A Smart Place to Age
Santa Clara County is widely known as the home of Silicon Valley. What’s less often said is that it’s also one of the smartest places in America to age. With a unique blend of world-class healthcare, innovation, cultural diversity, great weather, and intentional planning for older adults, the county has built an environment where aging in place services in Santa Clara County are supported at every level.
Of course, all of this comes at a cost. Santa Clara County consistently ranks as one of the most expensive places to live. But for many families, that cost reflects real value: better doctors, stronger institutions, and access to unmatched senior care programs and aging in place resources that simply don’t exist outside of Santa Clara County.
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World-Class Healthcare and Innovation
Few regions can rival the concentration of top-tier medical institutions in Santa Clara County. Residents have access to Stanford Health Care, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, El Camino Health, and Kaiser Permanente, along with some of the nation’s leading specialists. Santa Clara Valley Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Center was even named one of the top ten in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
This density of hospitals, physicians, and research institutions means seniors can get advanced care quickly and locally;whether that’s routine checkups, specialized therapies, or second opinions from some of the best doctors in the world.
The county also leads in innovation. Telehealth programs, remote monitoring devices, and smart-home systems are designed and tested here. There’s also incredible local transit services such as VTA’s Senior Fares and RYDE support safe mobility. For older adults, aging in place services in Santa Clara County increasingly include cutting-edge technologies and progressive policies that make independent living safer, more efficient, and more connected.
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Recognition and Age-Friendly Planning
Santa Clara County was the first county in the United States to be designated “age-friendly” by the World Health Organization. All 15 cities in the county have joined the WHO’s Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Network. That’s not a symbolic label, it represents deliberate planning in housing, caregiving, transportation, and social inclusion.
Recent surveys of older residents highlight strengths in social engagement, mobility, and access to services. Santa Clara County is a place where aging in place programs are actively improving year after year.
The county also consistently lands on national lists. Fortune ranked Santa Clara among the top three “Best Places to Retire” in 2024. Sunnyvale and Santa Clara regularly appear in the top 20 best U.S. cities to live, thanks to strong healthcare, public safety, and outdoor amenities. And while the cost of living is high, the Human Development Index ranks Santa Clara County fourth in California.
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Weather and Lifestyle
With over 300 days of sunshine a year and a Mediterranean climate, Santa Clara County makes it easy for seniors to stay active outdoors. Walking trails like Los Gatos Creek, Rancho San Antonio Preserve, and neighborhood parks are used year-round. Outdoor activity is one of the strongest protectors against isolation and mobility decline, and the weather here encourages it daily. For many families, these lifestyle advantages make aging in place services in Santa Clara County especially valuable.
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Diversity and Cultural Richness
Santa Clara County is one of the most diverse places in the nation. Nearly half a million residents here are over 60, and the population is rapidly growing more multicultural. Services reflect that diversity. Community centers, senior programs, and healthcare providers offer multilingual staff, culturally familiar foods, and activities that honor heritage.
For families, that means their loved ones can find community in a way that feels authentic, whether through a walking group, a cultural festival, or a bilingual caregiver. The best senior services in Santa Clara County understand that cultural connection is essential to aging well.
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Lifelong Learning and Enrichment
Aging well is also about more than staying healthy, it’s about staying engaged. Santa Clara County’s senior centers in Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Mountain View, and Santa Clara offer a full range of classes, fitness programs, and arts activities. Local universities such as Stanford, San José State, and Santa Clara University provide lifelong learning opportunities. Libraries deliver books by mail and run vast calendars of events.
This ecosystem ensures older adults don’t just live longer, but live with purpose and curiosity. These opportunities are often built directly into aging in place programs in Santa Clara County, giving seniors more ways to stay active and connected.
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Why Coordination Matters
The reality is that Santa Clara County’s resources are abundant but can be difficult to track. Families often don’t know which program to use, what qualifies, or how to manage all the moving parts. That’s where Ability Link comes in.
We:
• Assess health, home, and lifestyle needs.
•Connect families with trusted partners like Sourcewise, Avenidas, & more
• Coordinate medical programs through local hospitals and doctors
• Schedule, apply, and follow up so families don’t have to chase details.
We help them get the full benefit of the aging in place services in Santa Clara County they are paying for.
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A Smart Place to Age
Santa Clara County costs more but it delivers more. From healthcare and innovation to climate and culture, it offers one of the strongest environments in the country for older adults who want to remain at home. With the right coordination, aging in place services in Santa Clara County can mean living well. Here is list of some of our favorite resources!
| Santa Clara Senior Center | Santa Clara | santaclaraca.gov/residents/senior-center |
| Evergreen Community Center & Senior Programs | San Jose | sjregistration.com (San Jose Parks & Rec senior programs) |
| Almaden Community Center – Senior Programs | San Jose | sjregistration.com |
| Seven Trees Community Center – Senior Programs | San Jose | sjregistration.com |
| Cupertino Senior Center | Cupertino | cupertino.org/senior |
| Campbell Adult Center | Campbell | campbellca.gov/adultcenter |
| Mountain View Senior Center | Mountain View | mountainview.gov/seniors |
| Organization | Focus | Website |
| Sourcewise (Santa Clara County’s Area Agency on Aging) | Senior resources, benefits, caregiver support | mysourcewise.com |
| Meals on Wheels – Santa Clara County (via Sourcewise) | Nutrition & meal delivery for seniors | mysourcewise.com/meals-on-wheels |
| Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County – Older Adult Services | Social services, caregiver support, wellness programs | catholiccharitiesscc.org |
| Alzheimer’s Association – Northern California & Northern Nevada Chapter | Dementia & Alzheimer’s support | alz.org/norcal |
| Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service (Japantown San Jose) | Senior wellness, cultural, and social programs | yu-aikai.org |
| Avenidas (Palo Alto & Los Altos) | Senior programs, caregiver support, transportation, housing resources | avenidas.org |
📞 Contact Ability Link today to learn how we can support your family with resources, technology, and community connections for fall prevention for seniors in Santa Clara County
Email: Info@Ability.Link or Call: (650) 308-8127
Serving Santa Clara County and the Greater Bay Area, including: San Jose, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Los Gatos, Campbell, Milpitas, Saratoga, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy