California Caregiver Resources Directory (2026)

The hardest moment in caregiving in California is rarely the diagnosis. It's the 2:30 a.m. moment when an 82-year-old husband doesn't recognize his 79-year-old wife, the wife hasn't slept in three nights, and she does not know who to call. This guide is the answer to that question. It is the comprehensive directory of every government agency, nonprofit, hospital system, hotline, faith-based organization, condition-specific group, online tool, and crisis line a California family caregiver needs in 2026, verified phone numbers, verified URLs, and a decision tree that maps every common situation to the call you should make first.

The single highest-leverage call for most California families is the California Department of Aging Information Line at 1-800-510-2020, which routes by ZIP to the local Area Agency on Aging. The single highest-leverage call at 2:30 a.m. is 988. The single most under-used free legal resource is the Statewide Senior Legal Hotline at 1-800-222-1753. The single most under-used free advocacy resource is the California Caregiver Resource Center serving your region, California is one of only two states that operates a network of regional caregiver-only nonprofits dating back to 1984.

Save this page. Print the call ladder at the end. The call ladder fits on one piece of paper and answers the question "who do I call right now?" for every common caregiving scenario in California.

• Call 1-800-510-2020 to reach your local Area Agency on Aging by ZIP code
• California operates 11 regional Caregiver Resource Centers (CRCs) — the largest state-funded caregiver-only nonprofit network in the country
• Three crisis numbers: 988 (mental health), 211 (universal resource referral), 1-833-401-0832 (adult protective services)
• IHSS serves approximately 600,000 recipients statewide (2025)
• California has 33 Area Agencies on Aging covering all 58 counties

By Brevy Care Team · Last verified May 3, 2026

How This Guide Is Organized

California caregiver resources fall into fourteen functional categories. We walk each in priority order, government intake first (the rails most families need to find), then the 11 regional Caregiver Resource Centers (California's signature program), then condition-specific organizations, then veterans, then legal aid, then financial and tax, then crisis lines, then faith-based and community, then online tools, then the resources almost no one talks about. The guide closes with a single-page decision tree mapping every common caregiver scenario to the phone number to dial first.

1. California Department of Aging (CDA), The Statewide Front Door

The California Department of Aging (CDA) at 1-800-510-2020 is the single statewide front door for caregivers, older adults, and adults with disabilities. The Information Line routes by ZIP code to the appropriate Area Agency on Aging (AAA), California has 33 AAAs covering all 58 counties, far more than most states.

California Department of Aging Information Line: 1-800-510-2020 · TTY 1-800-735-2929 · M–F, 8am–5pm Pacific.

California Aging & Adult Information Line (CDA's web home): aging.ca.gov

Caregiver California (statewide hub for the 11 CRCs): caregivercalifornia.org

The intake specialist at any AAA can screen for: Title III-E National Family Caregiver Support Program services (counseling, respite, supplemental services), congregate and home-delivered meals (Title III-C), evidence-based health promotion (chronic disease self-management, fall prevention, Tai Chi for arthritis), Title III-B legal services, transportation, ombudsman services, and the local Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) referral.

Don't ask only "what Medi-Cal services am I eligible for?" Ask the AAA intake specialist: "What state, federal, and local programs am I and my family member eligible for as a caregiver and as an older adult?" Most callers learn about three programs and miss the other ten.

2. The 33 California Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), Regional Intake

California's 33 AAAs operate under Older Americans Act Planning and Service Areas (PSAs) 1–33. Below is a representative sample of the most-called regional AAAs. The full directory with current contacts is maintained at aging.ca.gov/Contacts and caregivercalifornia.org.

Don't memorize this list. Dial 1-800-510-2020 and the CDA system routes you correctly by ZIP. The list above is for caregivers who already know which agency they need or who want to verify a website before calling.

Each AAA also operates an Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) function that screens callers for Medi-Cal eligibility, IHSS, the HCBA waiver, MSSP, CalAIM Community Supports, and the California Caregiver Resource Center (CRC) serving the region. ADRCs are the federally-aligned "no-wrong-door" intake portals that work whether the caller is age 60+ OR is caring for a younger adult with disabilities.

