Staff report
Seniors ages 60 and older are in the high-risk category for becoming seriously ill with COVID-19. Although local agencies have closed their offices to the public because of the shelter-in-place order around the Monterey Bay, help is still just a phone call or website click away.
Groceries and food delivery
- Many grocery stores have designated special senior shopping periods, usually just before regular store hours. Monterey County’s Alliance on Aging has lists of stores in Monterey County that offer senior hours at its website, allianceonaging.org. The page also provides information on Monterey County grocery stores and pharmacies that offer home delivery and curbside pickup.
- Meals on Wheels continues to provide meal delivery for homebound seniors.
— Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula: mowmp.org/home-delivered-meals.htm or call (831) 375-4454.
— Meals on Wheels of the Salinas Valley: mowsalinas.org or (831) 758-6325.
— Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County: communitybridges.org/mealsonwheels/ or (831) 688-8840.
- The Salvation Army is also offering meals to seniors who do not want to get takeout meals or go to grocery stores. Call (831) 443-9655 ext. 2900, and tell them you’d like to be on the “Senior Pick-up List.” Meal pickup is also available at the Salvation Army, 2460 N. Main Street, Salinas. Please provide 24 to 48 hours notice.
- The Marina Foundation has just started a drive-through emergency food supplement program for Marina seniors at Los Arboles Middle School, 294 Hillcrest Ave. For details, call (831) 717-4117.
- Grey Bears in Santa Cruz County is continuing its grocery delivery program for homebound seniors. Go to greybears.org/our-programs/brown-bag-program for information and to sign up.
Other services
- Monterey City employees are available to answer seniors’ questions and to help them find resources that they need. Residents can call (831) 646-3933 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. City staff are also calling regular program participants to check in on them weekly or as needed.
- Adult Protective Services and In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) for seniors are continuing to operate in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. For Monterey County, go to mcdss.co.monterey.ca.us/aging/#ira or call (800) 510-2020. For Santa Cruz County, www.santacruzhumanservices.org — for suspected elder abuse, call (866) 580-4357, and for IHSS applications, call (831) 454-4101.
- Legal Services for Seniors, which serves low-income seniors in Monterey County, is closed for in-person client assistance, but advocates and attorneys are still working on behalf of their clients. Call (831) 899-0492 to leave a brief message about your legal concern.
- The local Alliance on Aging office is continuing to offer help to Monterey County clients via telephone and email for its programs:
— HICAP Medicare counseling
— Transportation assistance for taxi voucher enrollment and bus passes
— Benefits checkup for enrollment or questions about CalFresh and low income subsidy
— Ombudsman to advocate for residents of nursing homes and residential care facilities
— Senior Peer Counseling via phone appointment.
More information is available at allianceonaging.org or by calling (831) 655-1334 or (831) 758-4011.
- Santa Cruz-based Senior Network Services has an online senior resources directory available. To access, go to seniornetworkservices.org/senior-resources-directory/.
