City report highlights struggle of older adults, while thousands find help at senior centers

While a new city report highlights seniors struggling to make ends meet, the City of San Antonio offers services for seniors at no cost at their 12 centers, including a hot nutritious lunch.

The City of San Antonio’s Department of Human Services released a report in the last few weeks that said 40,000 San Antonio seniors are below the poverty line.

The report said poverty rates for people 60 and older have increased almost 2% since 2015.

Leaders with the Department of Human Services said many seniors are seeking resources because fixed incomes cannot keep up with rising costs.

“In terms of our benefit navigators and financial counselors, the number of individuals that they’re helping has continued to increase,” Victor Ayala said.

Ayala said the number of seniors seeking help has stayed steady, with around 50,000 members citywide. Half are active users.

At a South Side senior center, older adults gather for games of pool, cards, bingo and a hot lunch.

“For some of them, it might be their only meal. It’s sad to say,” said Irma Garcia, a volunteer at the center.

Ben Dominguez helped open the center and said on the South Side, some people have been in poverty for generations, describing it as a cycle. He said another concern he has been keeping an eye on the city’s budget concerns.

“We see those types of resources starting to get smaller and smaller, as it is with new taxes coming in,” he said.

The report also said Adult Protective Services confirmed more than 3,300 cases of elder abuse in 2025 alone. Nine in 10 of those cases were self-neglect.

Before she volunteered, Garcia worked as a caretaker and saw the struggle firsthand.

“A lot of them don’t ever leave their home because they don’t have the transportation. Or they’re afraid they might fall, or some of them might fear they’ll get lost,” she said.

The report said only one in 24 cases of elder abuse is documented.

Resources available and how to get help

The city services are free to people 60 and up. The only limit is seniors get one meal a day. Transportation is available for those who live within 5 miles of one of the city’s 12 centers. The number to call is 210-207-7172. You can access their website here.

Leaders said senior centers provide exercise classes, lunch programs and social activities at no cost. The centers also offer one-on-one consultations with benefits counselors and financial advisors for seniors facing financial hardship.

Benefits navigators and financial counselors help seniors navigate utility assistance programs, including help paying light bills, Ayala said. They also assist with applications for food assistance programs, including SNAP and food commodity programs, helping seniors bridge the digital divide by completing online applications.

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