Who do I call first for senior help in Fresno?

Start with the Fresno-Madera Area Agency on Aging at 559-214-0299 or 800-510-2020. They connect older adults and caregivers in Fresno and Madera counties with meals, caregiver help, Medicare counseling and more.

How do I report elder abuse in Fresno County?

Call Fresno County Adult Protective Services at 559-600-3383 or 800-418-1426, any time of day. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Is there free Medicare help in Fresno?

Yes. HICAP gives free, unbiased Medicare counseling. In Fresno it is run by Valley Caregiver Resource Center at 559-224-9117 or 800-434-0222.

Who can I call about a problem in my mom's care home?

The Fresno-Madera Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at 559-224-9177. Ombudsmen advocate for residents of nursing homes and assisted living and look into complaints.

Are there free rides for seniors around Fresno?

Some. Clovis Round Up is free for eligible Clovis residents with disabilities, and Madera Dial-A-Ride is free for riders 60 and older. Fresno's Handy Ride serves people with disabilities who cannot use FAX buses.

Fresno Senior Resources: Meals, Rides, Help

The short version

Quick answer: if you only call one number, call the Fresno-Madera Area Agency on Aging at 559-214-0299. It is the local hub for senior meals, caregiver help, Medicare counseling and elder abuse prevention in Fresno and Madera counties, and a real person will point you to the right program. Everything below is free or low cost, and we checked each phone number on an official source in September 2026.

We put this list together because families ask us for it all the time. Keep it on your phone. Programs change, so if a number stops working, FMAAA's information line is the best place to start over.

Meals

Fresno-Madera Area Agency on Aging (FMAAA) home-delivered meals: meals brought to the door for people 60 and older who are homebound because of illness, disability or lack of family support. There can be a waitlist. 559-214-0299 or 800-510-2020.
FMAAA senior lunch sites: free group lunches for people 60 and older at community and senior centers across Fresno and Madera counties, including Clovis, Kerman, Reedley, Sanger and Madera. See the current site list or call 559-214-0299.
City of Fresno senior hot meals: lunch for seniors 60 and older at city community centers, including Mosqueda, Pinedale, Ted C. Wills, Mary Ella Brown, Inspiration Park, Lafayette Park and the Cap Center. Call the city at 559-621-2489 (559-621-CITY).
Fresno EOC Food Services home delivery: weekly delivery of microwaveable meals, listed by FMAAA as a local option. 559-266-3663.

Getting around

FAX Handy Ride (Fresno): shared-ride paratransit for people with disabilities who cannot use regular FAX buses. You apply first. Reservations 559-621-5770, information 559-621-7433.
Clovis Round Up: free paratransit for Clovis residents with disabilities who cannot use the Stageline bus, with some trips into Fresno on weekdays. Riders apply first. 559-324-2760.
Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA): routes plus reservation-based, curb-to-curb rides in rural towns like Sanger, Selma, Reedley, Kingsburg, Kerman and Fowler. 1-855-612-5184.
Madera Dial-A-Ride: curb-to-curb rides in the City of Madera, free for riders 60 and older. 559-661-7433 (661-RIDE).
Madera County Connection Senior Bus: rides for people 60 and older and riders with disabilities in parts of Oakhurst, Bass Lake, Coarsegold and Ahwahnee, plus a medical escort service to appointments in Madera, Clovis and Fresno on set days. 559-263-8080.

Senior centers

City of Fresno community centers: senior lunches and activities run through the city's parks department. The city is also building its first dedicated citywide senior activity center, with construction set to begin in 2026. 559-621-2489.
Clovis Senior Activity Center: classes, trips, technology help, Medicare counseling and lunch for people 60 and older, at 735 Third Street in Old Town Clovis. Open to adults 50 and older. 559-324-2750.
Small-town senior centers: Selma Senior Center 559-891-2239, Kingsburg Senior Center 559-897-3013, Edwin Blayney Senior Center in Fowler 559-834-3113, Sanger Senior Center 559-876-6300 ext. 1500, and Reedley senior programs at the Reedley Community Center 559-637-4207.

Not sure which program fits your mom?

Tell us what's going on. We'll text you licensed homes that fit, with real prices, and tour them with you.

Call (559) 550-4533

Help for family caregivers

Valley Caregiver Resource Center: support groups, classes and help planning care for families looking after an older adult or someone with dementia, at 5363 N. Fresno Street. 559-224-9154 or 800-541-8614.
FMAAA Information and Assistance: a coordinator listens to your situation and connects you with local programs for older adults and caregivers. 559-214-0299 or 800-510-2020.

If you are running on empty, read our page on dementia caregiver support in Fresno. Short breaks through adult day care or respite can help more than people expect.

Benefits and paperwork

HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program): free, unbiased Medicare counseling by appointment, run locally by Valley Caregiver Resource Center. 559-224-9117 or 800-434-0222.
Fresno County Veterans Service Office: free help with VA claims, including pension and Aid and Attendance, at 1320 E. Shaw Avenue, Suite 105. 559-600-5436. Learn more on our VA Aid and Attendance page.
Social Security: retirement, disability, SSI and Medicare enrollment questions. 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday.

Legal help

Central California Legal Services: free civil legal help for eligible residents. Its seniors team handles estate planning, elder abuse restraining orders, consumer debt and appeals for Social Security and other public benefits. Fresno office at 2115 Kern Street, Suite 200. Legal Advice Line 559-570-1200 or 800-675-8001.

Alzheimer's and memory loss

UCSF Fresno Alzheimer and Memory Center: full dementia evaluations with testing and a team review, at 550 E. Shaw Avenue, Suite 105. Families can self-refer, though HMO patients need approval from their primary care doctor first. See the center's website for how to start.
Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline: free advice any time of day or night, from understanding a diagnosis to handling a hard evening. 1-800-272-3900.

When it is time to look at secured care, our guide to Alzheimer's and dementia care in Fresno walks through the options.

Elder abuse and neglect

Fresno County Adult Protective Services: report suspected abuse, neglect or financial scams involving an older or dependent adult, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 559-600-3383 or 800-418-1426.
Madera County Adult Protective Services: 559-675-7839.

If someone is in danger right now, call 911 first.

Problems in a care home

Fresno-Madera Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: trained advocates who visit residents in nursing homes and assisted living, look into complaints and protect residents' rights. It is run by Valley Caregiver Resource Center with support from FMAAA. 559-224-9177.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman CRISISline: the statewide line for urgent problems in a care facility. 1-800-231-4024.

We use the ombudsman and state inspection records ourselves. Every home we suggest is state licensed, and we read its record before you ever tour it. If you are trying to sort out costs too, see our 2026 Central Valley senior care cost guide.

Updated September 2026 by Shaun and Nick, co-founders of CalValley Senior Living Advisors.

Fresno senior resources