Senior Resources and Assistance
Seniors and their caregivers can connect with Senior Services Assistants or Case Managers for support with navigating local resources.
INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE FOR older adults
At each Senior Center in Berkeley, Senior Services Assistants can help you link to services.
While they are not able to provide ongoing, long-term support, they can help by providing:
- A phone or in-person meeting to determine a senior’s needs and, if appropriate, refer to other community services or programs.
- Phone consultation for family members (or other involved persons).
- Assistance by phone to help older adults receive appropriate benefits and services.
- Referrals to identified services.
- Eligibility screening for case management services provided by the Social Services Unit.
Call or stop by the front desk of either location to make an appointment:
- Phone (510) 981-5190
Phone hours: Monday, Wednesday-Friday, 8:00am-5pm - In person: 1901 Hearst Ave
Front desk hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Judge Henry Ramsey Jr. South Berkeley Senior Center
- Phone (510) 981-5170
Phone hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:00am-5pm - In person: 2939 Ellis St.
Front desk hours: Monday-Thursdays, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Case management services
The Social Services Unit is accepting referrals for case management.
The Social Services Unit provides time-limited case management, including consultation and referral in many areas of concern for older adults in the Berkeley community. Please call (510) 981-5180 for more information.
Case managers provide resources to support many concerns, including:
- Transportation
- Having adequate food
- Accessing medical, mental health services and dental and vision care
- Health insurance and financial benefits advocacy resources
- Legal assistance resources
- Affordable housing listings
(Please note that Case Managers do not provide housing placement or navigation services) - Accessibility and safety issues in the home
- Resources for utilities and energy assistance
- Home care assistance referrals
- Family caregiver support
Family caregiver support program
Caregivers of older adults can get support through the Family Caregiver Support Program. Our staff provide guidance and resources for respite care, training, counseling, support groups, and financial assistance. The program is designed to relieve caregiver stress and promote overall well-being.
For contact information, call the North Berkeley Senior Center at (510) 981-5190 or South Berkeley Senior Center at (510) 981-5170.
Other resources
Below are useful links to various resources available to the Berkeley senior citizen community.
- 2-1-1 Phone Service: Information and Referral Phone Line to help people find affordable housing and critical social services in Berkeley and in Alameda County.
- Alameda County Social Services Agency: Information about social services from Alameda County
- Alzheimer's Association: Help and support for individuals with Alzheimer’s and their families
- American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
- Energy Assistance Program: Support with energy bills for low-income households
- Social Security Administration
- The Social Security and Disability News Resource Center
- Veterans Affairs Department
- Affordable Housing Resources: Support for individuals seeking housing
- Easy Does It Emergency Services: Programming provides 24/7 Emergency Attendant Care, Accessible Transportation, Wheelchair Repair, and free Wheelchair Rescue service
- East Bay Paratransit: Provides public transit service for people who are unable to use regular buses or trains, like those operated by AC Transit and BART, because of a disability or a health-related condition
- In-Home Supportive Services: The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program is designed to provide assistance to older adults and individuals with disabilities, who without this care, would be unable to remain safely in their home.
- CalFresh: CalFresh is for people with low-income who meet federal income eligibility rules and want to add to their budget to put healthy and nutritious food on the table.
- Discounted Clipper Card: Discounted public transit for youth, seniors, riders with disabilities, and income-qualified riders
- RTC Discount ID Card: Discounted public transit for riders with disabilities
Services provided in part with support from Alameda County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and California Department of Aging.
