How to Find Local Senior Services Using the Eldercare Locator

What the Eldercare Locator does and how to reach it

The Eldercare Locator is a phone and web service run by the U.S. Administration on Aging that connects you to senior services in your area — things like meal programs, transportation, housing assistance, legal aid, and caregiver support. You call 1-800-677-1116 or visit eldercare.acl.gov and tell them what you need; they look up what's actually available near you and give you the phone numbers and addresses to contact directly.

The service is free. You don't pay to call, and there's no cost to use the website. The people who answer the phone are trained to listen to what's going on in your life — whether you're looking for help with meals, managing a chronic illness, staying in your home, or finding a safe place to live — and point you toward programs that match your actual situation, not just generic options.

This matters because senior services vary wildly by county and city. A meal delivery program that exists in one neighborhood might not exist two miles away. The Locator knows what's funded and running in your specific area right now, which saves you from calling dead ends.

Key Takeaways

• Call 1-800-677-1116 or visit eldercare.acl.gov to reach the Eldercare Locator; both routes are free and available during business hours.
• Tell the person who answers what you need help with — meals, transportation, housing, legal issues, or caregiver support — and they will give you local phone numbers and addresses to contact.
• Services vary by county, so the Locator's job is to know what actually exists where you live, not to provide the service itself.
• You can also search the website yourself by entering your zip code, though calling lets you ask follow-up questions about which program might fit your situation best.

Calling versus using the website

If you call 1-800-677-1116, you'll reach someone during business hours (the exact hours vary by season, but it's typically Monday through Friday). Tell them what you're looking for — "I need help paying for groceries" or "My daughter works and I need someone to check on me during the day" — and they'll ask a few questions to narrow it down. They'll give you the names, phone numbers, and sometimes addresses of programs in your area that might help.

The website, eldercare.acl.gov, has a search box where you enter your zip code and select what you need. It pulls up a list of local programs with their contact information. You can do this at your own pace and don't have to explain your situation to anyone. The tradeoff is that you won't get someone to ask "Have you thought about this other program?" or to help you figure out which option makes the most sense for you.

Many people use both: they search the website to see what exists, then call to ask questions about which program would work best for their situation. If you're not comfortable with computers or prefer talking to someone, calling is the simpler route.

What kinds of services the Locator can connect you with

The Eldercare Locator points you toward programs that help with daily life and safety. These include meal programs (both delivered to your home and community dining centers where you eat with others), transportation to medical appointments or errands, help staying in your own home as you age, legal aid for things like powers of attorney or housing disputes, and support for family members who are caring for you.

It also connects you with programs for specific situations: help paying utility bills, housing assistance if you're at risk of homelessness, adult day centers where you can spend time with others while a family member works, and counseling or support groups. Some areas have programs that help you stay connected to your community or find volunteer work if you want to stay active.

What the Locator does not do is provide the services itself or determine whether you meet a program's rules. It's a directory with phone numbers. Once you have the contact information, you'll call the program directly, tell them your situation, and they'll tell you whether they can help and what you need to do next.

How to prepare before you call or search

Before you reach out, write down what you need help with and any details that matter. If you're calling about meals, note whether you need food delivered because you can't leave home, or whether you'd prefer to go somewhere and eat with other people. If you're looking for transportation, write down what you need to get to — doctor's appointments, the grocery store, church — and whether you need help getting in and out of a vehicle.

Have your zip code ready. If you're calling, the person on the phone will ask it. If you're using the website, you'll need it to search. If you're not sure of your zip code, you can look it up at usps.com by entering your address.

If you're calling and want to take notes, have paper and a pen nearby. The person on the phone will speak clearly and can repeat information, but it helps to write down the program names and phone numbers so you have them in front of you when you make the next call.

What happens after you get the contact information

Once you have the phone number or address of a program, you contact them directly. They'll ask you questions about your situation — your income, where you live, what you need — to see whether their program can help. Some programs have rules about who they serve (maybe they only help people over 75, or people with income below a certain amount). Others serve anyone in the area who needs them.

When you call a program, be ready to explain what you need and answer basic questions about yourself. Have your address and phone number ready. If the program asks about your income, you don't have to share exact numbers on the phone — you can ask what documents they need and bring them in person or mail them later.

If the first program you call can't help, ask them whether they know of another program that might. Many programs work together and can point you toward something that fits better. You can also call the Eldercare Locator again and ask for different options.

When the Locator might not have what you're looking for

In very rural areas or small towns, the Locator might show fewer programs than in cities or suburbs. This doesn't mean services don't exist — it means they might be run differently, perhaps through a county office or a church rather than a standalone program. The Locator will still give you the best starting point, and the people you call can often connect you to informal help or programs you wouldn't have found on your own.

If you search for something very specific and get no results, try searching for something broader. If there's no "meal delivery" program listed, search for "meals" or "food assistance" — you might find a community center that serves lunch, or a food bank, or a church that delivers. The Locator's database is organized by category, and sometimes what you need falls under a different name than you expected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a cost to use the Eldercare Locator?

No. The phone line is toll-free, and the website is free to use. You don't pay to call or search. The programs the Locator connects you with may have costs or may be free depending on the program — that's something you'll learn when you contact them directly.

Can I use the Eldercare Locator if I'm looking for help for my parent?

Yes. You can call or search on behalf of someone else. If you're calling, tell them you're calling for your parent and give your parent's zip code. The information you get will be for services in their area, not yours.

What if I don't have internet access or can't use a computer?

Call 1-800-677-1116. That's the whole point of the phone line — you don't need a computer or internet to reach the Locator. The person who answers can help you find services the same way the website does.

How often is the Locator's information updated?

Programs change — they open, close, or change their phone numbers. The Locator updates its database regularly, but the best way to know if a program is still running is to call them. If a number is disconnected, try searching the Locator again or call the main line to ask if the program still exists.

Can the Eldercare Locator help me sign up for a program?

No. The Locator gives you contact information and tells you what programs exist. You contact the programs yourself to find out whether you meet their rules and how to sign up. The Locator staff can answer questions about how to use the service, but they don't handle sign-ups for individual programs.