3. The 11 California Caregiver Resource Centers (CRCs), California's Signature Program

California is one of only two states (with Tennessee a distant second) that operates a network of dedicated regional caregiver-only nonprofits under state authorizing statute. The 11 Caregiver Resource Centers (CRCs) are authorized by the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act at Welfare & Institutions Code §9151 et seq. (Article 5), with §9156 governing core CRC functions. They were originally enacted in AB 2317 (Stats. 1984, Ch. 1658), California has been operating regional caregiver-support nonprofits for 42 years as of 2026.

What CRCs do (every CRC offers all of these services regardless of region):

• Family consultation, assessment of the caregiver's situation, care plan development, ongoing support
• Respite vouchers, typically $500–$1,500 per family per year for in-home respite, adult day services, or short-term residential respite
• Counseling, short-term psychotherapy for caregiver stress, depression, grief, anxiety
• Education, caregiver classes, dementia training, condition-specific groups
• Support groups, in-person and virtual; topic-specific (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stroke, frontotemporal dementia)
• Legal consultation, typically a free 30-minute consultation with a CRC-network attorney for advance directives, conservatorship, durable powers of attorney
• Care planning, written care plans with specific service-by-service recommendations

The 11 California Caregiver Resource Centers, verified May 2026:

Statewide CRC hub: caregivercalifornia.org

Funding sources (mix varies by CRC): federal Title III-E NFCSP under 42 U.S.C. §3030s-1 (~$209 million FY 2026 national appropriation, California share ~$23 million), Title III-B legal services, California General Fund through CDA, county AAA contracts, Alzheimer's Association partnership grants, hospital system contributions (Cottage Health, USC, CSU Chico), and private foundations.

According to CDA reporting, the 11 CRCs collectively served more than 14,000 California caregiver families in the most recent reporting year, and that number is widely understood to undercount the total reach because many CRC services don't trigger formal "client" registration.

The single most under-used CRC service is the respite voucher. Most families assume respite is only available through Medi-Cal. CRC respite vouchers are available regardless of Medi-Cal eligibility and regardless of the care recipient's diagnosis. Call your regional CRC and ask explicitly: "What respite voucher am I eligible for, and how do I use it?"

4. California's 21 Regional Centers (For Children and Adults With Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities)

The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (W&I §4500 et seq.) authorizes 21 nonprofit Regional Centers (RCs) that coordinate services for Californians of any age with developmental disabilities (intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or related conditions originating before age 18). RCs administer the Self-Determination Program (W&I §4685.8 / SB 468 Stats. 2013, Ch. 683), the HCBA waiver for I/DD members, the Family Home Agency program, and contracted residential, day program, and supportive employment services.

21 California Regional Centers, verified May 2026:

State oversight: California Department of Developmental Services (DDS), dds.ca.gov, (916) 654-1690.

If your loved one has an intellectual or developmental disability that originated before age 18, the Regional Center is your primary intake portal, separate from CDA/AAA. RCs operate parallel to (not under) the AAA system. They serve children and adults of any age, and many older adults with I/DD have been RC clients for decades.

5. IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services), 58 County-by-County

IHSS is California's flagship in-home personal-care program, about 600,000 enrolled recipients statewide as of 2025. It operates through 58 county welfare departments and the county IHSS Public Authority (the labor-relations entity for IHSS providers). Caregivers paid through IHSS earn the locally negotiated wage (range $17.65–$20.55 per hour for 2026 across the 58 counties), with payroll administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Case Management, Information & Payrolling System (CMIPS-II).

Statewide IHSS information:

• CDSS IHSS web page: cdss.ca.gov/in-home-supportive-services
• Statewide IHSS Helpline: 1-866-376-7066
• County IHSS office locator: cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/county-ihss-offices
• IHSS Career Pathways (workforce dev): cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ihss-providers/ihss-career-pathways
• California Association of Public Authorities (CAPA): calpacaregivers.org

The largest county IHSS programs by enrollment (FY 2024–25):

The single highest-leverage IHSS call for a new applicant is the county IHSS office at the county number listed at cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/county-ihss-offices. The assessment process takes 4–8 weeks from application; once approved, hours are authorized for up to 283 hours/month (severely impaired recipients).

