Aging Impacts Us All
Whether you are facing a crisis with a parent or loved one, or in need of assistance in navigating the aging experience, the Council on Aging is here to help.
Learn about the free services we offer older adults and their families in your community. The Council on Aging – Southern California has been a trusted nonprofit organization since 1973. We provide unbiased information, programs, and services to more than 290,000 seniors and disabled adults annually across Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono counties.
OUR PROGRAMS
Answers Resource
Guide
Our 2018 Answers Guide contains vital information to help you navigate the aging experience.
Friendly Visitor
Program
Provides companionship and social support to isolated, frail older and disabled adults in Orange County.
Health Insurance Counseling (HICAP)
Free, unbiased counseling to help you understand your Medicare benefits and options.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Advocates for the rights of older and disabled adults living in skilled nursing and residential care facilities.
ReConnect Program
(EISOA)
Assists adults aged 60+ to manage and improve their emotional health and overall well-being.
Senior Protection Program and FAST
Educational seminars to help you avoid financial predators and limited consultation on matters of abuse.
SmileMakers
Guild
Mobilizes community support and provides holiday gifts to over 5,500 residents in long-term care facilities.
Volunteer
Opportunities
Change the life of a senior – volunteer and make a difference in your community today.
UPCOMING EVENTS
AGING AS ART CONTEST
Share what aging in Southern California means to you by participating in our “Aging As Art” photography contest. Submit your photo for a chance to win our Grand Prize of $500!
AN EVENING OF COMEDY
Our largest fundraising event. A night filled with laughter, auctions, opportunity drawings, and special surprises.
SMILEMAKERS PROJECT
Participate in our holiday wrap event! Over a two week period we collect and wrap 5,000+ gifts to be delivered to older and disabled adults.
ACTIVITIES CALENDAR
View our community support group calendar for activities near you.
FROM OUR BLOG
When We Grow Older
When we grow older, there is no “how-to” book on aging. We all are very uncertain and unprepared when it comes to our future. What matters most? Is it our financial and physical health, or our mental health? When our cognitive abilities begin to decline, who will we turn to for help? Our Ombudsmen advocate for older and disabled adults who are often alone and forgotten in skilled nursing facilities. We had received a phone call about Barbara –a nursing home resident, who had been served a 30-day eviction and needed our help.
A Gift From HICAP – Medicare Savings of $23,113
Medicare Open Enrollment has become a time of being bombarded with advertisements from insurance companies and brokers about changing to their health plans. Medicare is both complex and confusing, and can be downright frustrating to navigate the system. Sometimes you never know who to trust or which health and prescription drug plan will cover your needs at the lowest cost. Our Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) is here to help answer all of your Medicare questions, and make sure you are getting the most out of Medicare. We may even help you save over $23,000 in prescription drug costs like one of our clients Sally*.
Have You Ever Made A $20,000 Mistake?
Financial exploitation continues to be one of the fastest growing forms of abuse targeting older adults. Our Senior Protection Program and FAST team learn about new cases daily. Kevin* is an 87-year old widower, who learned about financial fraud the hard way.
The Secret to Longevity? “Just Don’t Die!”
Have you ever received a random phone call that brightened your day? That made you smile? Elmer called the Council on Aging – Southern California one day, almost five years ago, and something beautiful happened. Elmer called us to talk about our Answers Guide and how much he loved it. He especially liked sharing this great resource with his friends and family. During this call, Elmer mentioned he had a milestone coming up, his 100th birthday.
Preparing for the Future – Who Will Care for You?
What if someone told you that next year, your life would dramatically change – and not for the better? How would you prepare for the future? This is the story about one client from our Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). Sharon* has a disabling disease of the central nervous system that has left her living in a wheelchair for the last 20 years. She currently is 68 years old.
GENERATION TO GENERATION
LEGACY SOCIETY
Support the mission and values of the Council on Aging with a planned gift that will endure beyond your lifetime for the benefit of others.