Press Releases

Institute on Aging Study: Adult Day Health Care Improves Senior Participants’ Quality of Life

March 2, 2010

A recent study by San Francisco’s Institute on Aging (IOA) documents that adult day health programs play a vital role in helping senior participants maintain their health and independence. Since the 1970s, adult day health care has been promoted as an alternative to nursing home care for seniors with chronic illness, disability, or dementia. There are currently 4,600 adult day health centers operating in the United States, but little scientific research demonstrating their impact on the health of senior participants. Read More

Institute on Aging Hosts StoryCorps For One Recording Day As Part of the Memory Loss Initiative

October 27, 2009

StoryCorps, a national initiative to document everyday history and the unique stories of Americans, will visit Institute on Aging’s Alzheimer's Day Care Resource Center on November 10, 2009 as part of its Memory Loss Initiative. StoryCorps is a national independent nonprofit project in partnership with NPR and the American Folklife Center (AFC) at the Library of Congress. Participants in the Alzheimer’s Day Care Resource Center will have an opportunity to record their personal stories with the help of their families or caregivers.

"Our program participants come from such diverse backgrounds and have truly amazing stories. We see the power of those stories on a daily basis," says Tracy Chesna McCloud, Program Director for IOA's Alzheimer’s Day Care. "Giving families and their loved ones this chance to reconnect over these stories and have them recorded is something we are looking forward to offering." Read More

SF DA Kamala D. Harris and Assemblymember Norma Torres Call for Tougher Laws to Protect Elders

May 7, 2009

District Attorney Kamala D. Harris and Assemblymember Norma Torres (D-Pomona) were joined today San Francisco Police Chief Heather Fong and elder support advocates and providers, as well as seniors from the Gene Friend Recreation Center in SOMA, to announce their support for AB 768. AB 768 strengthens elder abuse statute, allowing prosecutors to fully charge crimes against seniors. The measure is an important step in protecting seniors from becoming victims and targets of financial or physical abuse by criminals and other opportunists because of their status as elders. Erika Falk of the Institute on Aging and Jenefer Duane from the Elder Financial Protection Network spoke about the importance of protecting seniors from physical abuse and financial exploitation. Read More

StoryCorps, The National Oral History Project, Partners with Institute on Aging

January 5, 2009

Institute on Aging hosts StoryCorps for a recording day as part of the memory loss initiative. StoryCorps, a national initiative to document everyday history and the unique stories of Americans, will visit Institute on Aging's Alzheimer's Day Care Resource Center on JANUARY 13, 2009 to celebrate the stories of the center's participants as part of its Memory Loss Initiative. StoryCorps is a national independent nonprofit project in partnership with NPR and the American Folklife Center (AFC) at the Library of Congress. Read More

Suspects Charged with Elder Abuse in Two Separate Incidents Cases Part of Multi-Agency Effort to Combat Crime Against Seniors

December 19, 2008

The San Francisco District Attorney's Office has charged John McTaggart, age 45, with fraud and theft from an elder for allegedly stealing $140,000 from an 86-year-old San Francisco woman as part of an annuity scam. The case is among the first to be investigated and prosecuted as part of the San Francisco Elder Abuse Forensic Center. The San Francisco Elder Abuse Forensic Center is a public/private partnership designed to enhance the effectiveness of the assessment, investigation, and prosecution of elder and dependent adult abuse cases in San Francisco. The collaboration was launched early this year and has processed over 100 potential cases to date. Read More

Archstone Foundation Awards Phase II of the Elder Abuse and Neglect Initiative

December 12, 2007

Archstone Foundation has awarded Institute on Aging a three-year, $400,000 grant to support the creation of an elder abuse forensic center in San Francisco.

Carolers Bring Holiday Cheer to Homebound Seniors - Cable Car Caroling Proceeds Benefit Institute on Aging and the Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention (CESP)

December 4, 2007

On Sunday, December 9, 2007, 12:00pm - 5:30pm, at San Francisco’s War Memorial Veterans Building Green Room, the Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention and Grief Related Services (CESP), a program of Institute on Aging (IOA), celebrates their 21st Annual Cable Car Caroling fundraising event. Over 300 carolers will gather to bring holiday cheer to homebound seniors. Carolers tour the city on motorized cable cars, caroling at senior homes and residences. Afterwards, carolers enjoy a festive holiday dinner, silent auction, and raffle prize drawing. All proceeds benefit IOA’s Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention and Grief Related Services (CESP).

Institute on Aging Launches Education Series For Professionals Serving the Aging Population

November 15, 2007

On Thursday, IOA launched “Discovering Secrets of the Aging Mind,” a new educational series developed to train professionals to recognize and support people with brain diseases and mental health issues—both common in older adults. If left untreated, symptoms of these diseases may drastically affect quality of life. Nearly 200 professionals participated in the first of four programs, focused on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Further topics will address mental illness and aging, clutter addiction and compulsive hoarding, and brain health across the lifespan.

