Free senior resources in Kansas City
These are free or low-cost government and nonprofit programs serving older adults and caregivers across the Kansas City metro — on both the Kansas and Missouri sides. Browse below, then call the program directly.
Area Agencies on Aging
Your first call. Each county has an Area Agency on Aging — a public hub that connects adults 60+ to meals, transportation, in-home help, Medicare counseling, and more. The KC metro spans four of them.
Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) — Aging & Adult Services
One call links MO-side older adults to meals, transit, in-home care, Medicare help, legal aid, and the ombudsman.
Johnson County Area Agency on Aging
Information & Assistance specialists connect adults 60+ to services that support independence.
Wyandotte / Leavenworth Area Agency on Aging
Plans and coordinates aging programs: information & assistance, meals, in-home support, ombudsman.
East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging (ECKAAA)
Arranges in-home services, meals, and aging supports for its region.
Free Medicare Counseling
Free, unbiased, one-on-one help comparing Medicare plans, enrolling, and finding savings programs. These are the official state programs (SHIP) — not insurance salespeople.
SHICK — Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas
Free Medicare counseling from trained volunteers through the state of Kansas.
Missouri SHIP (formerly CLAIM)
Missouri's free, unbiased Medicare counseling program.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Independent advocates who investigate and resolve complaints for people living in nursing homes, assisted living, and adult-care facilities. Free and confidential.
Kansas Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Advocates for residents of long-term care facilities; resolves complaints and protects rights.
Missouri State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (DHSS)
Advocates for facility residents; resolves complaints and protects residents’ rights.
Meals & Nutrition
Home-delivered meals (Meals on Wheels) and congregate dining for adults 60+. Most include a daily wellness check.
KC Shepherd's Center — Meals on Wheels
Home-delivered meals plus a daily wellness check (and pet food) for homebound older adults.
The Don Bosco Centers — Meals on Wheels & Congregate Dining
Home-delivered meals with a weekday wellness check, plus dining at the senior center.
Johnson County — Home-Delivered Meals & CHAMPSS
Planned home-delivered meals (diabetic option) plus cafeteria-style congregate meals.
Senior Transportation
Door-to-door and accessible rides to appointments, errands, and dialysis for older adults who can’t drive. Most require registration or an eligibility check.
RideKC Freedom & Freedom On-Demand (KCATA)
ADA paratransit (book ahead) and same-day accessible on-demand rides.
Johnson County Catch-a-Ride
Free volunteer-driver rides to medical appointments, food pantries, and agencies.
OATS Transit
Nonprofit specialized transit for seniors, people with disabilities, and rural riders.
Clay County Senior Services — Transportation
Rides to medical appointments, dialysis/therapy, and nursing-home family visits.
Caregiver Support
Help for the family members and friends doing the caring — counseling, training, respite breaks, and a 24/7 dementia helpline.
Alzheimer's Association — Heart of America Chapter
Free 24/7 Helpline with dementia experts, plus support groups, education, and care consultations.
MARC — Family Caregiver Support Program
Caregiver info, training, and respite (including the Breaktime Club adult day program).
Johnson County — Caregiver Support
Counseling, in-home services, and respite for family caregivers.
Legal Help for Seniors
Free and low-cost civil legal aid for older adults — advice on benefits, housing, consumer issues, powers of attorney, and more.
Kansas Legal Services — Elder Hotline
Free civil legal aid statewide, with a dedicated free legal-advice hotline for Kansans 60+.
Legal Aid of Western Missouri
Free civil legal help for low-income and elderly residents, with senior services through the AAAs.
Report Elder Abuse
To report suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, call your state’s hotline. In an immediate emergency, call 911.
Kansas — DCF Protection Report Center
Statewide 24/7 hotline to report abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of adults.
Missouri — DHSS Adult Abuse & Neglect Hotline
Report abuse, neglect, or exploitation of adults 60+ or disabled adults; investigated by Adult Protective Services.
