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CESP: Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention & Grief Counseling

IOA Recommended

Alcohol Misuse and Older Adults

CESP's Patrick Arbore was a guest on KSRO 1350 AM's The Elder Care Show. Hear him speak with host Kira Reginato about addressing alcohol misuse with older adults.

Listen now

Older adults often face a multitude of changes and stresses in relation to the aging process, including health concerns, physical limitations, financial problems, and loss of loved ones. These changes may trigger depression, grief, a sense of isolation, or thoughts of suicide. Institute on Aging’s Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention (CESP) focuses specifically on the needs of older adults, providing connection, compassionate counseling, assessment, and crisis intervention.

Hope and Support

CESP offers hope for persons suffering from life-threatening depression. With help, older adults become connected to the community, begin the healing process, and discover that life is worth living again. CESP hosts a number of support groups for individuals of all ages who have experienced trauma and grief. Consider joining a weekly traumatic loss group and a survivor of suicide grief group. Or visit the drop-in grief group held on Saturday mornings from 10:30am – 12 noon. Call (415) 750-4111 for more information. Learn More

Suicide Intervention

CESP brings Patick Arbore's experience and compassion to educational workshops and lectures on suicide intervention. Training can me geared toward volunteers, community members or professional. Request a speaker.

We work to encourage caring connections because that is what binds us to life.
— Patrick Arbore, Founding Director

24-Hour Telephone Support

CESP sponsors the Friendship Line, a 24 hour phone line providing support for seniors in crisis, outreach phone calls for medication reminders, well-being checks and emotional support, and counseling and senior care information and referral by phone. Sometimes, knowing there is someone who cares can make all the difference. Learn more about the Friendship Line or call the line today: (800) 971-0016.
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Services Include
  • 24-hour Friendship Line -, a crisis and support line for seniors
  • Outreach phone calls - providing emotional support, medication reminders, and well-being checks
  • Home visits - for supportive counseling and psychotherapy
  • Group and individual grief counseling
  • Specialized counseling and bereavement support - for people who have experienced traumatic loss to suicide or sudden death
  • Volunteer opportunities
Who is eligible

Grief counseling and support groups are open to people of all ages who have suffered a loss from suicide, or sudden or traumatic death.

No one is ever turned away for lack of funds.

Payment Options
Payment Options MediCare Private Pay Donations
Fee Is Covered Yes Yes Yes
Notes Counseling services are provided on a sliding fee scale Donations are gratefully received for support group participation.

Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention became a program of IOA in 1995.

Save the date - September 11, 2010

IOA Benefit Concert

Join Institute on Aging for our 2nd annual benefit concert supporting The Friendship Line. All proceeds raised will help provide services to vulnerable Bay Area seniors.

September 11 — 6PM — Il Pirata Bar & Restaurant — San Francisco

The Funds for Friends concert event features local bands and DJs, a dance floor, and a popular prize raffle. Bring your friends, sample the San Francisco music scene, and help elders in our community get support. Learn more.

Buy tickets now. Early Bird Tickets = $20!

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Contact Information

Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention (CESP)

Institute on Aging
3330 Geary Blvd., 3E
San Francisco, CA 94118
Phone: (415) 750-4111
Toll Free: (877) 750-4111
Volunteer Information: (415) 750-4180 x124

Email: friendshipline@ioaging.org
Hours: 9am - 5pm

Senior Campus

IOA's Senior Campus

Affordable housing, affordable health care and community programs to help older adults live independently. IOA's state-of-the-art Senior Campus is scheduled to open Fall 2010.

Learn More

Call for information or immediate assistance (415) 750-4111

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