Friendship Line

Are you feeling lonely, isolated or depressed? Give the Friendship Line a call – because sometimes we all need a friend.

888.670.1360

The Friendship Line is a signature program of Institute on Aging, and has never gone unanswered since it was founded in 1973 by Dr. Patrick Arbore. Dr. Arbore’s observation that “connection to others binds us to life” led him to establish the Friendship Line, which is both a “warm line” and a crisis intervention center for routine – even daily – phone calls that provide emotional support and friendly conversation.

Institute on Aging’s staff and volunteers field approximately 11,000 inbound and outbound calls per month. The nationally-known Friendship Line is a program of Institute on Aging’s Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention and Grief-Related Services, and is accredited by the American Association of Suicidology.

Call Us Toll-Free:

California: 888.670.1360

 

 

This program serving the community is funded by the City of San Francisco’s Department of Disability and Aging Services.

Program Services

Friendship Line

  • Emotional support
  • Crisis intervention

Center for Elder Suicide Prevention and Grief Services

  • Virtual grief and bereavement support groups
  • Specialized support for people who have experienced traumatic loss to suicide or sudden death

Related Resources

Discover Institute on Aging’s vibrant community events! From complimentary educational events to health fairs, we empower and engage older adults. 
Join us in creating a supportive and healthy community by visiting the link in our bio. 

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Join us to learn about elder financial exploitation and how to protect yourself from common scams affecting San Franciscans! Our Elder Abuse Prevention program will be presenting an informative talk in recognition of 2024’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15. We’ll discuss red flags to look out for, how to protect yourself, and resources to report abuse.

🗓️ Tuesday, March 26, 2024
🕰️ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
📍 San Francisco Main Library / Latino Room
100 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA 94102
RSVP: Please reach out to Ali Chiu at achiu@ioaging.org
Discover effective communication strategies for interacting with individuals with dementia. Join us on March 21st at Institute on Aging's Enrichment Center for a free talk by the @alzassociation. 
Visit the link in our bio to register!
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In celebration of Women's History Month, we at Institute on Aging honor the incredible contributions of women throughout history. From trailblazers of the past to present-day change-makers, we recognize the impact women have had on our world. 

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