CalAIM Community Supports — Extra Help for Everyday Needs
Community Supports are free services available to eligible Medi-Cal members that address the everyday needs — housing, meals, home safety, transportation, and more — that directly affect your health. Senior Home Advocates helps you access every service you qualify for.
Call to Find Out Which Services You Qualify For
(714) 921-9200
Community Supports Can Help With:
What Are CalAIM Community Supports?
Community Supports (CS) are a set of 14 services available through California's CalAIM initiative that address the social determinants of health — the everyday factors like housing, food, home safety, and transportation that have a profound impact on a person's health outcomes.
Community Supports are available to eligible Medi-Cal Managed Care members as cost-effective alternatives or supplements to standard Medi-Cal services. They are provided at no cost to qualifying members and are designed to help people live safely and independently in their homes and communities — avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and nursing home placements.
Senior Home Advocates helps eligible members identify which Community Supports they qualify for, navigate the referral process, and access services quickly — so you get the help you need without the bureaucratic runaround.
How SHA Helps You Access Community Supports
We Identify What You Qualify For
Your SHA Lead Care Manager reviews your situation and identifies every Community Support service you may be eligible for — so nothing is missed.
We Handle the Referral Process
Navigating Managed Care Plan referrals, authorization requirements, and provider networks is complex. We handle it on your behalf.
We Connect You to Providers
SHA has relationships with Community Supports providers across Orange County and Southern California — ensuring you get connected quickly.
We Monitor and Adjust Over Time
As your needs change, your SHA Care Manager updates your Community Supports plan — ensuring you always have the right services in place.
We Add Our Unique Expertise
Beyond standard CS coordination, SHA adds concierge placement services, senior real estate expertise, and financial/insurance guidance that no other CS provider offers.
All 14 CalAIM Community Supports Services
Community Supports are organized into three categories. SHA helps eligible members access services across all three categories — with particular expertise in services that help seniors remain safely at home.
Category 1: Services to Address Homelessness and Housing
6 Services
Housing Transition Navigation Services
Assistance with finding, applying for, and securing stable housing — including help with applications, landlord negotiations, and navigating housing programs for members who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Housing Deposits
One-time financial assistance with security deposits, first and last month's rent, and other move-in costs that prevent members from securing stable housing.
Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services
Ongoing support to help members maintain stable housing once secured — including landlord mediation, lease education, and connection to community resources that prevent eviction or housing loss.
Recuperative Care (Medical Respite)
Short-term residential care for homeless individuals who are discharged from a hospital or other medical setting but are too ill or frail to recover safely without shelter — providing a safe place to heal with basic medical monitoring.
Short-Term Post-Hospitalization Housing
Temporary housing for members who need a safe place to stay immediately following a hospital discharge — bridging the gap until permanent or long-term housing is secured.
Day Habilitation Programs
Structured daytime programs that provide skill-building, social engagement, and supervised activities for members with disabilities or complex needs — supporting independence and community integration.
Category 2: Recuperative and Transitional Services
3 Services
Nursing Facility Transition / Diversion to Assisted Living
Support for members who are at risk of nursing facility placement — helping them transition to or remain in an assisted living facility or other community-based residential setting instead of a nursing home.
SHA Senior Placement ExpertiseNursing Facility Transition to a Home
Comprehensive support for members currently residing in a nursing facility who wish to return to living in the community — including care coordination, home preparation, and connection to ongoing community services.
SHA Coordinates This TransitionCommunity Transition Services / Nursing Facility Transition to a Home
One-time services that help members set up a home after leaving a nursing facility — including assistance with essential household items, utility deposits, and other costs necessary for a successful community transition.
SHA Coordinates This Transition
Category 3: Services for Long-Term Well-Being
5 Services
Medically Supportive Food / Medically Tailored Meals
Nutritious meals specifically designed to meet the medical needs of members with chronic conditions — delivered to the home or provided through a community program. Includes medically tailored meal plans developed in coordination with a registered dietitian.
SHA Coordinates AccessSobering Centers
Safe, supervised facilities where individuals who are intoxicated can sober up in a supportive environment — providing an alternative to emergency room visits and connecting members to substance use treatment and recovery services.
