What Would Jesus Prompt?AI that loves its neighbor Request free helpGet help

Free guide · Houston & Harris County

Help for seniors around Houston: who to call for what.

Whether you're an older adult, or you help care for one, there is free and low-cost help nearby. This page lists trusted places for meals, rides, caregiver support, Medicare questions, and reporting abuse, with phone numbers we checked on each organization's own website.

  • Last checked: October 11, 2026
  • Nonpartisan
  • General information, not legal advice

Please read: This page is general information, not legal, medical, or financial advice. Programs, rules, and phone numbers can change. Every key fact below links to the source we used, so you can check it yourself. In an emergency, call 9-1-1.

The short answer

  • Age 60 or older, or caring for someone who is? Start with the Harris County Area Agency on Aging: 832-393-4301.
  • Not sure where to start? Dial 2-1-1 for free help finding local services.
  • Worried someone is being hurt, neglected, or taken advantage of? Call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400, any time.

Sources: Houston Health Department, Harris County Area Agency on Aging; 2-1-1 Texas; Texas DFPS

Meals

  • Meals on Wheels (Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, "IM Houston") (713) 533-4978
    Daily meals and wellness checks for qualified seniors in Harris and Galveston counties, at no cost to seniors. Seniors with pets can also sign up for free pet food (the Animeals program).

    Source: IM Houston, Meals on Wheels

  • Senior meals through the Area Agency on Aging 832-393-4301
    Hot meals five days a week at community and senior centers for adults 60+, and home-delivered meals for older adults who are homebound or have a disability.

    Source: Harris County Area Agency on Aging

To get IM Houston's Meals on Wheels, you must:

  • be 60 or older;
  • be homebound (at home during the day);
  • have a need for help with meals (for example, trouble getting around, or a limited income); and
  • live in a ZIP code they serve in Harris or Galveston County.

If you qualify, you can fill out their intake form online or call them. (IM Houston) IM Houston also says the Harris County Area Agency on Aging recently picked it to serve more ZIP codes south and southeast of downtown. (IM Houston news)

Area Agency on Aging (Harris County and Houston)

The Harris County Area Agency on Aging is part of the Houston Health Department. It coordinates services for adults 60 and older and their caregivers. Call 832-393-4301. (Houston Health Department)

Services include:

  • Benefits counseling: one-on-one help understanding Medicare, Medicaid, and other public benefits.
  • Caregiver support: information and respite (a break) for family caregivers.
  • Information and referral: help finding resources in the community.
  • Long-term care ombudsman: a trained advocate for people living in nursing homes and similar facilities, who can help with complaints and explain residents' rights.
  • Meals: group meals at senior centers and home-delivered meals.

Source: Harris County Area Agency on Aging

Also helpful: the Care Connection Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) gives free, confidential information and referrals for older adults, veterans, and people of any age with disabilities in Harris County. Call (855) YES-ADRC (855-937-2372). (Houston Health Department, ADRC)

Rides and transportation

Lower fares on METRO buses and trains

METRO lets seniors 65 to 69 ride for half price, and seniors 70 and older ride free. METRO first needs to confirm your age before the discount works. (METRO, Fares)

METROLift: door-to-door rides for people with disabilities

METROLift is a shared-ride service for people whose disability makes it hard to use regular buses and trains. It's based on disability, not age. It covers most of Harris County. (METROLift)

  1. Apply

    Call METROLift Customer Service and Eligibility at 713-225-0119 (TTY 713-652-8969), Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Source: METRO, Contact Us

  2. Do an in-person interview

    You'll get a written decision within 21 days.

    Source: METROLift

  3. Ride

    A one-way trip costs $1.25 in the main service area, and $2.50 in the extended area.

    Source: METROLift

METRO also offers free Travel Training to help people learn to ride its other services: 713-750-4234, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (METROLift) For other ride programs near you, dial 2-1-1.

Help for caregivers

Caring for someone you love is hard work. You don't have to do it alone. The Harris County Area Agency on Aging's family caregiver support network offers:

  • information about services, and help getting them;
  • referrals to counseling, support groups, training, and bilingual resources;
  • respite care, so the caregiver can take a break; and
  • some extra services on a limited basis.

