The Friendship Line
Fresh Ideas
Volunteer Your Care
Learn about grief and loss, telephone counseling & how you can
help prevent suicide in the elderly.
Call: (415) 750-4180 x233 for training & volunteer information.
Knowing there is someone who cares can make all the difference. The Friendship Line reaches out to older adults, offering a wealth of emotional and well-being resources. In the comfort and privacy of their home, seniors receive emotional support, reassurance, counseling, crisis intervention, abuse prevention help, medication reminders, well-being checks, and information and referral for additional care. Our trained staff and volunteers receive calls and make outgoing calls, offering an ongoing connection for many depressed or lonely older adults.
Directed by Patrick Arbore, the Friendship Line is part of IOA's Center
for Elderly Suicide Prevention (CESP), and provides year-round support
to at-risk older adults.
For more information, simply call (415) 752-3778 and
introduce yourself to a Friendship Line counselor. If you desire to
receive services, a staff member will discuss a plan of support that best meets your
needs.
"It’s about reminding people that they are still a part of their community. Those connections bind us to life."— Patrick Arbore, Founding Director
Services Include
- Crisis and elder abuse support provided by phone 24-hours a day, 365 days a year
- Emotional support & reassurance for seniors by phone
- Outreach phone calls for medication reminders, well-being checks & emotional support
- Counseling and senior care information & referral by phone
- Volunteer opportunities
Funding for the Friendship Line is provided in part by the San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services.
Who is eligible
Any person aged 60 years or older, their family members, or any concerned friends can call the Friendship Line and speak with a caring staff member or volunteer.
Payment Information
There is no fee for Friendship Line services. Donations to support the work of the program are gratefully accepted.
Funding for the Friendship Line is provided in part by the San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services.
Patrick Arbore founded the Friendship Line in San Francisco in 1973 after seeing the lack of understanding some suicide hot line workers displayed for older people. The Friendship Line has since served countless seniors and their families.
Funding for the Friendship Line is provided in part by the San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services.
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
The Friendship Line
Phone: (415) 752-3778
Toll Free: (800) 971-0016
Volunteer Information: (415) 750-4180 x233
Email: friendshipline@ioaging.org
Hours: Open 24 hours for crisis & elder abuse
support
Open 8am – 11pm daily for emotional support, reassurance, information
& referral
Institute on Aging
Main Line: (415) 750-4111
Toll Free: (877) 750-4111
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.
Volunteer Opportunities
Make a real difference in the lives of the Bay Area's elderly. Get involved with IOA today.