Institute on Aging

Elder Abuse Prevention - Mandated Reporter Training
2025-07-09 09:30 - 11:00, 2025-06-23 14:30 - 16:00, 2025-04-15 08:30 - 10:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
This training is for all mandated reporters who work in the City and County of San Francisco, and whose agencies receive funding from the City and County of San Francisco. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.
Mandated Reporters are, by law, any person who has assumed full or intermittent responsibility for the care or custody of an elder or dependent adult, whether or not that person receives compensation, including administrators, supervisors, and any licensed staff of a public or private facility that provides care or services for elder or dependent adults, or any elder or dependent adult care custodian, health practitioner, clergy member, or employee of a county adult protective services agency or a local law enforcement agency. If you have not attended an elder and dependent adult abuse training in the past fiscal year, please see your supervisor about your need to participate.
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Describe 3 common scenarios in which elders and dependent adults are susceptible to abuse
Identify 4 “red flags” that indicate possible elder or dependent adult abuse- Define the term “mandated reporter,” as legally defined by California State Law
Practice knowledge application of 4 legal obligations of mandated reporters, as required by the State of California
Analyze the role of Adult Protective Services (APS) in protecting elders and dependent adults from abuse

Registration Link

Understanding Grief and Loss
2025-07-08 10:00 - 11:00
Understanding Grief and Loss
Grief is the reaction to loss, and any kind of loss can trigger grief. People grieve for the loss of someone they love but also for the loss of independence, usefulness, cognitive functioning, and physical abilities. Grief is also a lifelong process: a journey rather than something that is cured. This course will teach people to recognize grief and how to respond appropriately to the grieving person. A final section on compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary stress includes strategies for professional self-care.
Learning Objectives:

Define grief
Identify three physical changes that affect people as they age to normalize the process, and help people understand important aspects of working with a grieving person
Identify three myths about grief
List ways to manage compassion fatigue

Location: Online Webinar
Cost: This webinar is free for all to attend
Instructor Name/Bio: Ingrid Valdez
Ingrid is a bilingual, Spanish-speaking Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) based in San Francisco, originally from New York City with roots in the Dominican Republic. She holds a BA in Applied Psychology, an MA in Special Education, and is licensed as a BCBA in California. With a robust background in mental health education and applied interventions, she has provided support to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and has extensive experience in care coordination, individualized support planning, and advocacy for older adults with traumatic brain injury, dementia, and anxiety disorders. Her commitment to cultural sensitivity ensures that mental health education and services are inclusive and responsive to diverse community needs. Currently, Ingrid trains staff and volunteers in grief support, suicide prevention, and crisis de-escalation, equipping them with the skills to deliver compassionate and culturally competent care.
Register Here

Saturday Dementia Caregiver Support Group (Held Monthly)
2025-07-05 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-06-07 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-05-03 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-04-05 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-03-01 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-02-01 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-01-04 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-12-07 10:30 - 12:00 and 3 more dates | CA, United States
Saturday Dementia Caregiver Support Group – free to attend!
Email Clara Allen at callen@ioaging.org to register.

Thursday Dementia Caregiver Support Group (Held Monthly)
2025-06-26 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-05-22 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-04-24 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-03-27 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-02-27 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-01-23 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-12-26 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-11-28 10:00 - 11:30 and 3 more dates | CA, United States
Thursday Dementia Caregiver Support Group – free to attend!
Email Clara Allen at callen@ioaging.org to register.

Promoting Emotional Health and Preventing Suicide
2025-06-10 10:00 - 11:00
Promoting Emotional Health and Preventing Suicide
This training is hosted by IOA’s Friendship Line. Suicide is a serious public health problem that can have long-lasting effects on individuals, families, and communities. Everyone can help prevent suicide. This course will provide information and helpful strategies for people who support those dealing with suicidal thoughts.
Learning Objectives:

Increase one’s knowledge, and understanding of suicide
Recognize warning signs
Identify risk and protective factors
Increase willingness and ability to intervene with a person at risk for suicide

Location: Online Webinar
Cost: Free
Instructor Name/Bio: Ingrid Valdez
Ingrid is a bilingual, Spanish-speaking Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) based in San Francisco, originally from New York City with roots in the Dominican Republic. She holds a BA in Applied Psychology, an MA in Special Education, and is licensed as a BCBA in California. With a robust background in mental health education and applied interventions, she has provided support to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and has extensive experience in care coordination, individualized support planning, and advocacy for older adults with traumatic brain injury, dementia, and anxiety disorders. Her commitment to cultural sensitivity ensures that mental health education and services are inclusive and responsive to diverse community needs. Currently, Ingrid trains staff and volunteers in grief support, suicide prevention, and crisis de-escalation, equipping them with the skills to deliver compassionate and culturally competent care.
Register Here

Elder Abuse Prevention - Mandated Reporter Training
2025-05-16 09:30 - 11:00
This training is for all mandated reporters who work in the City and County of San Francisco, and whose agencies receive funding from the City and County of San Francisco. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.
Mandated Reporters are, by law, any person who has assumed full or intermittent responsibility for the care or custody of an elder or dependent adult, whether or not that person receives compensation, including administrators, supervisors, and any licensed staff of a public or private facility that provides care or services for elder or dependent adults, or any elder or dependent adult care custodian, health practitioner, clergy member, or employee of a county adult protective services agency or a local law enforcement agency. If you have not attended an elder and dependent adult abuse training in the past fiscal year, please see your supervisor about your need to participate.
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Describe 3 common scenarios in which elders and dependent adults are susceptible to abuse
Identify 4 “red flags” that indicate possible elder or dependent adult abuse- Define the term “mandated reporter,” as legally defined by California State Law
Practice knowledge application of 4 legal obligations of mandated reporters, as required by the State of California
Analyze the role of Adult Protective Services (APS) in protecting elders and dependent adults from abuse

Register here

"Joining Hearts, Changing Lives" - IOA's Annual Gala
2025-05-01 17:30 - 21:00 | CA, United States
We invite you to join us on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in downtown San Francisco for our Joining Hearts, Changing Lives gala. Come celebrate the connections Institute on Aging creates, and help us honor Adele Corvin, a champion of aging adults and accomplished community leader. Her volunteerism and community activism span nearly seven decades, during which time Adele left her mark on numerous Bay Area nonprofits, including IOA, where she is an Honorary Lifetime Director.
Sponsorships are now available – please contact Samantha Delson at sdelson@ioaging.org for information.
For more details on the May 1 gala, click here.

Taking Care: A screening of Seth Rogen's movie about Alzheimer's
2024-11-20 17:00 - 19:00 | CA, United States
Join the Companioa team and other community partners for an exclusive screening of this 38-minute documentary about actor Seth Rogen’s mother in law, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Seth, his wife Lauren and their families turn grief into action through intimate interviews that shed warmth and light on Alzheimer’s. Through storytelling, celebrity comedy, medical insights and abiding love, they let millions of those caring for people with Alzheimer’s know they are not alone.
This event is free, but registration is required. Click here to RSVP.