6. Health Care Options (HCO), Medi-Cal Managed Care Enrollment

For Medi-Cal questions, the central enrollment entity is Health Care Options (HCO), operated by Maximus on contract to DHCS.

• HCO phone: 1-800-430-4263 · TTY 1-800-430-7077 · M–F 8am–6pm Pacific
• HCO online portal: healthcareoptions.dhcs.ca.gov
• HCO services: enroll in or switch Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans (MCPs); enroll in or switch Medi-Medi Plans (Exclusively Aligned Enrollment D-SNPs); request Continuity of Care for out-of-network providers

For dual-eligibles: HCO also handles Medi-Medi Plan enrollment in the 41 California counties where Medi-Medi Plans operate as of 1/1/2026 (Phase 3 statewide expansion under DHCS Matching Plan Policy APL 24-013).

For initial Medi-Cal applications: Apply at the county social services office (Medi-Cal eligibility is determined county-by-county) or online at BenefitsCal: benefitscal.com. The statewide BenefitsCal helpline: 1-800-300-1506.

7. HICAP, Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program

HICAP is California's Medicare counseling program, a free, unbiased counseling service for Medicare beneficiaries. HICAP counselors are not insurance agents; they cannot sell anything. Their entire purpose is to help beneficiaries compare and select Medicare plans (Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D, Medigap, D-SNP, Medi-Medi) without sales pressure.

• Statewide HICAP number: 1-800-434-0222
• HICAP web home: aging.ca.gov/Programs_and_Services/Medicare_Counseling
• Local HICAP office locator: ZIP-routed through the statewide number

The single most under-used Medicare resource for California caregivers. HICAP can review the loved one's current Medicare coverage, identify gaps and overlaps, recommend cost-saving plan switches during AEP (October 15 – December 7) or MA-OEP (January 1 – March 31), and explain the new Medi-Medi Plan (EAE D-SNP) framework available in 41 counties as of 1/1/2026.

8. Legal Aid Resources

Statewide Senior Legal Hotline

The Statewide Senior Legal Hotline is a free legal advice service for Californians age 60+. Run by Legal Services of Northern California, funded by Title III-B and CDA.

• Phone: 1-800-222-1753 · M–F 9am–4pm Pacific
• Web: seniorlegalhotline.org
• Issues handled: durable powers of attorney, advance health care directives, will preparation, consumer fraud, elder abuse, landlord-tenant, public benefits appeals, debt collection, identity theft

CANHR, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform

CANHR is the gold-standard California consumer advocate for long-term-care issues, nursing-facility residents' rights, Medi-Cal estate recovery (post-SB 833), elder financial abuse, conservatorship oversight, and assisted living regulation.

• Phone: 1-800-474-1116
• Web: canhr.org
• Specialty: free booklets ("Medi-Cal Recovery," "Nursing Home Residents' Rights"), free counseling, attorney referrals

Justice in Aging

National advocacy organization with strong California presence, particularly on dual-eligible (Medicare-Medi-Cal) issues, EAE D-SNP transitions, and Older Americans Act funding.

• Phone: 1-855-952-5544
• Web: justiceinaging.org

Disability Rights California

The federally designated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) organization for Californians with disabilities of any age. Free legal advocacy on disability rights.

• Phone: 1-800-776-5746 · TTY 1-800-719-5798
• Web: disabilityrightsca.org

State Bar of California Lawyer Referral Service

For caregivers needing a private elder-law or estate-planning attorney, the State Bar's Lawyer Referral Service connects callers with Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELAs) in their county.

• Phone: 1-866-442-2529
• Web: calbar.ca.gov
• NAELA California chapter: naela.org, directory of California CELAs

9. Financial and Tax Resources

EDD, California Paid Family Leave (PFL)

California PFL provides up to 8 weeks of partial wage replacement in any 12-month period for employees caring for a seriously ill family member. 2026 maximum benefit: $1,765/week (under SB 951's permanent 90% replacement rate for low-wage earners).

