Resources · Seniors
Help for older adults
Medicare and prescription help, senior centers and meals, in-home support, property tax relief, and free technology help for older adults.
Ayuda con Medicare y medicinas, centros y comidas para personas mayores, apoyo en el hogar, alivio del impuesto a la propiedad y ayuda tecnológica gratuita.
18 programs · updated from the Resources database; every number is checked on the program's own page.
211 — free 24/7 help planning for power outages and finding local support
- Worth
- Free
- Who qualifies
- Anyone, regardless of income.
- Phone
- 211, or 1-866-346-3211 (1-866-FIND211). Nevada County: 211 Connecting Point, 2-1-1 or 1-833-DIAL211
- Website
- pge.com/en/outages-and-safety/outage-preparedness-and-support/general-outage-resources/211.html
CDFA - Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program
CDFA - Programa de Nutrición del Mercado de Agricultores para Personas Mayores
- Who qualifies
- Adults 60 years and older with low income (≤185 % of federal poverty level) who reside in California
- Phone
- 916-214-1381 – CDFA SFMNP contact phone
- Website
- cdfa.ca.gov/SeniorFarmersMrktNutritionPrgm
Check Your Eligibility | SilverSneakers
Verifique su elegibilidad | SilverSneakers - Programa de fitness gratuito disponible a través de planes elegibles de Medicare. Los miembros obtienen acceso a gimnasios, clases de fitness en grupo y entrenamientos bajo demanda.
- Worth
- Free gym access, fitness classes, and on-demand workouts through eligible Medicare plans
- Who qualifies
- Seniors with eligible Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plans
- Phone
- 1-888-423-4632
- Website
- tools.silversneakers.com/Eligibility/CheckEligibility
Congregate Lunch Café | Gold Country Senior Services
Congregate Lunch Café | Servicios para Personas Mayores de Gold Country
- Worth
- $
- Who qualifies
- Everyone
- Phone
- - (530) 273-4961 - Congregate Lunch Cafe at Nevada City Senior Apartments - None
- Website
- goldcountryservices.org/congregate-lunch-cafe
Disability Disaster Access & Resources (DDAR) — backup batteries, hotel stays and rides during power shutoffs
- Worth
- Free (portable batteries, hotel stays, food replacement, accessible rides)
- Who qualifies
- Older adults and people with disabilities or chronic conditions who live in a High Fire-Threat District (or have had two or more Public Safety Power Shutoffs since 2020) and use an electric or assistive device, or rely on electricity to live independently. No doctor's note or income check.
- Website
- pge.com/en/outages-and-safety/outage-preparedness-and-support/health-and-accessibility-support/disability-disaster-access-and-resources-program.html
Gold Country Senior Services | Gold Country Senior Services
Servicios para personas mayores de Gold Country - Organización sin fines de lucro que ofrece programas de nutrición, asistencia con leña, actividades en el centro comunitario y clases para adultos mayores en el oeste del condado de Nevada, California.
- Worth
- Range of programs supporting health, well-being, and independence of older adults in Western Nevada County
- Who qualifies
- Age 60+ in Western Nevada County (Grass Valley, Nevada City, Penn Valley, Lake Wildwood, Lake of the Pines, Alta Sierra, and nearby). Meals on Wheels prioritizes seniors who can't shop or cook and those recently hospitalized or with chronic illness.
- Phone
- (530) 273-4961
- Website
- goldcountryservices.org
Golden Ticket — free bus for life at 80+ (Nevada County Connects)
Boleto Dorado — autobús gratis de por vida a los 80+ (Nevada County Connects)
- Worth
- Lifetime free rides on all regular Nevada County Connects routes (1-7) — proof of age is the whole application
- Who qualifies
- Seniors aged 80 and over
- Phone
- 530-477-0103 – Nevada County Connects inquiries none
- Website
- nevadacountyca.gov/2259/Fares-and-Passes
IRS VITA & TCE — free tax prep sites (and how to host one)
VITA y TCE del IRS — sitios gratuitos de preparación de impuestos (y cómo ser sede)
- Worth
- $0
- Who qualifies
- VITA: people earning about $70,244 or less, people with disabilities, and people with limited English. TCE: people 60 and older. Organizations can sign up to sponsor or host a site
- Phone
- 800-906-9887 (IRS VITA/TCE site locator line); AARP Tax-Aide sites: 888-227-7669
- Website
- irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers
MEALS ON WHEELS
Comidas sobre Ruedas
- Worth
- Two hot lunches per week, suggested $4/meal donation, no one turned away for inability to pay
- Who qualifies
- Home-bound seniors age 60+ in Western Nevada County who have trouble preparing meals or shopping
- Phone
- (530) 446-6853 — Meals on Wheels direct line; (530) 615-4541 — Gold Country Senior Services office
- Website
- goldcountryservices.org/meals-on-wheels
Medicare-Savings-Programs-in-California
Programas de Ahorro de Medicare en California - Programas que ayudan a californianos de bajos ingresos elegibles a pagar primas, deducibles y copagos de Medicare. Puede aplicar en línea en BenefitsCal.org o llamar a la línea de ayuda de Medi-Cal.
- Worth
- Helps pay Medicare premiums, deductibles, and copayments for eligible low-income Californians
- Who qualifies
- Medicare enrollees with monthly income up to $1,330 (QMB) / $1,596 (SLMB) / $1,796 (QI) individual, with proportional couple limits. Asset limit $130,000 individual (reinstated Jan 1, 2026).
