In response to the census, almost a 3rd of Los Angeles residents are over 50. And we’re ageing collectively — in keeping with a Occasions report, L.A. County’s median age rose 2.6 years between 2012 and 2022.
Fortunately, L.A. is an attractive place to get older, and never simply due to the temperate local weather. Town is without doubt one of the few municipalities on the earth with a “purposeful aging” initiative (although the finances for senior packages can be lowered in 2025). It’s a spot that understands that older Angelenos are our cultural core.
“Older people tend to be the holders of culture, of language, of sharing [these things], and so they’re always at the forefront of creating that experience for all of us,” says Dr. Laura Trejo, director of Los Angeles County’s Ageing and Disabilities Division.
Which is why it’s so necessary for older Angelenos to have sources — and bounties — as they age. Listed here are some free (and nearly free) companies and experiences that older individuals have entry to — and youthful generations can hopefully look ahead to.
50+Crack open the books with free faculty lessons
Whether or not you wish to be taught a brand new talent or simply problem your self, group faculty lessons are a number of the finest free sources for older Angelenos. Santa Monica Faculty has been providing a free non-credit Emeritus program for 50 years, and Pierce Faculty in Woodland Hills has an identical program referred to as Encore. Each are arrange for adults over 50 to audit quite a lot of lessons from artwork and live performance music to political science and occupational coaching. Los Angeles Neighborhood Faculty additionally presents free non-credit programs for all adults.
UCLA’s Senior Students Program at Longevity Heart isn’t free, but it surely presents the flexibility to audit one class for $175 and as much as 4 lessons for $625. UC Irvine has an identical program referred to as the Osher Lifelong Studying Institute that prices $25 in the summertime, $160 per semester throughout the spring and fall, and $235 for the entire yr and permits older adults to take limitless lessons.
Most of those packages additionally provide on-line lessons, if that fits you finest.
55+Take pleasure in a free drink or low-cost(er) meals
A number of quick meals spots have reductions for seniors, however Dairy Queen and KFC go one step additional, providing a free drink for adults 55 and up. Eating places are a traditional spot to seek out “senior discounts.” TheSeniorList, a web site useful resource for older individuals, has a usually up to date listing of eating places that supply reductions and freebies, however perks could differ from location to location so name earlier than you go. There are a ton of locations that supply reductions for individuals over 55 — the most effective factor to do is ask.
60+Come down with a case of senior-center-itis
Los Angeles County has a senior middle geared for adults age 60-plus in almost each neighborhood, and every of them has a slate of actions the place older Angelenos can take part in all the pieces from line dancing and jewelry-making lessons to diet programs and pickleball. A full listing of actions at L.A.’s senior facilities could be discovered on the Division of Parks and Recreation’s web site.
“In Los Angeles County, we have over 140 of them, so you’re not that far away from one of them,” says Trejo, who calls senior facilities a “focal point” of the communities they serve.
62+Reconnect with nature at our nationwide and state parks
Cap Rock Nature Path in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Occasions)
The US Geological Survey presents a Lifetime Senior Go that covers the entire nationwide parks. This one isn’t technically free — it’s $80 plus about $10 in charges — but it surely’s a lifetime go for the price of a daily yearly go. By that logic, after a yr, it’s free. There are 9 nationwide parks in California, 4 of which — Joshua Tree, the Channel Islands, Sequoia and Loss of life Valley — are inside a four-hour drive from L.A.
What’s free is the Golden Bear go issued by California State Parks. For Californians over 62 and incomes a month-to-month revenue beneath $1,677 (or $2,269 for the family), the go permits for automobile entry to a lot of the state’s 280 parks. That is the most important parks system within the nation, so there’s loads to discover. When you don’t meet the revenue threshold, there’s a Restricted Use Golden Bear go that prices $20 and is simply energetic throughout the offseason between Labor Day and the Friday earlier than Memorial Day, but it surely beats the $195 annual go youthful Angelenos should shell out.
Catch a flick
There aren’t any utterly free film screenings on the main cinema chains, however older adults can discover reductions at most of them, together with Cinemark theaters, the place “senior day” tickets could be as little as $5 for individuals 62 and older. There are additionally loads of movie screenings at senior facilities and, after all, since that is town of cinema, there are free screenings all around the metropolis at any given time.
Get round in fashion
“Plus, Metro has a program that helps older adults learn how to use it more effectively,” Trejo says. “So that’s another opportunity if people want to consider giving up their cars.”