• EDD PFL phone: 1-877-238-4373 (English) · 1-877-379-3819 (Spanish) · 1-800-563-2441 (TTY)
• Web: edd.ca.gov/disability/paid-family-leave
• Required filing: SDI Online (preferred) or paper Form DE 2501F within 41 days of first leave day

PFL provides wage replacement, not direct caregiver pay. The wage replacement is paid through the SDI Disability Insurance Trust Fund (employee-paid 1.1% payroll deduction in 2026).

IRS Live-In Difficulty-of-Care Exclusion (Notice 2014-7)

For IHSS providers who live in the same home as the recipient, IRS Notice 2014-7 + 26 USC §131(c) excludes IHSS payments from federal taxable income. California conforms via FTB Notice 2019-04 + Revenue & Taxation Code §17131.

• CDSS SOC 2298 form: required to certify live-in status; must be submitted to county IHSS office
• Feigh v. Commissioner (9th Cir. 2020): excluded IHSS payments still count as earned income for EITC purposes, California IHSS providers can claim EITC against excluded income
• CDSS SOC 2298 information: cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ihss-providers/forms

Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) and AARP Tax-Aide

Free tax preparation for low-income older Californians, including help claiming the Credit for Other Dependents ($500 nonrefundable per qualifying dependent) and the Medical Expense Deduction.

• AARP Tax-Aide: 1-888-227-7669 / aarp.org/taxaide
• IRS TCE locator: 1-800-906-9887 / irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers

10. Veterans Resources

CalVet, California Department of Veterans Affairs

State-level entry point for California veterans and surviving spouses. Coordinates Aid & Attendance applications, Veteran-Directed Care, PCAFC navigation.

• Phone: 1-800-952-5626
• Web: calvet.ca.gov

VA Caregiver Support Line

National line for caregivers of veterans of any service era, provides emotional support, eligibility navigation for PCAFC (Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers), and connection to VA Caregiver Support Coordinators.

• Phone: 1-855-260-3274
• Web: caregiver.va.gov

VA Pension Management Center (Western Region)

Processes Aid & Attendance Pension applications (38 USC §1521/§1541; 2026 MAPR $29,093/$34,496/$18,696 for veteran/married-veteran/surviving spouse) for California, Nevada, Hawaii, and Pacific territories.

• Phone: 1-877-294-6380

County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs)

Each California county has a County Veterans Service Office that helps file VA claims (free of charge, there is no need to pay a private "claims consultant"). CVSOs are accredited under 38 CFR §14.626.

• Statewide CVSO directory: calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/County-Veterans-Service-Office-Search.aspx
• California Association of County Veterans Service Officers: cacvso.org

11. Condition-Specific Organizations

Alzheimer's Association (California Chapters)

Three regional Alzheimer's Association chapters in California provide 24/7 helpline, dementia care training, support groups, and advocacy.

• National Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-272-3900 (24 hours/day, every day)
• California Southland Chapter (LA / Orange / Riverside / San Bernardino / Ventura): (323) 938-3379
• Northern California / Northern Nevada Chapter: (800) 272-3900
• San Diego/Imperial Chapter: (858) 492-4400
• Web: alz.org

Parkinson's Foundation Helpline

• Phone: 1-800-473-4636
• Web: parkinson.org

American Cancer Society

• 24-hour cancer information & caregiver support: 1-800-227-2345
• Web: cancer.org

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, California

• Phone: 1-800-344-4867
• Web: nationalmssociety.org

Stroke Association

• Phone: 1-888-478-7653
• Web: stroke.org

Family Caregiver Alliance, Online Caregiver Resource Library

FCA (the Bay Area CRC and statewide tech hub) maintains the largest free online library of caregiver fact sheets in California, disease-specific, behavior-management, finance, and legal.

