Senior Services

The following services and programs are offered by the Office of Senior Affairs:

Casework

The Office of Community Care Senior Services caseworkers provide referrals and information to at-risk seniors needing resources for elder abuse, housing, health and dental care, utility assistance, transportation and other social services.

Contact: (214) 670-5227

Outreach

Educational materials, presentations, training and informational seminars are provided and/or facilitated by the OSA to community groups, neighborhood associations and senior centers to educate and inform the public on senior resources and issues affecting older adults. These issues include, but are not limited to, isolation, elder abuse, health care and housing. Contact: (214) 670-5227

Senior Affairs Commission

The OSA provides staff support to the Senior Affairs Commission (SAC). The Senior Affairs Commission is a 15-member advisory board appointed by the Mayor and City Council to help ensure the provision of services to the elderly. Contact: (214) 671-9258

Senior Ombudsman Program

The Senior Ombudsman Program is designed to give an official mandated voice to seniors in nursing home and assisted living facilities by addressing concerns and seeking resolutions to problems or issues to enhance the quality of life for residents in long term care facilities. The program also offers information to seniors and their families about nursing home facilities, selection and/or any related nursing home issues. The Senior Ombudsman Program is implemented by The Senior Source. Contact: (214) 823-5700

Senior Force Program (This program is temporarily suspended due to COVID-19)

The Senior Force Program provides career transitioning training and job placement assistance to seniors. Participants will be registered on a free 5-week course, Monday through Thursday, at Mountain View College.

Program Highlights:

• Learn Microsoft Office and basic computer skills
• Create or update your résumé
• Prepare a career social media profile
• Practice how to interview and get the job offer
• Earn a customer service skills certificate
• Engage in one-on-one career counseling
• Receive job placement support

Program requirements:

• Reside in the City of Dallas
• Age 60 and over
• Meet low-to-moderate income requirements
• Have an I.D. or driver license for proof of residency

For additional information:

• Call: (214) 810-5516
• Email: seniorforce@dcccd.edu   

 

Senior Dental Health Care Program

Provides dental health services to low-moderate income seniors aged 60 and older residing within the City of Dallas. Dental health services include: exams, cleanings, fluoride treatment, sealants, flings, extractions, root canals, treatment for infections and oral health education.

To schedule an appointment for services, please contact North Dallas Shared Ministries or the Agape Clinic. Services are free to eligible residents and are provided by the Texas A&M University College of Dentistry at the following locations:

North Dallas Shared Ministries

2875 Merrell Road

Dallas, Texas 75229

(214) 358-8729

Agape Clinic

4104 Junius Street

Dallas, Texas 75246

(972) 707-7782

 

Senior Medical Transportation Program (SMTP)

SMTP Transition to Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)

The City of Dallas Senior Medical Transportation Program is updating our client service model to provide clients an on-demand service in partnership with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) through its DART Rides Rider Assistance Program (RAP). This new service model will allow participants to schedule same day services directly through DART using a reloadable program debit card. This transition will mean there will be several changes to how clients use the program, including how to schedule rides and the ability for a client to manage and schedule their own services.

The program is intended for travel in the DART service area. You may travel anywhere and for any purpose, as long as the origin or destination of the trip is in your city of residence. Remember that long trips may be costly and will reduce the number of trips you can make in a month. The maximum value that can be stored on your card is $100 in any month. Riders must use alternate means to pay the cost for any trip where the total cost exceeds the value stored on the card. During the first six months, the City of Dallas will fund the total cost with a reloadable program debit card. Starting the seventh month, each rider will be required to provide 25% of the card balance. Value may be added in $5 increments up to $25 per calendar month.

Below we outline some key elements of the new program. If you have any questions, please contact DART’s Rider Assistance Program: http://www.DART.org or call 214-828-6717.

City of Dallas and DART Rider Assistance Program Overview:

Beginning May 1, 2020, the City will NO longer be scheduling rides for the Transportation Program and ALL current clients will go through DART’s application process in order to qualify for Transportation services. The qualifying criteria are:

• Be age 65 or older OR have a certified disability, but not eligible for DART Paratransit Services.
• Present proof of residency (such as a government ID, a recent utility bill or other documentation to verifying residency) and
• Have NO other means of transportation available to you (for example: DART Paratransit Services).

Once this documentation/proof is provided and is approved for the program, eligible residents may purchase up to $100 in Rider Assistance Program (RAP) value each month. During the first six months, the City of Dallas will fund the total cost with a reloadable program debit card. Once the debit card is received, you must go to http://www.DART.org to register your card. By registering, riders will be able to check card balance at any time and recover the value in the event a card is lost or stolen.  Starting the seventh month, each rider will be required to provide 25% of the card balance. Value may be added in $5 increments up to $25 per calendar month.

The program operates during the same hours as DART’s Paratransit, fixed-route bus, and rail service which is approximately 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week and is intended for travel in the DART service area.

This program will continue to be a service of LAST RESORT.

To schedule a ride, you may advance schedule and/or call up to an hour ahead of time that you wish to be picked up; but, be advised that the vehicle usually arrives within 20-30 minutes of your call. A variety of vehicles will operate the program. Not all vehicles are wheelchair accessible, accessible service must be requested at the time of scheduling.

The scheduling will NO longer be done through the City of Dallas’s 214-670-7235 phone number once transitioning begins May 1st, 2020. Please contact DART’s Rider Assistance Program at http://www.DART.org or call 214-828-6717 for more information.

DART will need the following documents for you to transition:

• Proof of Age – E.g. photo ID, driver’s license
• Proof of residency within the City of Dallas – Utility bills, lease
• Proof of Disability – Social security letter, medical provider letter

ALL DOCUMENTS NEED TO BE MAILED TO:

DART – DART Rides P.O Box 660163

Dallas, TX 75266-7271

 

The Texas Ramp Project

Volunteers of the Texas Ramp Project in the Dallas area build wheelchair ramps for the low-income and disabled in Dallas County and southern Collin County. The Office of Senior Affairs accepts ramp installation intake calls/applications for the Texas Ramp Project. Contact: (214) 670-5227

Operation WaterShare

Provides assistance with Dallas Water Utilities to persons aged 60 and older facing financial hardships due to water leaks or other difficult circumstances. Contact: (214) 670-5227