- Phone
- (800) 541-5555 (Medi-Cal Helpline)
- Website
- dhcs.ca.gov/individuals/Pages/Medicare-Savings-Programs-in-California.aspx
Nevada County Public Health — free flu shot clinics, October 2026 (ages 3+, no insurance needed)
Salud Pública del Condado de Nevada — clínicas gratuitas de vacuna contra la gripe, octubre de 2026 (3 años en adelante, no se necesita seguro)
- Worth
- $0
- Who qualifies
- Anyone age 3 and up. Free, no insurance needed. Children under 3: ask your primary care provider
- Phone
- 530-265-1460 (Nevada County Public Health)
- Website
- nevadacountyca.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/8902
PG&E access and functional needs support — food, lodging and rides during outages
Asistencia y recursos de accesibilidad
- Worth
- Free
- Who qualifies
- PG&E customers who may need extra help during an outage because of age, a medical condition or other health or safety needs.
- Phone
- 1-800-743-5000 – PG&E customer service
- Website
- pge.com/afn
PG&E Self-Identified Vulnerable status — extra warning before outages and shutoffs, no doctor's note
- Worth
- Free
- Who qualifies
- PG&E residential customers whose health or safety would be at risk if the power went out and who don't qualify for Medical Baseline. You certify yourself; no doctor is needed.
- Phone
- 1-800-743-5000 – PG&E customer service
- Website
- pge.com/en/account/billing-and-assistance/financial-assistance/vulnerable-customer-status.html
Property Tax Postponement
Aplazamiento de impuestos sobre la propiedad — El Contralor del Estado de California permite a propietarios de 62 años o más, ciegos o con discapacidad aplazar los impuestos sobre la propiedad de su residencia principal. Para 2026-27: ingreso familiar de $57,002 o menos, al menos 40% de capital en la vivienda, sin hipoteca inversa. Los impuestos aplazados acumulan 5% de interés simple anual y están garantizados por un gravamen estatal — se pagan cuando vende, se muda, refinancia o fallece. Solicite entre el 1 de octubre de 2026 y el 10 de febrero de 2027. (800) 952-5661.
- Worth
- Defer current-year property taxes on principal residence, secured by a lien against the property
- Who qualifies
- California homeowner age 62+, blind, or disabled; main residence; at least 40% equity; household income $57,002 or less (2026-27); current on mortgage and property taxes; no reverse mortgage.
- Phone
- (800) 952‑5661 – State Controller’s Property Tax Postponement team (530) 265‑1285 – Nevada County Treasurer‑Tax Collector 1‑800‑222‑1753 – Senior Legal Hotline
- Website
- sco.ca.gov/ardtax_prop_tax_postponement.html
Senior Firewood Program | Gold Country Senior Services
Programa de Leña para Personas Mayores | Servicios para Personas Mayores del Gold Country
- Worth
- # Senior Firewood Program | Gold Country Senior Services <!-- Max Grant: $ --> Category: Home, Seniors URL: https://www.goldcountryservices.org/senior-firewood-program/ # Senior Firewood Program Since 1979, the Senior Firewood Program has provided extra warmth to low-income seniors by delivering firewood for winter. The group of dedicated volunteers cut, split and deliver the firewood to seniors in need in our community. ## Program Details ## Eligibility - Low-income seniors 60 or older who live in Western Nevada County and are struggling to heat their home. - Lives alone or with another age-eligible, low income senior ## Enrollment - Our enrollment is full for the winter of 2023-2024. We are not accepting new clients at this time. ## Firewood Removal Thank you to our generous community! We are not currently adding softwood removals to our waitlist; oak wood removals can be added to the list but there is still a significant wait. GCSS gladly removes wood under the following conditions: - Trees must be down (we cannot fell trees). - Wood needs to be located within 10 miles of Grass Valley and accessible by vehicle. - We do not accept Grey or Foothill Pine, kindling or remove slash; sorry! - At this time, our Softwood Yard is full – we currently have a long waitlist to remove wood. Thank You! To donate wood, please call (530) 615-4541 or email us at: info@goldcountryservices.org. ## Some of our Amazing Volunteers
- Who qualifies
- Low-income seniors 60 or older who live in Western Nevada County and are struggling to heat their home. Lives alone or with another age-eligible, low income senior
- Phone
- none
- Website
- goldcountryservices.org/senior-firewood-program
Services – FREED Center for Independent Living
Servicios – FREED Center for Independent Living
- Who qualifies
- People with disabilities, older adults (60+), family members or caregivers
- Phone
- 530-477-3333 – voice line for Nevada / Sierra Counties office 800-655-7732 – toll‑free line for Nevada / Sierra Counties office 530-742-4474 – contact for Yuba / Sutter / Colusa Counties office 530-477-8194 – TTY line for Grass Valley office 530-742-2379 – TTY line for Yuba City office
- Website
- freed.org/services
SSI + State Supplement (monthly cash, 65+ or disabled)
SSI + Suplemento Estatal (efectivo mensual, 65+ o discapacitado)
- Worth
- $2,098.83
- Who qualifies
- people 65+ or blind/disabled with low income
- Phone
- 1-800-772-1213 – application phone line
- Website
- ssa.gov/apply
Vote by November 3, 2026 — accessible voting options in California (until Nov 3)
Vota a más tardar el 3 de noviembre de 2026 — opciones de votación accesible en California (hasta el 3 de nov.)
- Worth
- Free; your right to vote privately and independently
- Who qualifies
- Anyone eligible to vote in California. Same Day Voter Registration lets you register and vote in person through November 3.
- Phone
- (800) 345-8683
- Website
- sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voters-disabilities