Resources for older adults in Palo Alto

Palo Alto has a large and growing older population. According to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, about one in five residents is 65 or older. The city also has an unusually deep set of services for them, anchored by Avenidas, a nonprofit that has served older adults on the mid-Peninsula since 1969.

This page is for older residents, for adult children helping a parent from a distance and for anyone new to town who wants to know where to start. It covers Avenidas, city classes and library programs, transportation, meals, care at home, housing and emergency planning. Phone numbers and programs come from Avenidas and from the city's own senior services list. Programs change, so call before you go. For broader background on the city, see our living in Palo Alto guide.

Avenidas

Avenidas began in 1969 as the Senior Coordinating Council of the Palo Alto area. In 1978 it opened a central senior center in the city's former police and fire station on Bryant Street. That building is still its home and is now called Avenidas @450 Bryant. Avenidas describes its work with the city as a public-private partnership.

Locations

Hours are from the Avenidas contact page in October 2026. Avenidas lists holiday closures on its home page.

Programs

• Learning and leisure. In-person classes at 450 Bryant and online classes. Members get early registration.
• Health and wellness. Exercise and wellness programs.
• Social work services. Elder care consultations for older adults and their families.
• Avenidas Village. A membership program for people who want to stay in their own homes as they age.
• Door to Door. Rides for older adults and people with disabilities, described below.
• Medical equipment loan closet. Walkers, wheelchairs and similar equipment.
• Tech tutoring. One-on-one help with phones and computers.
• Volunteer Corps. Ways for older adults to give their own time.

Membership comes in several levels, including Bronze, Silver, Gold, Caregiver and Village plans. Check the Avenidas site for current prices and for which programs require membership.

The Rose Kleiner Center

The Rose Kleiner Center provides adult day health care for adults with cognitive or physical challenges. Avenidas says it began in 1978 as the Avenidas Senior Day Health Center and was the first state-licensed adult day health center in Santa Clara County. For family caregivers, a day program can make it possible to keep working or simply rest.

City classes and library programs

The city's Community Services Department publishes the Enjoy catalog of classes for all ages. Printed copies are at City Hall, libraries and community centers. You can also call (650) 463-4949.

The Palo Alto City Library runs technology classes, book clubs and weekly tai chi, among other programs. A library card also brings free e-books and audiobooks, which help when getting to a branch is hard. Our libraries guide describes the five locations.

The city's Office of Human Services keeps a long senior services list covering food, health, home care, housing and classes. It is the best single directory of local options and the source for several entries below.

Getting around

Transportation is the topic that changed most this fall. The city's own on-demand service, Palo Alto Link, ended on October 30, 2026. On its Link page the city pointed riders to these alternatives:

• Avenidas Door to Door. Rides for people 65 and older and people with disabilities within Palo Alto and Stanford, for medical appointments, errands and other trips. Contact Avenidas for booking and fares.
• Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (PATMA). Starting October 1, 2026, it offered qualifying seniors, people with disabilities and low-income residents and workers free train and bus passes, refurbished bikes and free accessible rides.
• VTA Access Paratransit. Door-to-door rides for people whose disability prevents them from using regular buses. Riders must apply and be found eligible.
• Marguerite Shuttle. Stanford's shuttle is free and open to the public. Main lines run Monday to Friday.
• Other options. The city also lists SamTrans Redi-Wheels for trips into San Mateo County and the VA shuttle for veterans.

Caltrain and VTA offer reduced fares for riders 65 and older with a senior Clipper card. Our guides to VTA buses and riding Caltrain explain routes and fares. For step-free routes, ramps and accessible parking, see accessible travel in Palo Alto.

Meals and groceries

A hot lunch with company is one of the simplest ways to stay connected. The city's senior services list includes:

• La Comida at Stevenson House, 455 East Charleston Road. Sit-down weekday lunches for people 60 and older with a suggested donation.
• La Comida at the Bryant Street Community Center, 429 Bryant Street, next door to Avenidas. Weekday lunches for people 60 and older.
• Meals on Wheels. Home-delivered meals for homebound seniors through the Santa Clara County Senior Nutrition Program at (408) 755-7680. In Palo Alto, delivery is provided by Sourcewise and Loaves and Fishes.
• Operation Brown Bag. A weekly grocery bag from Second Harvest of Silicon Valley for eligible seniors 60 and older and disabled adults 55 and older. Call (800) 984-3663.

Lunch times and donation amounts are set by La Comida. Call (650) 322-3742 to confirm before your first visit.

Health and care at home

Palo Alto has major medical centers. Stanford Health Care and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, part of Sutter Health, both run clinics in town and veterans can use the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. Our page on visiting Stanford Hospital covers parking and drop-off for appointments.

For help at home, these organizations appear on the city's list:

• Sourcewise, the Area Agency on Aging for Santa Clara County, at (408) 350-3200. It handles meals, legal aid, transportation, in-home care, adult day health and case management referrals.
• In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) through the county Social Services Agency, at (408) 792-1600. It pays for care at home for eligible people who are 65 or older, blind or disabled and qualify for Medi-Cal.
• Jewish Family and Children's Services, 200 Channing Avenue, at (415) 449-3700. Home care, care management, dementia care, counseling and caregiver support.
• Stroke and Brain Injury Services at AbilityPath, at Cubberley Community Center, (650) 509-9530.

For questions about Medicare plans, legal planning or paying for long-term care, talk to a qualified adviser or a free counseling program. This page does not give legal or financial advice.

Housing

Housing is the hardest piece for many older residents on fixed incomes. The city's list includes several affordable buildings for seniors:

Waitlists are common. Apply to several places at once and keep your contact details current with each one. Palo Alto also has private retirement communities with independent living and higher levels of care. Their costs and contracts vary widely, so read the terms carefully with family or an adviser.

Planning for emergencies

Older adults face extra risks in heat waves, power outages and earthquakes, especially anyone who relies on powered medical equipment or refrigerated medicine. Register a phone number for city outage texts in MyCPAU and sign up for AlertSCC. The city's Office of Emergency Services points older residents to FEMA's Ready.gov guidance for seniors. Our emergency preparedness guide covers kits and alerts. Residents with a physical limitation can apply for at-home hazardous waste pickup through the city's Zero Waste program.

Frequently asked questions