Santa Clara County — South Bay
Senior Resources in Palo Alto
Home to Avenidas — one of the Peninsula's oldest and most comprehensive senior centers — Palo Alto offers a remarkable concentration of senior resources. From world-class Stanford Health Care to neighborhood adult day programs, residents 55+ have access to deeply established services.
Community & Senior Centers
Avenidas
Founded in 1969, Avenidas helps older adults stay active, engaged, and healthy. Classes, clubs, case management, volunteer opportunities, transportation, medical equipment loan closet, Avenidas Village, and Rainbow Collective (LGBTQ).
Senior Planet from AARP at Avenidas
Technology training and community hub for adults 60+. Free workstations, iPads, and classes on internet safety, email, and social media.
Hospitals & Clinics
Stanford Health Care — Stanford Hospital
Stanford's flagship 613-bed academic medical center providing diagnosis and treatment across cancer, heart, brain disorders, and surgical care.
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Major VA medical center serving 67,000+ enrolled veterans. Primary care, specialty care, mental health, and geriatric services. Affiliated with Stanford School of Medicine.
Senior Care Homes
Channing House
Palo Alto's premier Life Plan Community offering independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing — a full continuum on one downtown campus.
Moldaw Family Residences
A CCRC senior living community offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care with strong Jewish cultural programming (open to all).
Legal & Financial
Senior Adult Legal Assistance (SALA)
Nonprofit elder law office helping older adults with wills, advance directives, power of attorney, housing issues, and Medicare disputes. Free for low-income seniors.
H.I.C.A.P. (Medicare Counseling)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling for Santa Clara County residents. Help with plan selection, billing disputes, and benefits.
Caregiving Services
Avenidas Rose Kleiner Center (Adult Day Health)
Adult day health center serving older adults with cognitive or physical challenges. Includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, and dementia-specialized care.
Home Instead — Palo Alto
National in-home care provider offering personal care, meal prep, medication reminders, companionship, dementia care, and 24/7 care.
Transportation
Avenidas Door to Door
Avenidas's volunteer-driver transportation service for Palo Alto seniors. Door-to-door rides for medical appointments and essential trips.
Santa Clara VTA (Bus & Light Rail)
County public bus and light rail. Reduced senior/disabled fares with a Clipper Card. Serves cities across Santa Clara County.
Food & Nutrition
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
Regional food bank serving seniors through Brown Bag, food pantries, CalFresh enrollment, and home delivery. Multiple pickup sites.
Government & Veterans
Santa Clara County — Dept. of Aging & Adult Services
The county's lead agency for older adults. Administers IHSS, Adult Protective Services, and the Senior Nutrition Program. Coordinates 100+ partner organizations.
Sourcewise
Santa Clara County's nonprofit aging-resource hub since 1973. Provides information and referrals, fall prevention, home safety assessments, and caregiver support.
Housing & Home
Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley
Free home repairs and safety modifications (grab bars, stair railings, ramps) for lower-income senior homeowners.
Lifelong Learning
Stanford Continuing Studies
Open-enrollment courses for adults of all ages — lectures, online classes, and writing programs taught by Stanford faculty and visiting scholars.
OLLI at Stanford
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute — peer-led, university-affiliated learning community for adults 50+. Discussion-based courses.
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