Benefits & General Information
Not sure where to start? These connect you to food, housing, utility, healthcare, and benefit programs you may qualify for.
United Way 2-1-1
Free, confidential 24/7 referral line to thousands of local services. Just dial 2-1-1.
KanCare (Kansas Medicaid)
Kansas Medicaid for eligible low-income residents, seniors, and people with disabilities.
MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid)
Missouri Medicaid for eligible low-income residents, seniors, and people with disabilities.
BenefitsCheckUp (National Council on Aging)
Free online screening that matches older adults to 2,500+ benefit programs by ZIP code.
Veterans
Older veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for VA health care, pensions, and the Aid & Attendance benefit. These offices help for free.
Kansas City VA Medical Center
Full-service VA care including geriatrics and social work; nine community clinics.
Missouri Veterans Commission
Free claims help — VA pension (basis for Aid & Attendance), compensation, burial, survivor benefits.
Kansas Office of Veterans Services
Free eligibility and claims help from state veterans service representatives.
Senior Centers
Local gathering places for meals, fitness, classes, and friendship — most serve adults 60+ and many offer transportation.
Platte Senior Services, Inc.
A nonprofit senior center serving Platte County with meals, exercise and wellness activities, social clubs, and assistance and referrals for older adults.
Don Bosco Senior Center
A senior center serving adults 60+ and adults with disabilities, with on-site and home-delivered meals, transportation, health screenings, fitness and wellness classes, and social activities.
Palestine Senior Citizens Activity Center
A neighborhood senior activity center (associated with Palestine Missionary Baptist Church) offering congregate meals, social activities, and programs for older adults.
Vernon Multi-Purpose Center
A nonprofit outreach center serving senior citizens in Wyandotte County since 1936, with exercise classes, crafts, fellowship, and wellness programs.
Lenexa Senior Center (Old Town Activity Center)
A city-run senior program at the Lenexa Old Town Activity Center, with card games, social events, weekday lunches, and Parks & Recreation drop-in activities for older adults.
Smithville Senior Center
A municipal senior center (with Clay County Senior Services) offering weekday lunches, fitness classes, games, and social programs for residents 60+ or disabled adults.
County Senior Services & Aging Offices
County-run aging offices that coordinate meals, transportation, in-home support, and referrals for their residents.
Clay County Senior Services
A taxpayer-funded public senior-services agency providing transportation, home-delivered and congregate meals, in-home services, wellness programs, and information and referral for Clay County residents 60+.
Leavenworth County Council on Aging
A county government department serving residents 50+ and caregivers with information and assistance, a nutrition program, transportation, attendant and chore support, legal services, and health-insurance counseling.
Community Organizations
Nonprofits that help older adults stay independent — volunteer rides, in-home help, friendly visits, and culturally-specific support.
KC Shepherd's Center (Central)
An interfaith volunteer nonprofit serving older adults in central KC with medical-appointment transportation, handyman and in-home help, enrichment programs, and social activities. The flagship of the national Shepherd's Centers movement, founded in KC in 1972.
Northland Shepherd's Center
A volunteer nonprofit that helps Northland older adults age in place with volunteer transportation to medical appointments, grocery and errand assistance, friendly visits, and referrals.
Shepherd's Center of Kansas City, Kansas
An interfaith nonprofit supporting older adults in Wyandotte County with transportation, in-home help, and enrichment programs to help seniors remain independent.
Guadalupe Centers — Older Adults Program
A century-old nonprofit serving KC's Latino community; its Older Adults Program (a MARC-designated senior center) offers congregate and home-delivered meals, exercise, health screenings, transportation, and social activities for those 60+.
El Centro, Inc.
A Latino-serving community nonprofit (founded 1976) offering educational, social, and economic programs including health navigation (Promotoras de Salud) that can connect older adults and families to local resources.
Listings verified June 2026 from official sources and provided for information only — they are not endorsements. Programs, phone numbers, and eligibility change; please confirm details directly with each organization.