The AACOG Area Agency on Aging connects Bexar County seniors to free care coordination, Medicaid counseling, meals, and respite — here's how to access every service.
By San Antonio Senior Advisor Care Team · June 30, 2026
The Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) administers the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for the 13-county Alamo region, which includes Bexar County and the greater San Antonio metropolitan area. Authorized under the federal Older Americans Act and funded through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), AACOG's AAA program is the front door to a broad network of free and low-cost services for adults aged 60 and older. If you or a loved one lives in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, Converse, or any surrounding community in Bexar County, AACOG is your first call. The agency does not provide direct care itself — instead, it contracts with local providers to deliver services and employs trained benefits counselors and care coordinators who guide families through every option available under Texas law.
Eligibility for most AACOG programs starts at age 60 with no income test for core Older Americans Act services — meaning a senior does not need to be poor to receive help. However, AACOG prioritizes individuals with the greatest social and economic need, including those at risk of nursing home placement, minority seniors, rural residents, and people with limited English proficiency. San Antonio's population is approximately 65 percent Hispanic, and AACOG's bilingual staff — many of whom are Spanish-dominant — is a critical asset for families who struggle with English-only bureaucratic systems. You can reach AACOG's main office at (210) 362-5200 or visit aacog.com to find the intake form and current service catalog.
AACOG administers several flagship programs that can dramatically reduce the cost and burden of senior care for Bexar County families. The most utilized are home-delivered meals (often called Meals on Wheels), congregate meals at senior centers, personal attendant services, and transportation assistance. Home-delivered meals are available to homebound seniors who cannot prepare their own food safely; in San Antonio, delivery routes cover most ZIP codes including 78201–78265. Congregate meals are served at senior centers throughout the city, including facilities in Southside, Westside, Northeast, and Northside districts, providing both nutrition and socialization that prevents isolation.
Personal attendant services — help with bathing, dressing, grooming, and light housekeeping — are coordinated through AACOG for seniors who qualify under HHSC's Community Attendant Services (CAS) program or the STAR+PLUS Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver. These programs allow seniors to remain in their own homes rather than moving to an assisted living facility. AACOG care coordinators help families apply for CAS or STAR+PLUS HCBS, navigate managed care organizations (MCOs) like Molina Healthcare, Superior HealthPlan (Centene), UnitedHealth Community Plan, or Amerigroup, and appeal denied services. This navigation alone can be worth thousands of dollars annually to a Bexar County family.
One of AACOG's most powerful services is free, unbiased benefits counseling through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and the Benefits Counseling program. SHIP counselors at AACOG are certified to help Medicare beneficiaries compare Part D prescription drug plans, evaluate Medicare Advantage versus Original Medicare with a Medigap supplement, and understand how Medicare and Medicaid interact under a dual-eligibility arrangement. In 2025, the average SHIP client in Texas saved over $1,800 annually by switching to a better-suited Part D plan. If your parent or spouse receives both Medicare and Medicaid, AACOG counselors can explain which STAR+PLUS MCO covers their preferred San Antonio providers — a critical detail when Methodist Hospital, Baptist Medical Center, or UT Health University Hospital may not be in every plan's network.
AACOG benefits counselors also assist with Medicaid applications and re-determinations, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims, and long-term care planning conversations. They can walk a family through the STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver application process — including the functional eligibility assessment conducted by HHSC — and explain what to expect at each stage. Families dealing with a sudden health crisis, such as a stroke or fall at home, often contact AACOG within hours of a hospital discharge call; the agency can coordinate emergency in-home services while a longer-term plan is developed. Call (210) 362-5200 to schedule a benefits counseling appointment; sessions are free and can be conducted in English or Spanish.
AACOG administers the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) for Bexar County, which provides direct support to unpaid family and informal caregivers. Services available under NFCSP include caregiver training and education, individual counseling, support group referrals, and — most importantly — respite care. Respite allows a primary caregiver to take a break while a trained substitute provides supervision and basic care for the older adult. In San Antonio, respite can be delivered in-home by a paid attendant, or at an adult day care center. AACOG can connect families with short-term assisted living respite at licensed Type A or Type B facilities in Bexar County when longer relief is needed, such as during a caregiver's medical recovery or travel.
Legal assistance is another underutilized AACOG service. The agency contracts with nonprofit legal providers to offer free consultations to seniors on matters including advance directives (Texas Directive to Physicians, Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare), guardianship alternatives, Medicaid spend-down planning, and consumer protection issues. A session with an AACOG-referred legal aid attorney can be critical when a family is trying to set up a Medical Power of Attorney before a parent loses cognitive capacity, or when trying to protect a home from Medicaid estate recovery claims under Texas law. These sessions are free to qualifying seniors and their caregivers.
Getting started with AACOG services is straightforward. Call the main line at (210) 362-5200 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and ask for the Aging Services intake team. Spanish-speaking staff are available. You can also visit aacog.com and complete a contact form to request a callback. During the initial intake call, a care coordinator will gather basic information about the senior's age, address, living situation, health conditions, and immediate needs. Depending on the services requested, the coordinator may schedule a home visit or a phone assessment.
For families in urgent situations — for example, an elderly parent being discharged from Methodist Hospital or Christus Santa Rosa Health System without a clear plan — AACOG can often expedite intake and connect with hospital social workers to coordinate a smooth transition home. It is worth noting that AACOG's services are available in all 13 counties of the Alamo region, so families in New Braunfels (Comal County), Seguin (Guadalupe County), or Boerne (Kendall County) can also access the same network of benefits counselors and care coordination. If you have already started the STAR+PLUS HCBS application through HHSC at hhs.texas.gov, AACOG can serve as your advocate and help you understand every step of the managed care enrollment process.
Free, online, and no pressure — we work for families, not facilities. Hablamos español.