For more than 50 years, Seniors First of Placer County has provided invaluable services to seniors with programs and services that enhance and improve their health, safety, wellbeing, and quality of life. 

Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Vierstra takes great pride in leading Seniors First of Placer County, a nonprofit that offers the largest services to seniors in the County.  “We provide more than 150,000 individual services to seniors each year,” says Stephanie. “This year, we will provide over 6,000 seniors with essential services and deliver over 100,000 meals to homebound seniors through our Meals on Wheels program.  Those numbers speak to the great need to ensure that seniors in Placer County are getting the care and attention they deserve.” 

The programs offered by Seniors First of Placer County are:  Senior Meals and Nutrition; Information and Assistance; Transportation; Telephone Reassurance; and Assisted Living Placement. 

Meals on Wheels is perhaps the best-known service offered. Seniors 60 and older who are homebound, food insecure and without transportation may receive home-delivered meals.  All meals meet USDA senior nutrition guidelines. “The food delivery is a safety net for seniors, as delivery volunteers also inquire about the senior’s health and safety. Self-neglect is not uncommon for a homebound senior, and the interaction with the Meals on Wheels volunteer can often lead to other needed services that would not be noted without that interaction,” explains Stephanie.  

Referrals to Seniors First of Placer County come from hospitals, neighbors of seniors, state, county and local government agencies, physicians and partners of the nonprofit. Partners providing financial support to Seniors First include the Agency on Aging Area 4, Western Placer Consolidated Transportation Services Agency, Sutter Health and other generous donors.  

“Placer Rides” is another popular program, offering mileage reimbursement to family members or friends providing transportation for a senior to a doctor’s appointment or other essential errand. This year, more than 10,000 rides will be provided.  

The Telephone Reassurance Program provides a screened and trained volunteer to make weekly social phone calls to lonely or isolated seniors. The Assisted Living Placement Program offers a Placement Team Specialist to find the right living arrangement for a senior family member or friend.  

Seniors First Information and Assistance Line is the invaluable phone resource for information about senior-focused programs, services and assistance. This program also offers a Senior Resource Guide online, with a printed version planned for 2025. 

Seniors First has a team of 30 employees and more than 200 volunteers.  Stephanie’s plans for the nonprofit’s future include increasing the Meals on Wheels Program, Placer Rides and launching the popular social event “Empty Bowls,” where guests are treated to soup and pasta in bowls that are painted in lively, original designs.

“Here at Seniors First of Placer County, our future looks bright,” says Stephanie. “The numbers of seniors in our County continues to grow. We will be present and ready to serve.”