Oakland County Resources for Older Adults

Older adult holding younger person's hands

Oakland County provides many services to help our rapidly growing older adult community and those who care for them. While National Senior Citizens Day is on August 21 each year, we want to celebrate older adults all month and highlight resources that are available to them year round.

To improve and expand upon these services, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter included funding for an Older Adult Advocate position in his balanced, three-year budget recommendation for fiscal year 2023-2025. This new position will coordinate and help improve services the county provides to older residents across all departments.

Additional resources and services are available within the county to help our community of older adults. Find a full list of services below to take advantage of:

Older Adult Services from Oakland County

Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center 

C.A.T.S. (Companion Animals Touching Seniors) offers older adults the opportunity to foster a cat. The program lasts two months, in which the Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center provides all the necessary supplies to care for the cat. When the foster period ends, the older adult has the chance to adopt the cat. The only fee they are asked to cover is for the license. For more information, contact Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center at 248-858-1070 or email petadoption@oakgov.com.

Older adult holding a kitten

Board of Commissioners

The Healthy Aging Oakland County Ad Hoc Committee was formed in 2021 to create a strategic blueprint for an aging-friendly county that meets the needs of the rapidly growing 65+ populations and those who care for them.

In honor of Older Americans Month in June, 12 community members were recognized by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners with 2022 Oakland County Outstanding Older Adult Awards. The program, spearheaded by Commissioner Kristen Nelson (District 5), was designed to highlight Oakland County residents 60 years and older who demonstrate a passion for volunteerism and community service. Commissioners were invited to nominate a resident from their district for this special award program.

Group photo of board of commissioners

Health Division

The Oakland County Health Division offers a guide for older adults who are looking for information about aging well. Many resources are available for housing, health, medical, legal issues, and local services as well as other valuable information. Additional services the Health Division provides:

Contact Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533 or email noc@oakgov.com for more information.

MSU Extension

Older adults can subscribe to the MSU Extension-Oakland monthly newsletter, which offers up-to-date, research-based information affecting senior health and wellness issues. Each month includes a healthy recipe.

The Senior Market FRESH program is aimed at helping older adults eat healthier. Senior Market FRESH gives coupon vouchers to eligible older adults to get Michigan-grown fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices and honey from farmers markets.

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Senior Market Days:

Neighborhood Housing and Development

The county’s Neighborhood Housing and Development Division offers reverse mortgages for those aged 62 or older. Housing Counselors can explain the program to you so you can make an informed decision on whether it is the right product for your household. They can also provide the necessary certificate to be able to apply for a reverse mortgage. Call to speak with an advisor: 248-858-5402.

Parks and Recreation

Oakland County Parks and Recreation offers a variety of programming for active adults. Explore their parks, try a new activity, learn about Oakland County history and enjoy socializing with others in a welcoming, friendly environment. Older adults ages 62 and up can receive a free Annual Vehicle Permit to access eight of the 14 Oakland County Parks. Call 248-858-0916 or email info@oaklandcountyparks.com for more information.

Photos courtesy of Oakland County Parks and Recreation

Sheriff’s Office

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard’s 911 Emergency Senior Cell Phone Program is designed to equip seniors with a mobile means of contacting help in the event of an emergency. The cell phones are available to any Oakland County Senior Citizens free of charge. There is no monthly s​ervice fee to use the phone for emergency use.

Cell phone distribution hours are:

  • Every Friday from 9 a.m. to noon

Where:

  •  Oakland County Sheriff’s Office
  • 1200 North Telegraph Road Building 38E
  • Pontiac, Michigan 48341

Learn about domestic safety for older adults by visiting the Sheriff’s Office website.

Veterans Services

As a U.S. veteran, part of your life’s journey was serving our country, and the Oakland County Veterans Services team is dedicated to honoring your service and helping you to map out all the veteran benefits you have earned. Learn more about all the resources available to veterans.

For more information, call the Veterans Services Pontiac office at 248-858-0785 or the Troy/South Oakland office at 248-655-1250.


Follow along with Oakland County on FacebookInstagramLinkedInPinterest, Twitter, and YouTube using #OaklandCounty, or visit our website for news and events year-round.

Become a Master Gardener in Oakland County

Whether you’re a gardening pro or have newly grown a green thumb, this program is for anyone who is eager to participate and share gardening best practices!

Michigan State University (MSU) Extension is accepting applicants until August 11th to participate in the training classes for the Extension Master Gardener Program Waterford (Oakland County) that runs from August 17th to December 7th. Join a community of over 560 Oakland County volunteers all while expanding your knowledge in ways to care for your lawn, trees, flowers, and more!

Continue reading

Youth In Government Day Highlights Local Government in a Big Way for Students

On May 23rd, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners showcased county government in action to area high school students during their annual Youth in Government Day. Civic engagement was the priority for the day as students engaged in critical thinking exercises and learned about the different departments in county government and how they support the community.

The event, which drew more than 100 high school students from across the county, featured speakers, mock debates, a courtroom visit, and engaging demonstrations centered on Oakland County’s role in the lives of its citizens. Continue reading

Plan Your Dream Garden at a Greenhouse near You!

Are you thinking spring? Even though the weather hasn’t been cooperating, you can still start planning your dream gardening project. Visit one of Oakland County’s 22 greenhouses and nurseries now to get help from the experts and choose from thousands of different plants, flowers, and trees that will inspire your garden oasis. Attend a workshop or chat with a Master Gardener for help with ideas, colors, annuals, perennials, organic gardening, pests, and more.

With so many area greenhouses and nurseries to nurture your green thumb this season, you’ll find our interactive map, complete with over 20 countywide locations, fun and easy to use. Simply find your location and click on the nearest green floral icon to reveal the name and address of the nursery located there. Do you prefer to view a list? Check out our Oakland County Nurseries and Greenhouses page.

In addition to a plentiful range of nursery information, our gardening map can help you select the most suitable plants for your microclimate. Before you head to the nursery, click on your location on the map to reveal the USDA hardiness zone.

We can’t wait until the weather breaks so we can get started. Happy planning and hopefully, planting soon!


Make the most of the spring season in Oakland County by visiting our website for more news and events. Follow along with us on FacebookTwitterInstagram, YouTube, and Pinterest using #OaklandCounty.

Celebrate GreenFest with the Detroit Zoo and Oakland County Board of Commissioners

The Oakland County Board of Commissioners has partnered with the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak, MI for the 6th annual GreenFest on Saturday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. GreenFest is as a zoo-wide event dedicated to celebrating Earth Day and a wonderful way to engage the community in environmental stewardship.

On April 14, GreenFest will feature a sustainability tour of the Detroit Zoo’s anaerobic digester that annually converts 500 tons of animal manure and other organic waste into methane-rich gas to help power the zoo’s animal hospital, educational rain gardens, farm-to-table food options, a composting program, and other initiatives. They will have myriad activities such as chemistry demonstrations, zookeeper talks, opportunities to create window decals to prevent bird strikes, and much more. A 16-foot ground-mounted solar system called the SmartFlower™ will be featured blooming in the zoo’s garden just east of their Carousel. The system is expected to generate more than 4,000 kilowatts of electricity annually, which will power the 36-foot ride as well as other areas of the Detroit Zoo.

Poo Power - Jenna Roby Continue reading