• Web: caregiver.org/resource
• National Center on Caregiving (housed at FCA): caregiver.org/national-center-caregiving

12. Crisis Lines

988, Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

The federal 988 number, fully operational nationwide since July 2022, replaces the legacy 1-800-273-8255 number. Trained crisis counselors available 24/7, for the caregiver in crisis, the older adult experiencing suicidal ideation, or the family member in acute mental-health distress.

• Phone: 988 (call or text)
• Veterans: press 1 after dialing
• Spanish: press 2 after dialing
• Web: 988lifeline.org

211, Universal Resource Referral

California operates 24 regional 211 centers covering all 58 counties. 211 is the universal-need front door, housing, food, utilities, transportation, child care, and more, and overlaps with 988 in many regions (the same staff handles both).

• Phone: 211 (call or text from any California phone)
• Web: 211ca.org

California Adult Protective Services (APS), Statewide Line

Report suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an older adult or dependent adult. Operated by CDSS in coordination with 58 county APS offices.

• Statewide hotline: 1-833-401-0832 (24 hours/day, every day)
• Web: cdss.ca.gov/adult-protective-services
• Local APS: ZIP-routed through the statewide number

Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Independent advocate for residents of nursing facilities, RCFEs (assisted living), and adult day care. Investigates complaints, advocates for resident rights.

• Statewide Crisis Line (24/7): 1-800-231-4024
• Web: aging.ca.gov/programs_and_services/long-term_care_ombudsman

National Domestic Violence Hotline

For caregivers experiencing intimate partner violence (a common but rarely-acknowledged caregiver risk factor):

• Phone: 1-800-799-7233 (24 hours/day, every day)
• Web: thehotline.org

Crisis Text Line

For caregivers more comfortable with text than voice:

• Text HOME to 741741 (24 hours/day, every day)
• Web: crisistextline.org

13. Faith-Based and Community Resources

Catholic Charities California

47 affiliated Catholic Charities agencies across California provide caregiver respite vouchers, senior congregate meals, and food pantries, regardless of religious affiliation.

• California state office: (916) 706-1539
• Web: ccc-cal.org (state association)

Jewish Family Services (multiple regional)

Provides senior care management, caregiver counseling, and Holocaust survivor services.

• Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay: (510) 558-7800
• Jewish Family Service Los Angeles: (323) 761-8800
• Jewish Family Service of San Diego: (858) 637-3000

Salvation Army

Older-adult services in larger California cities, meal programs, congregate housing, emergency assistance.

• California Western Territory: (562) 264-3600

14. Online Tools and Self-Help Resources

IHSS Hours Calculator

Estimate IHSS hours your loved one may qualify for based on Functional Index Ranking.

• CDSS IHSS Hours Calculator: cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ihss-recipients-applicants

CalAIM Community Supports Plan-by-Plan Look-Up

DHCS publishes a regularly-updated PDF showing which of the 14 (15) Community Supports each Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan offers in each county.

• 2026 CS Election Snapshot: dhcs.ca.gov/calaim/cs

California Master Plan for Aging Dashboard

Real-time tracking of MPA Goal Four "Caregiving That Works" implementation, funding, and outcomes.

• MPA Dashboard: mpa.aging.ca.gov

Care.com / HomeAdvisor, Private-Pay Provider Directories

For families who don't qualify for IHSS or who need supplemental care, private home-care agency directories.

• Care.com: care.com
• California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH) (industry trade association): cahsah.org

CalGrows (Workforce Development)

Free training and stipend program ($6,000 max stipend) for new direct-care workers entering the field. $150M state appropriation through CDA.

• Phone: (855) 770-9300
• Web: calgrows.org

15. Resources Almost No One Talks About

Senior Companion Program (Senior Corps)

Federal stipended-volunteer program, older adults receive companion visits from older-adult volunteers. Free for the family.

• Phone: 1-800-942-2677
• Web: americorps.gov/serve/americorps-seniors/senior-companions

Eldercare Locator (federal)

Federal information line for caregivers anywhere in the U.S., useful when a California caregiver is supporting a loved one in another state.

• Phone: 1-800-677-1116
• Web: eldercare.acl.gov

National Council on Aging (NCOA) BenefitsCheckUp

Free online tool that screens for 2,000+ federal, state, and local benefit programs by ZIP.