Grandparents and other relatives age 60 and older who are raising grandchildren, or children with developmental disabilities, can get help too. Call 832-393-4301. (Houston Health Department, Caregiver Support Network)

Medicare questions

Texas has a free Medicare helpline run by the Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). Trained benefits counselors can explain your options, help with enrollment, and help with complaints and appeals. Call 800-252-9240. (Texas Health and Human Services, Medicare)

HICAP is Texas's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), part of a national network of free Medicare counseling programs. (SHIP National Technical Assistance Center, Texas)

The program is a partnership of Texas Health and Human Services, Texas Legal Services Center, and the Area Agencies on Aging. (Texas HHS)

Good to know: Medicare's yearly open enrollment period runs October 15 to December 7. (Texas Department of Insurance) We don't recommend plans. For help comparing them, call HICAP.

2-1-1 Texas

2-1-1 Texas is a free service from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. It helps you find local help such as food, transportation, disaster help, and health services. Dial 2-1-1, or call (877) 541-7905. You can also chat online in English or Spanish. (211texas.org)

Reporting abuse, neglect, or exploitation

If you think an older adult or an adult with a disability is being abused, neglected, or taken advantage of (exploited), report it to Adult Protective Services through the Texas Abuse Hotline:

  • Call 1-800-252-5400, toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Or report online at TxAbuseHotline.org.
  • If you can't use a phone, use Relay Texas at 7-1-1 and ask them to call the hotline.
  • If someone is in danger right now, call 9-1-1.

This includes self-neglect, when an older adult living at home can't take care of their own basic needs. Texas law says anyone who believes a person 65 or older, or an adult with disabilities, is being abused, neglected, or exploited must report it. (Texas DFPS, Report Abuse or Neglect)

For a problem in a nursing home or assisted living facility, you can also ask the Area Agency on Aging about its long-term care ombudsman program: 832-393-4301. (Harris County Area Agency on Aging)

Questions people ask

Can I call for help on behalf of my mom or dad?

Yes. The Care Connection ADRC works with individuals, families, caregivers, and professionals. The Area Agency on Aging also supports caregivers. (ADRC; Caregiver Support Network)

Does Meals on Wheels cost anything?

IM Houston says its meals are provided at no cost to seniors who qualify. (IM Houston)

Is METROLift just for seniors?

No. METROLift is for people with a disability that makes regular buses or trains hard to use, at any age. Seniors who don't qualify can still get lower fares on regular METRO service. (METROLift; METRO Fares)

Who can help me pick a Medicare plan?

HICAP's free, trained counselors can explain and compare your options: 800-252-9240. We don't recommend plans. (Texas HHS)

Phone numbers in one place

Sources

We used official sources and the websites of the organizations listed. All were checked on October 11, 2026.

  1. Houston Health Department: Harris County Area Agency on Aging (Senior Services 60+)
  2. Houston Health Department: Caregiver Support Network
  3. Houston Health Department: Care Connection Aging and Disability Resource Center
  4. Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston (IM Houston): Meals on Wheels
  5. IM Houston: Meals on Wheels expansion announcement
  6. METRO: Fares (senior discounts)
  7. METRO: METROLift paratransit
  8. METRO: Contact Us
  9. Texas Health and Human Services: Medicare (HICAP)
  10. SHIP National Technical Assistance Center: Texas (HICAP)
  11. Texas Department of Insurance: Insurance Resource for Medicare Beneficiaries
  12. 2-1-1 Texas (Texas Health and Human Services Commission)
  13. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services: Report Abuse or Neglect
  14. Texas Abuse Hotline website

Not legal advice. This guide is general information to help you get started. It is not legal, medical, insurance, or financial advice. What Would Jesus Prompt? is not a government office and is not part of any organization listed here. Always confirm with the sources above. Last checked: October 11, 2026.

Spot something out of date? Let us know through the request form on our home page.