For: 65+ (or blind or disabled) on full-scope Medi-Cal who can't stay safely at home without help · official site · our guide - MSSP (Multipurpose Senior Services Program) · 800-339-4661
Care management for people at risk of a nursing home; anyone can make the referral.
For: 60+, on Medi-Cal, at risk of nursing placement · official site · our guide - Gary and Mary West PACE · 760-280-2230
All-in care at home and a day center (center in San Marcos).
For: 55+ who need nursing-home-level care and can live safely at home; no premium with Medi-Cal · official site · our guide - St. Paul's PACE North County · 1-833-722-3669
All-in care at home and a day center (center in Encinitas).
For: 55+ who need nursing-home-level care and can live safely at home; no premium with Medi-Cal · official site · our guide - San Diego PACE, San Ysidro Health · 1-844-473-7223
All-in care at home and a day center (center in Vista).
For: 55+ who need nursing-home-level care and can live safely at home; no premium with Medi-Cal · official site · our guide - Family Health Centers PACE · 760-826-7223
All-in care at home and a day center (center in Oceanside).
For: 55+ who need nursing-home-level care and can live safely at home; no premium with Medi-Cal · official site · our guide - AmeriCare Adult Day Health Care (CBAS) · 760-682-2424
Medi-Cal adult day health care in San Marcos: nursing, therapy, a meal, a ride.
For: Medi-Cal members whose plan approves CBAS · official site · our guide - San Ysidro Health: HCBA waiver · 1-833-503-5910
Medi-Cal care at home for people who qualify for a nursing facility (waitlist, up to 2 years).
For: San Diego and Imperial counties · official site · our guide - Southern Caregiver Resource Center · 800-827-1008
Respite money, counseling, support groups, care planning, legal and financial consults.
For: Family caregivers; no means test · official site · our guide - Interfaith Community Services · 760-489-6380
Case management for 60+ (including health care enrollments), minor home safety changes through the County caregiver program, and Vista senior rent help.
For: 60+ in North Coastal and North Inland · official site · our guide - Elder Law & Advocacy · 858-565-1392
Free legal help through the County caregiver program, and San Diego's HICAP Medicare counseling.
For: Older adults and family caregivers · official site · our guide - Alzheimer's San Diego · 858-492-4400
Helpline, support groups and classes (Care Options: Residential Placement, Nov 19 at the Carlsbad Senior Center).
For: People with memory loss and their families · official site · our guide - Meals on Wheels San Diego County · 1-800-5-SENIOR
Fresh lunch for $5 to $7 a day; free County Meal Program (plus a caretaker meal) for those who qualify, currently with a waitlist.
For: 60+ and veterans with disabilities · official site · our guide - CalFresh (food benefits)
Monthly food money on an EBT card, with easier rules at 60+.
For: Households that qualify by income · official site · our guide - Solana Beach Senior Transportation Program · 858-923-1344
Free weekday rides that begin or end in Solana Beach, within 25 miles; a pilot through October 31, 2026.
For: 65+ · official site · our guide - JFS On the Go · 858-637-3210
Up to 10 rides a month booked 5 days ahead, or same-day Uber/Lyft (fare plus $6) through Navigator.
For: 60+ in 92007, 92014, 92024, 92075 and nearby ZIPs · official site · our guide - Del Mar Community Connections · 858-792-7565
Free volunteer rides to appointments, a grocery van, a wheelchair van, and a free Aging Resources Advocate.
For: 60+ in the 92014 area who can't drive · official site · our guide - RideFACT · 888-924-3228
Rides countywide, $5 to $20 by distance, booked 3 to 7 days ahead; RideFACT NOW for wheelchair vans same day.
For: 60+ or people with disabilities without other transportation · official site · our guide - NCTD: senior fares and LIFT · 760-726-1111
BREEZE $1.50 and COASTER $3.25 at 65+; LIFT paratransit ($6) for people whose disability rules out the bus.
For: 65+, disability, or a Medicare card · official site · our guide - Solana Beach Community Connections · 858-284-6619
Programs at La Colonia Community Center, with free rides to Games Days.
For: Solana Beach seniors · official site · our guide - Encinitas Community & Senior Center · 760-943-2250
Programs, the Oakcrest lunch, and a lunch van for 60+ without a license.