• Web: benefitscheckup.org

California Telephone Access Program (CTAP)

Free specialized phones for older adults and people with disabilities (large-button, amplified, hearing-aid compatible).

• Phone: 1-800-806-1191 · TTY 1-800-867-4323
• Web: californiaphones.org

California Lifeline (discounted phone service)

Discounted home phone or mobile service for low-income Californians (including dual-eligibles and SSI recipients).

• Phone: 1-866-272-0349
• Web: californialifeline.com

Medicare Savings Programs (MSP), Easy Enrollment

The QMB, SLMB, and QI Medicare Savings Programs pay Medicare premiums and cost-sharing for low-income beneficiaries. Most California MSP-eligible adults are not enrolled, eligibility is broad (138% FPL for QMB) and the application is short.

• Apply through: county social services office or BenefitsCal
• California Health Advocates MSP guide: cahealthadvocates.org

The California Caregiver Call Ladder

Print this and put it on the refrigerator. Each row maps a common situation to the call to make first.

12 Common Pitfalls in Navigating California Caregiver Resources

1. Calling 911 for non-acute issues that should go to 988 or 211. 911 is for medical emergencies, fires, and crimes in progress. 988 is for mental health and suicide crises. 211 is for resource referral.
2. Assuming AAA only serves age 60+. Most AAAs operate as ADRCs that screen any age. A 55-year-old caring for a 50-year-old disabled spouse can use the AAA system.
3. Not asking for the respite voucher at the CRC. CRC respite vouchers are available regardless of Medi-Cal eligibility. Ask explicitly.
4. Believing you need an attorney for every legal question. The Statewide Senior Legal Hotline handles 80%+ of routine caregiver legal questions for free.
5. Paying a private "VA claims consultant". Free, accredited help is available through County Veterans Service Officers. Charging veterans for VA claim assistance is illegal.
6. Skipping HICAP at AEP. Most California Medicare beneficiaries don't review their plan annually, and overpay an average of $700/year as a result. HICAP is free.
7. Calling Care.com without checking county background-check verification. Private-pay providers found through commercial directories vary widely in quality; verify TrustLine registration through CDSS.
8. Not registering the caregiver in their loved one's primary-care portal. Registering as the patient's "designated representative" allows the caregiver to access medical records, schedule appointments, and message providers, invaluable.
9. Believing the family must "exhaust resources" before applying for Medi-Cal. California eliminated the asset test entirely 1/1/2024–12/31/2025; even after AB 116 reinstated limits 1/1/2026, the new floor is $130K individual / $195K couple, far higher than other states.
10. Missing the County Veterans Service Officer. This is among the highest-leverage free resources for any California veteran or surviving spouse, CVSOs file claims at no cost and have decades of accumulated VA-claims expertise.
11. Using only the English-language resources. California has extensive Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, and Russian resources. Ask the AAA intake specialist for the language line for your loved one's preferred language.
12. Not saving the call ladder. Caregiving crises happen at 2:30 a.m. when no one wants to research phone numbers. Print the call ladder above and keep it on the refrigerator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the single most important phone number for a new California caregiver? 1-800-510-2020, California Department of Aging Information Line. It routes to the local AAA, which screens for every Older Americans Act program AND connects to the Caregiver Resource Center serving the region.

Q2. Are CRCs only for the caregiver, or for the care recipient too? CRCs are caregiver-focused. The respite vouchers, counseling, and support groups serve the caregiver. Some CRCs also provide care planning that includes the recipient, but the recipient's services (IHSS, Medi-Cal, etc.) come through other agencies.

Q3. Can a caregiver be paid by Medi-Cal in California? Yes, through IHSS for any Medi-Cal-eligible recipient who needs personal care, including by a parent of a minor child (under AB 1287, effective 7/1/2024). See our California Paid Family Caregiver Guide for full details.

Q4. What's the difference between PFL and disability insurance (SDI)? PFL pays you while you care for a seriously ill family member. SDI pays you while you are personally unable to work. Both are administered by EDD; both pay up to $1,765/week in 2026.

