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General resources for seniors
Other Senior Centers in El Cerrito
In addition to the great programs offered by the El Cerrito Recreation department, there are also non-city one day a week or twice monthly senior centers in El Cerrito:
Christ Lutheran Senior Center
780 Ashbury Ave (near Stockton Ave)
Mondays from 9am-3pm
The Christ Lutheran Senior Center offers the following classes and programs:
- German - 9am
- Spanish - 9am
- Folk dance - 10:30am
- Discussion - 10:30am
- Special program - 11:30am
- Lunch - 12:30pm
- Writing Group - 1pm
- Seated Exercise -1:15pm
- Ukulele Class- 1:45pm
St. John's Senior Center
6500 Gladys at Lexington (St. John's Community Center Building)
Tuesdays from 9am-3pm
St. John's Senior Center program is open to anyone over 55 years of age. Activities include: crafts, exercise, lunch, scheduled speakers, computer lessons, blood pressure screenings, living skills for older adults and more.
Sakura Kai - Senior Classes for Japanese Speaking Adults
5625 Sutter Ave., Richmond CA 94804 (Alvarado Adult School Campus)
1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month from 8:30am-2:30pm
Sakura Kai Senior classes include: Sit down and stretch yoga, iphone/ipad and online Zoom use, Japanese cultural classes, Japanese caligraphy, Taiko, and beginning Japanese, ukulele, karaoke, choral singing, music bell, and crafts classes. For more information, call Yasuyo Floyd, Coordinator of the Sakura Kai program at (510) 530-2316.
Richmond Annex Senior Center
5801 Huntington Ave, Richmond
Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm
For more information, call (510) 620-6812 or email annexseniorstaff@ci.richmond.ca.us
Contra Costa County Health Services
Contra Costa County Residents ages 65+ are now eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine
Visit www.coronavirus.cchealth.org for more information and to request an appointment. Click here for the vaccination appointment request form. Eligible residents who have difficulty using the form or have no internet access can request an appointment by calling 1-833-829-2626.
Aging and Adult Informational Assistance
The Information & Assistance (I&A) helpline is a program of Contra Costa County's Employment & Human Services Department. Seniors, adults with disabilities, and caregivers may call I&A to speak with knowledgeable social workers to get information, referrals to other services, and assistance with solving problems.
Social Workers will listen to your needs and provide information and referrals to community services that may be able to assist you.
What types of fee services or information can be provided?
- Support groups for caregivers of seniors or disabled adults
- Information on health issues related to aging
- Housing resource listings, including low-cost housing
- Information on special transportation services
- Emergency food resources and nutrition sites
- Resources for hiring in-home help
- Resources for government and veteran's benefits programs
Landlines in Contra Costa County, call toll free (800) 510-2020
Cell phones or outside Contra Costa County, call (925) 229-8434
Email: infoandassist@ehst.cccounty.us
Alcoholics Anonymous - Contra Costa County 24/7 hotline: (925) 939-4155
Alzheimer's Association 24 hour a day/7 day a week hotline 1(800) 272-3900
The Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP) is a public program mandated by the California State Legislature and administered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The DDTP has two components: the California Relay Service (CRS), which includes Speech to Speech, and the California Telephone Access Program (CTAP) which provides assistive telecommunications equipment. The mission of the program is to provide basic telephone service for Californians who have difficulty using the telephone. Programs are funded by a nominal surcharge on all telephone bills in the state.
(800) 510-2020
Senior Peer Counseling is available for virtual phone call appointments. You are able to meet with your counselor to talk through anything on your mind and accomplish goals such as ways to resolve a problem that is bothering you.
Senior Peer Counselor volunteers are trained and supervised by mental health professionals. Appointments are either virtual or by phone during our county's Shelter in Place mandate.
Contact information (for English, Spanish & Cantonese speakers): (925) 521-5653 or by email: abran.aviles-scott@cchealth.org
For more information, you can visit their website here.
Contra Costa Crisis Center 24-hour hotline: 1(800) 833-2900
The Contra Costa Crisis Center is a non-profit organization committed to providing free 24/7 services to everyone in need. The mission of the Contra Costa Crisis Center is to keep people alive and safe, help them through crises, and provide or connect them with culturally relevant services in the community.
Dial 211 or (800) 833-2900 or text 'HOPE' to 20121 if you are in need of assistance and a specialist will quickly respond.
Community Warning System
The Contra Costa County Community Warning System (CWS) is recognized as one of the nation's most modern and effective all-hazard public warning systems. The CWS is a partnership of the Office of the Sheriff, the Health Services Department, other government agencies, industry, news media and the non-profit Community Awareness & Emergency Response (CAER) organization, all striving to deliver time-sensitive and potential life-saving information to the people of Contra Costa County. For more information and to register to receive alerts, click on this link: Community Warning System or call (925) 313-9622.
Contra Costa County Aging & Adult Services 1(800) 510-2020
Contra Costa County Food Resources
Contra Costa Senior Legal Services (CCLS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free civil legal services to Contra Costa County residents who are 60 or older. They offer a wide variety of services throughout the county.
Covia Community Services
Non-profit provider of services and housing. Covia promotes positive aging by cultivating healthy and engaged communities with a continuum of innovative services that actively support intellectual, physical, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being. For more information call (925) 956-7396.
