Solano County Senior Services in Fairfield, Explained
Solano County has a full network of senior services available to residents 60 and older — most families don't discover them until a crisis makes them urgent. Older and Disabled Adult Services runs core county programs including Adult Protective Services, the Public Guardian's office, and In-Home Supportive Services for Medi-Cal eligible seniors. The Napa/Solano Area Agency on Aging funds nutrition, transportation, caregiver support, legal assistance, and fall prevention across both counties. In Fairfield specifically, the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities and the Fairfield Adult Recreation Center serve active seniors, while Meals on Wheels runs a congregate lunch program locally. These services can extend how long a senior stays comfortably at home — but when the house itself becomes the obstacle no service can fix, that's a different conversation.
If you're 60 or older and living in Fairfield, Solano County already has a set of services built specifically for you, and most families I talk with have no idea how much of it exists until they need it. I spent years as a CNA before I became a REALTOR, and I sat with plenty of families who were scrambling to figure out care, meals, and support all at once. So today I want to walk through what Solano County's senior services cover, what's local to Fairfield, and how all of it connects to the bigger question a lot of families eventually face, whether the house still fits.
What Solano County's 60-plus programs cover
The county's Older and Disabled Adult Services department, ODAS for short, runs the core programs for residents 60 and older. Adult Protective Services investigates reports of abuse and neglect. The Public Guardian's office steps in when someone can no longer manage their own financial or personal affairs and a court appoints a conservator. In-Home Supportive Services pays for care at home for Medi-Cal eligible seniors, and the goal there is simple, keep people safely in their own home instead of moving to a facility before they're ready.
Layered on top of ODAS is the Napa/Solano Area Agency on Aging, which funds nutrition programs, transportation, family caregiver support, legal assistance, case management, and fall prevention screenings across both counties. If you've never called the Area Agency on Aging or asked ODAS what you qualify for, that's the first call worth making, before any decision about the house. Current contact information and eligibility details are posted on the Solano County ODAS page at solanocounty.gov.
What's local to Fairfield
Fairfield has two places worth knowing by name. The Bigelow Center for Senior Activities focuses on affordable meals, activities, and the kind of regular contact that keeps people from feeling isolated. The Fairfield Adult Recreation Center, at 1200 Harry Price Drive, serves active adults 50 and older with classes and programs built around staying engaged.
Meals on Wheels of Solano County also runs a congregate lunch program in Fairfield, so seniors can get a hot meal and see familiar faces without needing anyone to drive them across town. None of these programs require a crisis before you can use them. They're built for the in-between stage, when you're managing fine but could use one or two things to make daily life easier.
Where a home sale fits into the picture
Here's where I come in. Services like ODAS, the Area Agency on Aging, and Meals on Wheels can extend how long someone stays comfortable in their current home, and for a lot of families that's exactly the goal. But sometimes the house itself becomes the obstacle no service can fix. Stairs. A tub instead of a walk-in shower. A yard that takes four hours every weekend.
And there's a financial layer most families never sit down to calculate. Property taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance on a home that's larger than what someone needs — it adds up to a number that surprises most people when they finally see it in one place. I put together a real cost breakdown for Solano County homeowners with the actual 2026 numbers, because staying put has a price tag too — and most families haven't added it up.
When that's the situation, I help Solano seniors and their families look at what a single-story layout, a zero-step entry, or a location closer to medical care and shopping would change day to day. I lay out the full picture, the services available right now and what your options look like if the home itself stops working for you, so you can decide with real information instead of guesswork.
For a deeper look at right-sizing decisions across Solano County, I've put together a full guide on senior downsizing and right-sizing. And if you'd like to talk through your specific situation, you can reach me directly through my contact page.
Real talk about timing
Families usually don't call me the day they notice a problem. They call eight or ten months later, once the stairs have already caused a fall or a scare. If you're weighing whether to reach out to ODAS first, look into senior center programs first, or start exploring a move first, my honest answer is you don't have to choose. These conversations run in parallel all the time, and I'm glad to walk through what a Fairfield home is worth and what timing would look like, alongside whatever county resources make sense for your situation.
I spent years as a CNA before I ever became a REALTOR — and what that time taught me is that the house and the care plan are never really separate conversations. They affect each other constantly, and families do better when someone helps them look at both at once.
At Legacy and Lifestyle Homes, that's exactly what I do for Fairfield seniors and their families. Whether you're calling to understand what your home is worth, to talk through timing, or just to get a clearer picture of what the options look like — I'm glad to be that first conversation.
📞 (707) 813-1643 — call or text anytime
And if you want practical guidance for wherever you are in this journey — follow along on Facebook and Instagram for weekly tips, local resources, and real talk about senior real estate in Solano County.
❓ FAQ Section
Q1: Who qualifies for Solano County's Older and Disabled Adult Services programs?
Most ODAS programs are designed for residents 60 and older, though some — like In-Home Supportive Services — require Medi-Cal eligibility on top of age. The fastest way to find out what you or a parent qualifies for is to call ODAS directly or visit the Solano County ODAS page at solanocounty.gov. It costs nothing to ask, and most families are surprised by how much is available.
Q2: Do you have to be in a crisis to use Fairfield's senior center programs?
No — and that's an important point. The Bigelow Center for Senior Activities and the Fairfield Adult Recreation Center are built for the in-between stage, when you're managing fine but could use regular meals, social connection, or something to stay engaged. Waiting for a crisis before reaching out means missing the window where these programs do the most good.
Q3: How does the availability of senior services affect the decision about whether to sell a home?
Services like In-Home Supportive Services, Meals on Wheels, and caregiver support from the Area Agency on Aging can meaningfully extend how long a senior stays comfortable in their current home. For many families, that's exactly the goal. But when the house itself stops working — stairs, layout, maintenance — no county service can fix that. Knowing what's available locally helps families make a clearer decision about whether to stay, modify, or move, rather than making that call under pressure.
About the Author:
Allison Costelow is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®), Certified Probate Expert, and Certified Senior Housing Professional serving Benicia and the greater San Francisco Bay Area. With $15M+ in local sales and a background in healthcare, Allison helps seniors and families navigate downsizing, estate transitions, and new beginnings with clarity and care. Learn more about Allison →
Comments