Respite Services
Temporary relief for family caregivers — providing short-term care for the member so that unpaid caregivers can rest, attend to personal needs, or manage other responsibilities. Essential for preventing caregiver burnout and supporting long-term home-based care.
SHA Coordinates AccessEnvironmental Accessibility Adaptations (Home Modifications)
Physical modifications to a member's home that improve safety and accessibility — including grab bars, ramps, widened doorways, non-slip flooring, and other adaptations that allow members to remain safely at home and prevent falls and injuries.
SHA Senior Home Safety ExpertisePersonal Care and Homemaker Services
Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) — including bathing, dressing, grooming, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and other personal care tasks — provided in the home to help members maintain independence and avoid institutional care.
SHA Coordinates AccessNot sure which services you qualify for? Call us and we'll review your eligibility at no cost.
(714) 921-9200 — Free Eligibility Review
What Are CalAIM Community Supports? — Explained by DHCS
Watch this 3-minute overview from the California Department of Health Care Services explaining what Community Supports are, who qualifies, and how these services help Medi-Cal members address everyday needs that affect their health.
Video provided by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
Why SHA Is the Right Partner for Community Supports
Accessing Community Supports requires navigating Managed Care Plans, authorization processes, and provider networks. SHA handles all of it — and adds expertise that no other CS coordinator in Orange County can match.
Senior-Specialist Expertise
Our team understands the specific Community Supports that matter most for older adults — home modifications, SNF transitions, personal care, and meals — and how to access them efficiently.
Concierge Placement + Real Estate
For members who need to transition from a nursing facility, SHA uniquely combines CS coordination with concierge placement services and senior real estate expertise — all under one roof.
In-Person, Community-Based
Your SHA Lead Care Manager comes to you — assessing your home environment, identifying safety risks, and coordinating the exact services you need based on what they see firsthand.
24/7 Live Advocate Support
When a service is delayed, a provider doesn't show up, or a new need arises, a live SHA advocate is available around the clock to resolve the issue — not a voicemail or automated system.
Integrated with ECM and CICM
SHA coordinates Community Supports as part of a comprehensive ECM or CICM care plan — ensuring your CS services work together with your medical care, not in isolation from it.
Financial & Insurance Expertise
SHA's team includes financial and insurance specialists who can help identify additional funding sources, Medi-Cal benefits, and programs that complement your Community Supports services.
Who Is Eligible for Community Supports?
Community Supports are available to Medi-Cal Managed Care members who meet specific eligibility criteria. Eligibility varies by service — call SHA and we will review your specific situation.
Medi-Cal Managed Care Enrollment
You must be enrolled in a Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan (MCP) in a county where Community Supports are offered. SHA serves members in Orange County and surrounding counties.
Medical Appropriateness
Each Community Support service requires a determination that the service is medically appropriate and cost-effective for your specific health needs and situation.
Service-Specific Criteria
Each of the 14 services has its own eligibility criteria. For example, housing services require documentation of housing instability; home modifications require a safety assessment.
Referral from a Provider or Care Manager
Community Supports are typically accessed through a referral from your ECM or CICM Lead Care Manager, your doctor, or your Managed Care Plan. SHA can initiate this referral on your behalf.
ECM or CICM Enrollment (Recommended)
While not always required, enrolling in ECM or CICM through SHA ensures you have a dedicated Care Manager who proactively identifies and coordinates all Community Supports you qualify for.
Member Consent
Community Supports are voluntary. You must provide consent to receive services, and you can stop receiving any service at any time without affecting your other Medi-Cal benefits.
Don't Leave Community Supports on the Table
Many eligible Medi-Cal members never access the Community Supports they qualify for — simply because they don't know they exist or don't know how to navigate the referral process. SHA makes it simple. Call us today and we'll identify every service you qualify for.
Frequently Asked Questions About Community Supports
The Help You Need Is Already Available. Let SHA Find It for You.
Community Supports exist to help Medi-Cal members live safely, independently, and with dignity in their own homes and communities. Senior Home Advocates will identify every service you qualify for, navigate the process on your behalf, and coordinate everything — at no cost to you.
(714) 921-9200 Free Eligibility Review — No ObligationNo cost to eligible Medi-Cal members · In-person care · Senior specialists · Orange County & Southern California