Is there a senior center in Niceville, Florida?

Yes. The City of Niceville runs the Niceville Senior Center at 201 Campbell Drive for adults 55 and older, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Membership is free for Niceville residents, according to the city.

Where can seniors get lunch in Santa Rosa County?

The Council on Aging of West Florida lists four senior dining sites for adults 60 and older: Bagdad, Chumuckla, Christ Methodist Church in Milton and the E.H. Pullum Senior Center in Navarre. Meals are served at 11 a.m. and must be ordered by noon the day before.

How much does Okaloosa County Transit cost for seniors?

RideOCT's Transportation Disadvantaged program charges $3 a trip inside Okaloosa County for eligible riders, including people 60 and older who cannot rely on a car. Book at (850) 833-9168.

Who helps seniors in Bay County, Florida?

The Bay County Council on Aging, 1116 Frankford Ave., Panama City, (850) 769-3468, lists Meals on Wheels, group meal sites, transportation, respite care and caregiver support.

What is the Elder Helpline number for Okaloosa County?

The Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging's Elder Helpline is (850) 494-7100, or toll-free 866-531-8011. It serves residents 60 and older in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.

Senior centers and free programs for retirees in Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Bay

Retirees on the Emerald Coast can find senior centers, daily group lunches and low-cost rides through city, county and nonprofit aging programs, and the single number to start with in Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa counties is the Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging’s Elder Helpline, (850) 494-7100. As of Oct. 30, 2026, senior dining sites in Santa Rosa County serve lunch to adults 60 and older, the City of Niceville gives city residents free senior center membership from age 55, and Okaloosa County Transit charges $3 a ride for eligible riders 60 and older. In Bay County, the Bay County Council on Aging in Panama City runs meals, transportation and fellowship centers.

Who do I call first for senior services?

Call the agency on aging for your county. The Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging serves residents 60 and older in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties. Its Elder Helpline is (850) 494-7100, or toll-free 866-531-8011, and it refers callers to meals, caregiver support, in-home help and free Medicare counseling.

Bay County residents call the Bay County Council on Aging, 1116 Frankford Ave., Panama City, at (850) 769-3468. The council lists Meals on Wheels, fellowship centers and group meal sites, transportation, a respite center, caregiver support, energy assistance and medical alert monitoring.

Where are the senior centers on the Emerald Coast?

These centers and programs are listed on government or program websites as of Oct. 30, 2026. Hours change, so call before you go.

Center	Address	Phone	Who can join
Niceville Senior Center (City of Niceville)	201 Campbell Drive, Niceville	(850) 279-6436, ext. 1602	Adults 55 and older; free for Niceville residents
Valparaiso Senior Center	268 Glenview Ave., Valparaiso	(850) 833-9165	Older and disabled adults; hot lunch about 11 a.m.
Life Enrichment Senior Center (Walton County)	312 College Ave., DeFuniak Springs	(850) 892-8746	Ages 50 and up
Coastal Seniors of South Walton	70 Logan Lane, near Grayton Beach	(850) 280-5342	Older adults in south Walton
E.H. Pullum Senior Center	8476 Gordon Goodin Lane, Navarre	(850) 936-1644	Adults 60 and older for lunch
Bay County Council on Aging	1116 Frankford Ave., Panama City	(850) 769-3468	Older, disabled and disadvantaged adults

Sources: City of Niceville, City of Valparaiso, Walton County’s pages for the Life Enrichment Senior Center and Coastal Seniors of South Walton, and the Council on Aging of West Florida.

Niceville’s center offers fitness and art classes, games, socials and a members’ cafe, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to the city. Walton County’s Life Enrichment center has a computer lab, reading center and game room, open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Coastal Seniors of South Walton lists exercise, water aerobics, chair yoga, tai chi, art, game days and pickleball lessons at the South Walton Sports Complex.

Where can I get a free or low-cost lunch at 60?

Senior dining sites serve a midday meal and activities to adults 60 and older. In Santa Rosa County, the Council on Aging of West Florida lists four sites, each open 9 a.m. to noon with the meal at 11 a.m.:

Site	Address	Days	Phone
Bagdad Community Center	6860 Pooley St., Bagdad	Monday to Friday	(850) 983-4500
Chumuckla Community Center	2355 Highway 182 W., Chumuckla	Monday to Friday	(850) 994-8811
Christ Methodist Church	5983 Dogwood St., Milton	Monday to Friday	(850) 426-8110
E.H. Pullum Senior Center	8476 Gordon Goodin Lane, Navarre	Monday to Thursday	(850) 936-1644

The council says meals must be ordered by noon the day before, and a spouse may come along if the spouse is also 60 or older. For lunch sites and home-delivered meals in Okaloosa and Walton counties, call the Elder Helpline at (850) 494-7100. In Bay County, call the Bay County Council on Aging.

How do retirees get rides without a car?

Okaloosa County Transit’s RideOCT runs a Transportation Disadvantaged program for riders who are 60 or older, have a household income below 200% of the 2026 federal poverty guidelines or have a verified disability, and who do not have a car they can use. Rides inside Okaloosa County cost $3 a trip, and wheelchair-accessible vehicles can be requested. Book at (850) 833-9168.

The Bay County Council on Aging also lists transportation among its services; call (850) 769-3468 to ask about eligibility and trips in Bay County.

What free programs help retirees stay independent?

Free Medicare counseling (SHINE): Florida’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program, booked through the Elder Helpline at (850) 494-7100, or 1-800-963-5337 statewide.
Caregiver support: The Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging lists support for caregivers, in groups and one on one.
Help staying at home: The same agency lists in-home help for older adults so they can keep living in their own homes.
Veterans: Okaloosa County Veteran Services has offices in Shalimar, (850) 651-7258, and Crestview, (850) 689-5922, and an outreach program for homebound and nursing home veterans and surviving spouses, according to Okaloosa County.

For anything not listed here, 211 connects to local help in all four counties.

This story is information, not tax, legal or medical advice.

Retired here already? Tell us what you wish you had known: email the Emerald Coast Dispatch at the contact address at the bottom of this page.

More Health & Medical guides and local services ›

Live in the Emerald Coast? Write for us as a Community Contributor and share what you see in your town.