Q5. Are CRC services free? Family consultation, counseling, education, and support groups are typically free. Respite vouchers are typically subsidized but may have a small caregiver co-pay (typically $0–$25 depending on income). Legal consultation is typically free for the first 30 minutes; longer engagements may be referred to private attorneys.

Q6. Is there a separate CRC for veterans? No, but the VA Caregiver Support Line (1-855-260-3274) and County Veterans Service Officers play parallel roles for veteran caregivers. CRCs serve veteran caregivers as well, and many CRCs have veteran-specific support groups.

Q7. What if I'm caring for someone in another state from California? Call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116, the federal information line for any state. The Eldercare Locator routes to the AAA serving the loved one's ZIP code.

Q8. How do I find a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) in my county? State Bar of California Lawyer Referral Service at 1-866-442-2529 or NAELA California chapter at naela.org. CELAs typically charge $300–$600/hour but offer flat-rate packages for advance directives, conservatorship, and trust planning.

Q9. Are there caregiver resources for grandparents raising grandchildren (kinship care)? Yes, California Kinship Caregivers Program through county social services. Each AAA can refer; some CRCs run dedicated kinship support groups. Call the Statewide Senior Legal Hotline (1-800-222-1753) for legal questions about kinship guardianship.

Q10. Where can I get caregiver training (skills like safe transferring, dementia communication)? CalGrows (calgrows.org) offers free training with up to a $6,000 stipend for direct-care workers. Family Caregiver Alliance (caregiver.org) offers free online courses for unpaid family caregivers. Each CRC offers in-person caregiver education.

Q11. Are there respite resources at hospitals? Many California hospital systems run Caregiver Centers, Cottage Health (Santa Barbara), USC, Kaiser, and Sutter all have programs. Ask the hospital social worker.

Q12. What if my loved one has both dementia and a developmental disability? Both the AAA / CRC system AND the Regional Center system serve this population. The CRC can provide caregiver services; the Regional Center coordinates the recipient's services. The two systems are designed to coexist.

The Bottom Line

If you remember nothing else from this guide, remember these six things:

1. Save 1-800-510-2020 in your contacts. California Department of Aging, the single statewide front door. It routes to your AAA. Your AAA routes to your CRC. Your CRC schedules respite, counseling, and care planning.
2. 988, 211, and 1-833-401-0832 are the three crisis numbers. 988 for mental health, 211 for universal need, 1-833-401-0832 for elder abuse. Print them.
3. The 11 California Caregiver Resource Centers are the most under-used caregiver resource in the country. Free family consultation, free respite vouchers, free counseling, and most California families have never heard of them.
4. HICAP and the Statewide Senior Legal Hotline are your free experts. Medicare counseling and senior legal advice, both free, both unbiased, both available statewide.
5. County Veterans Service Officers file VA claims for free. Never pay a private "claims consultant." CVSOs are accredited under federal regulation and have decades of VA-claims expertise.
6. The call ladder fits on one piece of paper. Print it. Put it on the fridge. Caregiving crises happen at 2:30 a.m., not during business hours when you have time to research.

California has built one of the deepest caregiver-support infrastructures in the country, anchored in 42-year-old statute (Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, 1984) and refreshed by the Master Plan for Aging Family Caregiver Strategy (August 2024). Used well, it means no California caregiver should ever feel like they have nowhere to turn.

California Caregiver: 18 Top Resources Phone Table

California operates one of the country's most robust caregiver-support networks, anchored by the 33-AAA federal-state Older Americans Act infrastructure, the 11 regional Caregiver Resource Centers (the only network of its kind in the country at this scale), 21 Regional Centers for the I/DD population, 58 county IHSS programs serving ~600,000 recipients, and an enormously deep ecosystem of nonprofits, hotlines, and advocacy organizations. The system's biggest weakness is not capacity but discoverability, most caregivers never learn that two-thirds of these resources exist. Save this directory. Share it. The phone numbers above represent decades of collective infrastructure built specifically so that no California caregiver should ever feel alone.

Find personalized help navigating California caregiver resources at brevy.com.