65+This sporting life 
A golfer on the Wilson Golf Course, one of many L.A. metropolis golf programs that gives reductions for older L.A. residents.
(Carlin Stiehl / For The Occasions)
{Golfing} is a long-standing custom for older individuals. Perhaps it’s the gradual tempo of the sport or perhaps it’s simply an excuse to get exterior with a bunch of associates. It’s not often free, however if you happen to’re savvy, you’ll be able to play on one of many L.A. metropolis golf programs for nearly free. For Angelenos 65 and up, there’s a yearly payment of $28, and then you definitely’ll pay inexperienced charges as little as $4.50 for a weekday spherical. Make sure that to order a tee time, and get on the market on the hyperlinks.
Additionally, power coaching has been linked to longevity, as The Occasions’ Deborah Vankin reported not too long ago. You is likely to be eligible for SilverSneakers, a program that has exercises like tai chi, Zumba and out of doors strolling teams, in addition to scores of stay on-line lessons. It’s free for older individuals on most well being plans in California, and for individuals on Medicare Benefit.
And we’ve all heard in regards to the rise of pickleball. It may be an amazing, free exercise for older Angelenos who may not be up for a tennis match. Most of L.A.’s metropolis courts are free to everybody.
Turn out to be a cultural maven by visiting L.A. museums totally free 
View from the balcony of the outer peristyle on the Getty Villa in Malibu.
(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Occasions)
Many L.A. museums provide free admission for everybody — the Getty Villa and the Getty Heart, the Museum of Up to date Artwork, the California Science Heart’s everlasting galleries, the Institute of Up to date Artwork, Los Angeles, the Broad and the Hammer Museum — however some provide further perks for older adults. The Los Angeles County Museum of Artwork and the Pure Historical past Museum are each free for L.A. County residents after 3 p.m. on weekdays, and each provide a reduction for adults 65 and up with an ID throughout all open hours. The Norton Simon, the Academy Museum, the Huntington Library, Artwork Museum and Botanical Gardens, and the Craft Up to date additionally provide reductions to older Angelenos.
Perks with no particular age requirementShhh! Your library card holds many secrets and techniques for seniors 
The glass-roof atrium on the Los Angeles Central Library.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Occasions)
Libraries are probably the most highly effective sources for anybody, not to mention older Angelenos, however they continue to be a significant hub of our communities, significantly for our ageing residents. I ended by my native library not too long ago — the Lincoln Heights Department, housed within the stunning Italian Renaissance Revival constructing funded by Andrew Carnegie in 1916 — which was stuffed with older Angelenos quietly studying or on the pc.
It’s no shock, because the library is a pleasant place for older individuals. For these with restricted imaginative and prescient, the library is full of large-print books. Seeking to catch as much as expertise so you’ll be able to communicate with family members? The library has tutorials on fundamental pc abilities from Gmail to Instagram. And the library caters to homebound patrons with a program linking them with neighbors who can choose up and drop off supplies.
Not solely that, however your library card comes with a bevy of perks via the library’s Uncover & Go program (have your library card useful to enter the positioning). On provide proper now are 4 complimentary passes to the L.A. Zoo and Botanical Gardens, free tickets to pick screenings on the Academy Museum (usually $10), and deeply discounted L.A. Kings tickets to pick video games.
“Your library card is worth its weight in gold these days because of the tremendous resources available at our libraries,” says Trejo.
What’s the 211?
211 LA is town’s hub of sources for nonprofit companies, connecting Angelenos with all the pieces from suicide hotlines to nonprofits that may assist them stop smoking. There’s an entire web page referred to as the Ageing and Incapacity Useful resource Connection that helps older Angelenos discover a caregiver, navigate medical insurance and even presents authorized companies.
“When in doubt, reach out to 211,” Trejo says. “They are my partners. They are my information and referral provider for all of L.A. County. And they are actually there. They work with us. We train them, we share resources with them so that they’re always up to date on services and support available for older adults and their families.”
Keep related
As we become older, holding in contact with associates and family members appears to get extra necessary, however it may come at a excessive price. When you’re low revenue, that may be a burden. The state has a program referred to as California LifeLine that gives low-income older individuals reductions on cellphones or residence telephones of as much as $19 monthly. That will or could not cowl the entire invoice, but it surely’ll assist preserve you in contact.