Institute on Aging (IOA) Launches Redesigned Website Helping Seniors Find Bay Area Senior Health Services and Programs

October 1, 2007

Institute on Aging announces a redesigned and updated website, designed to better convey the many Bay Area programs available to older adults and adults with disabilities. IOA’s new website provides extensive topical information on areas of geriatric services, allowing users to research issues associated with aging and the types of services available to seniors before narrowing their search to specific local senior programs. Additionally, the website successfully brands individual health, counseling, and adult day programs under the IOA umbrella. Web users will also find pages covering volunteer/donor information, upcoming events, IOA in the news, and IOA’s history.

Older Adults Care Management Celebrates 25 Years of Home Care Excellence

July 19, 2007

Older Adults Care Management is proud to celebrate 25 years of providing comprehensive, quality home care service to the Peninsula. Dr. Robert N. Butler, MD, President and CEO of the Longevity Institute-USA and friend of OACM founder, Rose Kleiner, will speak to a gathering of aging leaders at a celebration today at the Stanford Park Hotel.

Institute on Aging & Bridge Housing Opening Day Celebration

April 23, 2007

On Monday, April 23, IOA and Bridge Housing joined with staff, clients, community partners, and donors to officially recognize the demolition and construction phase of the Senior Campus project. In the Coronet parking lot, made over to festively resemble "opening day at the ballpark," a standing-room only crowd joined together to usher in this long awaited day.

Officiating dignitaries included Belva Davis, IOA Board of Directors, acting as Mistress of Ceremony; Willie Mays, Spokesperson; Anne Hinton, Director of DAAS; Supervisor Jake McGoldrick; Matt Franklin, Director, Mayor's Office of Housing; Dr. David Werdegar, President & CEO, IOA; and Carol Galante, President & CEO of Bridge Housing.

Local Arts Leader Selected to Participate in National Arts Executive Program: Jeff Chapline, MFA to attend this summer

April 5, 2007

Today, the Institute on Aging announces that Jeff Chapline, MFA was selected from a nationwide pool of arts leaders to participate in a two-week intensive leadership advancement program called the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders - Arts (EPNL-Arts). Fifty arts leaders will attend the program June 24-July 6, developed and presented by National Arts Strategies (NAS), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the arts and culture sector through leadership education, and The Stanford Graduate School of Business Center for Social Innovation (CSI).

Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 10-16, 2006, Elderly Still Number One At Risk Group

August 8, 2006

The Institute on Aging’s Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention wants the public to know that depression is not a “normal” part of aging and that older people still have the highest rates of suicide of any age group in America.

IOA's Plans for New Building Unanimously Approved

April 6, 2006

(San Francisco, CA) The non-profit Institute on Aging (IOA) is pleased to announce that the San Francisco Planning Commission today approved its plans to build a new headquarters at 3575 Geary Boulevard on the former site of the Coronet Theatre. The project, a partnership between the IOA and Bridge Housing, will be a new model for senior services, pairing 150 units of much-needed low- and moderate-income senior housing together with comprehensive health and social services. The IOA’s future home at 3575 Geary Boulevard is designed to help San Francisco’s future senior citizens enjoy the “grandeur and exquisiteness of old age.”

Dr. Dave Werdegar, CEO of the Institute on Aging said “We are most gratified that the Planning Commission – after a lengthy and thorough process – has approved this important project. It will be a great benefit to seniors in the City and their families. We’d also like to thank the many people, agencies and foundations that have supported this undertaking. We’re happy to be moving ahead.”

Preliminary designs call for an attractive Mediterranean-style building with ironwork balconies, a spacious atrium, and terraces and gardens on its southern side. The building will house the IOA’s health center, geriatric assessment service, as well as education and research activities. Other features will include a senior fitness center, a spiritual healing program, and a creative arts studio. With IOA services and affordable senior apartments under one roof, the new facility will be a vital addition to its inner Richmond-Geary Boulevard neighborhood.

The non-profit Institute on Aging is a leader in innovative services for seniors. Since its inception over 20 years ago, the IOA continues to pioneer programs that help seniors continue to live independently in the community. The IOA’s award winning programs have earned it a national reputation for excellence in senior services.

Network of Care for Seniors Grows as Peninsula Home Care Agency Joins Institute on Aging

August 9, 2005

Older Adults Care Management (OACM), a home care service in Palo Alto, has partnered with the Institute on Aging, extending our services to the Peninsula.

Coronet Theater Closes Its Doors

February 6, 2005

The Institute on Aging (IOA) and Regal Entertainment Group announced today that the Coronet Theater will close in February. The IOA purchased the theater in July 2000 and plans to build a senior center encompassing its programs and senior housing on the site.

Hispanic Seniors and Adults with Disabilities Not Accessing Available Services

February 1, 2005

The Latino Community Team, a coalition of service providers who serve seniors and adults with disabilities in San Francisco, is "alarmed" by a report released by the Institute on Aging that found that Hispanic/Latino seniors and adults with disabilities are severely underserved by federal, state, and city-funded programs.