Get a fast, convenient COVID-19 test at no cost to you. Appointment required, available 7 days a week. Testing is available for everyone, even if you don't feel sick. Drive-through and walk-in appointments available throughout the county. Call 1-844-421-0804.
Family Caregiver Alliance/Bay Area Caregiver Resource Center
Would a phone call brighten your day? Do you feel like you want to talk to someone on a regular basis?
The Institute on Aging's 24-hour toll-free Friendship Line is the only accredited crisis line in the country for people aged 60 years and older, and adults living with disabilities. You can call 1(800) 971-0016 (24-hours) at any time of day and chat with someone.
GetSetUp is "designed for older adults with the purpose of encouraging lifelong learning and socialization.Free virtual classes are offered in a wide variety of subjects, including social media, financial planning, aging in place and many more.The resource offers regular social hours and other social activities such as book clubs. Classes are taught by Guide, experts who are over 50 years old and bring their wisdom and experience to the class.
HICAP provides free, objective, one-to-one counseling and advocacy services to Contra Costa Medicare beneficiaries and their families who need assistance with Medicare enrollment and issues involving Medicare and associated insurance programs, including prescription drug coverage and long-term care insurance. Contra Costa County HICAP contact information:
- Toll-free: (800) 510-2020
- Phone: (925) 655-1393
- FAX: (925) 288-0414
- TDD: (925) 655-1399
Home Match helps homeowners with extra rooms connect with home seekers who need an affordable place to live, creating a win-win situation. Call (925) 451-9890 for more information or an application.
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Health Plan webinars
Lions Center for the Visually Impaired Need a safe place to share personal fears and frustrations about your vision loss, and pick-up some practical tips and support from others who have faced the same challenges? Try one of our support groups. Support groups provide opportunities to socialize and engage in activities with your peers as you learn how to live a full and independent life despite vision loss.
Meals on Wheels: Much more than a meal. We deliver meals and provide safety-checks for seniors (60 years or older) who are home bound, no longer driving, unable to prepare food themselves, and do not have a caregiver who prepares meals. Meals are provided based on need, not on income. Meals on Wheels, West Contra Costa Region is accepting new clients who are age 60 and older. Meals are delivered in Crockett, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Hercules, Kensington, North Richmond, Pinole, Point Richmond, Port Costa, Richmond, Rodeo, and San Pablo. Volunteers deliver meals using County Health Services recommendations for social distancing. To apply or refer someone for the program, find our about volunteer opportunities or to get more information, call (510) 412-0166 or visit their website.
Mailing address:
Meals on Wheels, West Contra Costa Region
2301 Rumrill Blvd
San Pablo, CA 94806
Mobility Matters
(925) 284-2207
Mobility Matters provides FREE door-through-door transportation to seniors and veterans who need escorted rides with volunteer drivers in Contra Costa County.
(925) 284-2207
Mobility Matters provides FREE door-through-door transportation to seniors and veterans who need escorted rides with volunteer drivers in Contra Costa County.
Food Pantries in El Cerrito
St Jerome Catholic Church Food Pantry (open to the community)
308 Carmel Ave, El Cerrito
(510) 525-0876
saintjeromechurch@comcast.net
Emergency Food Distribution Wednesdays between 10:30am-11:30am
Bring identification card with proof of West Contra Costa County Residence
11150 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito
(510) 232-5659
stjohns@sjtbc.us
Emergency Food Distribution the first and third Saturday of every month between 10am-11am
Food distribution located on back side of the church on Kearney St.
Bring identification card with proof of West Contra Costa County Residence
St. Peter C.M.E. Church Free Food Ministry
5324 Cypress Ave, El Cerrito
Food distribution every Monday between 11:00am-12:00pm
Foodbank of Contra Costa & Solano Need information on food assistance programs available in Contra Costa County? Call (855) 309-3663 or 2-1-1 or visit www.foodbankccs.org/find-food/foodbycity/.
Alvarado Adult School Free Produce & Supplemental Items
5625 Sutter St., Richmond Annex
Mondays between 9:30am-11am, except holidays. *Bring your own bag.
RetireGuide is a free web resource dedicated to providing useful information to help older adults fulfill retirement goals. Resources include an easy-to-understand guide on the ins and outs of medicare which highlights coverage, costs, eligibility and enrollment information as well as a link to a guide to senior benefits and discounts.
The mission of SHELTER, Inc. is to prevent and end homelessness for low-income, homeless, and disadvantaged families and individuals by providing housing, services, support and resources that lead to self-sufficiency.
Well Connected is a community made up of participants, staff, facilitators, presenters and other volunteers who care about each other and who value being connected. All groups are accessible by phone from wherever you are at no cost to you.
Each Well Connected session offers groups and classes on a wide range of topics, you are sure to find one that interests you. Well Connected meets 365 days a year, so there is always a chance to connect.
A major move is an incredibly stressful endeavor. Neighbor.com has moving tips for seniors that can make the process easier.
East Bay Sanitary offers door-to-door service for Household Hazardous Waste collection (HHW) to the elderly and disabled. For information, check eligibility requirements, or to make an appointment call (888) 412-9277.