Senior care services

This free service is offered to seniors through Sharp Grossmont Hospital and the Senior Resource Center. We offer daily telephone wellness checks to make sure isolated seniors are healthy and safe, allowing older adults to maintain their independence while providing a safety net for concerned family and friends. 

These automated calls are scheduled when convenient for recipients and if it goes unanswered, a follow-up call will be made to a designated contact. To learn more, call us at 619-740-4214. For locations and services outside of East County, call 1-800-510-2020. 

At Sharp HospiceCare, we believe that hospice is more than end-of-life support. It's about comfort, compassion and giving every patient the best possible quality of life. We're skilled at pain management and symptom control, but we're also human beings with loved ones of our own — and we're at your side when you need us the most. 

At Sharp, we’re here to support you and answer all your Medicare questions, whether you are new to Medicare — turning 65 or over 65 and retiring soon — or already have a Medicare plan. 

We offer a variety of ways for you to learn more about Medicare from the safety and convenience of your home. You can attend a free webinar or connect directly with a Medicare specialist. 

Learn how you can make a lasting gift to Sharp HealthCare through legacy planning.

Sharp HealthCare's inpatient older adult programs accommodate the special needs of seniors. Each patient is under the care of a psychiatrist who directs a treatment team of registered nurses, social workers, activity therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists and mental health workers, all trained to identify the special behavioral and physical health needs of seniors. 

Treatment focuses on helping to restore or maintain function while helping to achieve the highest level of independence possible. 

Learn more about our mental health services for older adults.

Whether you're an older adult or caregiver, our Community Resource Centers offer a multitude of information and resources to assist you with your health needs. Our centers provide free health education classes, health screenings, community-based flu shots and referrals to other health services and specialties. 

Our senior life experts are deeply connected within the senior care industry and have gathered resources and information from multiple services across San Diego County.  

To receive information about quarterly activities by email, contact us at src@sharp.com. We will add you to our distribution list, which you may unsubscribe from at any time. 

At Sharp HealthCare, we understand how important it is to help each of our patients retain the highest level of independence. If your loved one requires a higher level of care than can be provided at home — but does not require hospitalization — we can help. 

Our skilled nursing services support many conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, recuperating from surgery, rehabilitation and stroke. 

Learn more about our skilled nursing services.

The Vial of Life is a small container that can be placed on your refrigerator door and holds important health-related information, such as your name, address and medication history. If paramedics arrive in an emergency, this information assists them in providing a fast, accurate medical response. Download the Vial of Life form (also available in Spanish) and place it on your refrigerator. Keep extra copies in your car and wallet, and bring it when visiting your doctor. 

To obtain a Vial of Life container, call us at 619-740-4214. Our team provides training to local EMS to ensure they look for the Vial of Life, drastically improving their ability to provide the best care possible.

If you’re looking to stay active, we recommend getting involved with Sharp as a volunteer.  

Serve your community, meet new people and assist in a wide variety of meaningful programs at one of our hospitals. Whether you'd like to greet visitors, raise funds, provide companionship or work in a gift shop, we have countless ways you can help throughout San Diego. 

Free time is cherished and rare. Consider using adult day care centers or homemakers to help alleviate the burden of caring for someone around the clock.  

Adult day care centers offer care recipients therapeutic social interaction, and health services if needed. Contact San Diego County's Aging & Independence Services at 1-800-510-2020 for a list of adult and social day care centers. 

Nutrition is an issue that continually arises when taking care of a family member or friend. Meals on Wheels (1-800-573-6467) delivers low-cost hot lunches and cold suppers seven days a week. This service not only offers nourishment but also adds social interaction to those who may be living alone. 

Senior nutrition sites also serve low-cost lunch at local senior centers. This nonthreatening avenue can also encourage seniors to become involved in outside activities. 

For someone who has difficulty shopping for groceries, agencies and businesses exist that will shop for them for a reasonable fee. Contact Aging & Independence Services at 1-800-510-2020 for more information.

Several local agencies can provide information on services available to help with the caregiving burden: 

• 211 San Diego

• Caregiver Coalition of San Diego 

• Caregiver Handbook

• Southern Caregiver Resource Center

Our Community Resource Centers focus on connections and resources. San Diego County has a vast array of resources available for older adults and caregivers.  

At the Community Resource Center, we endeavor to deliver The Sharp Experience to those who are seeking more information. We do this by offering consultations, phone calls and resource support when it matters most. The benefit of utilizing this service is that you can talk with experts in resources to ensure that you're getting the right resource at the right time. 

To receive information about quarterly activities by email, contact us at src@sharp.com. We will add you to our distribution list, which you may unsubscribe from at any time. 

Sharp Community Resource Centers offer screenings, lectures, health education classes, fitness opportunities, health and wellness information, referrals to Sharp HealthCare and more. 

Sharp Grossmont Hospital
9000 Wakarusa 
La Mesa, CA 91942 
619-740-4214 

There are two simple ways to find the right doctor for you: 

• Search online with our quick, easy-to-use Find a Doctor tool. 

• Call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm, to speak with one of our specially trained physician referral nurses. They know our doctors and can help you find the perfect fit.

Existing patients: If you are an existing patient with a Sharp primary care doctor (meaning you have seen your doctor at least once), simply call the doctor’s office to make an appointment. Some doctors also offer online scheduling through their sharp.com profile or patient portal. 

New patients: If you have selected a doctor, but have not yet had your first appointment, you can call the doctor's office directly or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm. Some doctor also offer online scheduling for new patients through their sharp.com profile or patient portal.

Sharp accepts almost all health insurance plans, including Medicare, Medi-Cal and most managed care and private insurance plans.  

Be sure to check with your insurance company to verify specific coverage. Coverage may depend on which Sharp medical group your doctor is under. Insurance companies frequently add new plans, and update provider networks and covered services under existing plans. 

You can change primary care doctors at any time. While it's a good idea to stay with a doctor so they can really get to know you and your health needs and history, it is most important that you have a doctor whom you trust, are comfortable with and is conveniently located near you. 

If you need to change your doctor, use our Find a Doctor tool to select a new doctor. After that, make sure you call your health plan's member services department to inform them of this change. The phone number is usually located on the back of your insurance card.

Yes, in some cases. But you will need to contact your health plan's member services department to confirm that your coverage allows it. 

Some medical groups offer direct access to certain types of specialists, such as allergists, dermatologists and ophthalmologists. And some health plans, such as PPOs, offer direct access to all specialists.

Always check with your primary care doctor to see if they have a same-day appointment available. If not, there are several other options for same-day care: 

• Urgent care 

• Virtual urgent care

If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, don’t delay care. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.