For: Encinitas and Cardiff seniors · official site · our guide - Carlsbad Senior Center · 442-339-2650
Programs, a lunch shuttle, and medical rides within Carlsbad (two a month).
For: Carlsbad residents 60+ · official site · our guide - Oceanside Senior Services · 760-435-5250
Two senior centers, and Go Oceanside rides for residents 65+.
For: Oceanside seniors · official site · our guide - HICAP (free Medicare counseling) · 1-800-434-0222
Unbiased help comparing plans, Medigap and drug plans, and appealing denials.
For: Anyone on Medicare and their families · official site · our guide - California Senior Medicare Patrol · 855-613-7080
Report Medicare scams and suspicious charges.
For: Anyone on Medicare in California · official site · our guide - Medicare · 1-800-633-4227
Plans, cards, claims and fraud reports, 24 hours a day.
For: Anyone on Medicare · official site · our guide - Illinois SHIP (for snowbirds from Illinois) · 1-800-252-8966
Free Medicare counseling from the Illinois Department on Aging.
For: Illinois residents on Medicare · official site · our guide - Medicare Extra Help and the Medi-Cal route · 1-800-772-1213
About $5,700 a year of drug-cost help (Social Security); Medi-Cal with the $130,000 asset limit (County, 1-866-262-9881).
For: People on Medicare with limited income · official site · our guide - Heating bill help (LIHEAP) · 760-344-4500
One-time bill help, and crisis help up to $1,500 on a shutoff notice, through Campesinos Unidos or MAAC (619-434-3829).
For: Households under the income limit · official site · our guide - SDG&E CARE and FERA
Up to 35% off the electric bill.
For: Households under the income limits · official site · our guide - California LifeLine
Up to $28.25 a month off a home or cell phone.
For: Households under the income limit or on certain programs · official site · our guide - Unclaimed property (State Controller) · 800-992-4647
Search every name in the family for forgotten money, free.
For: Anyone · official site · our guide - County, Carlsbad and Oceanside housing authorities · 800-339-4661
Section 8 lists are closed; the County sets aside about 60 vouchers for 62+ referred by AIS.
For: Low-income households · official site · our guide - County Office of Military and Veterans Affairs · 1-866-726-8831
Free help with VA pension and Aid and Attendance claims (North Coastal office in Oceanside).
For: Veterans and surviving spouses · official site · our guide - Long-Term Care Ombudsman (County) · 800-640-4661
Free advocate for residents of nursing homes and assisted living; the State's 24/7 CRISISline is 1-800-231-4024.
For: Residents and families · official site · our guide - Assisted Living Waiver care coordination agencies
Get on Medi-Cal's assisted living waitlist through an agency serving San Diego.
For: Medi-Cal, no share of cost, nursing-facility level of care · official site · our guide - Facility lookups (State)
Licenses and inspections: Cal Health Find for nursing homes, the care facility search for assisted living.
For: Anyone choosing a facility · official site · our guide
Too many numbers? Hand it to PJ
PJ is the go-between: he figures out which of these fit your family, makes the calls with you, does the forms and logins, books the appointments and runs the errands in between. Nobody here pays to be listed, and PJ doesn't sell insurance or give medical, legal or benefits advice. Plans start as low as $25.
Start with the big picture: the care ladder · every senior waitlist · senior benefits checkup · senior events in the next 90 days. Something missing or changed? Text PJ and it gets checked and fixed.
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Local help, free to read: make your fix plan · senior benefits checkup · lower your SDG&E bill · Medicare Extra Help · the next 90 days. Plans start as low as $25.
Questions people ask
Where can seniors get help in North County San Diego?
Start with the County's Aging & Independence Services at 800-339-4661 (IHSS, MSSP, meals, caregiver support, Adult Protective Services). This directory lists every program by town and need.
Who gives free Medicare help in San Diego?
HICAP, run in San Diego by Elder Law & Advocacy: 1-800-434-0222. It doesn't sell insurance.
Are there free rides for seniors in North County?
Yes: the Solana Beach pilot (65+, through October 31, 2026), Del Mar Community Connections, JFS On the Go (donation-based), and the senior center shuttles in Encinitas and Carlsbad.
Know someone who needs this?
Something changed here? Text PJ and we'll update this page.
More free local tools: the North County toolkit.