Community Living Campaign

Cultivating connections to help seniors and people with disabilities age and thrive at home.

Cultivating connections to help seniors and people with disabilities age and thrive at home.

Aging with a Disability

Chinese Connector Program Blossoming -Donate Today!

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Community Living Campaign cultivates connections to help seniors and people with disabilities age and thrive at home. We advance the ideas, talents, and energies of older adults and people with disabilities through community-building, empowerment, and advocacy.  CLC’s Community Connector and other neighborhood-based networks cultivate and strengthen the friendships and support residents need.  Our empowerment programs help neighbors build the skills and tools needed to have a good life, whether that’s learning how to use technology, find employment, or be a strong advocate for themselves and others. Our advocacy helps individuals speak out and also brings together diverse coalitions to work toward a truly age- and disability-friendly city.

Our Chinese Connector Program is only one way that CLC is supporting, empowering and advocating for seniors and people with disabilities.   Learn more about our values and what we have accomplished over the past year here in our Annual Impact Report.

Chinese Connectors

In 2024, our Chinese Program continued to evolve to meet neighbors’ changing needs. In person activities blossomed at the neighborhood level, including Tai Chi, dance, photo walks, in-person tech help, pot-luck celebrations, and many crocheted flowers!  These flowers have been handmade by participants and have provided a reminder to those who might feel isolated or alone – they carry the message – Forget Us Not!

The Chinese Program’s online activities remain very popular, with almost 30 weekly online computer classes, two weekly singing classes, four cultural celebrations, and a weekly cultural language exchange program that includes English practice, a Mandarin class, and other healthy aging topics. Here is a link to the monthly activity calendar in English and Chinese.   your donation for these lovely flowers will specifically help the Chinese Connector Program grow. 

To learn more about our Chinese program, contact Wanda Liu at wanda@sfcommunityliving.org.  

Click here now or use the QR code to make your donation and receive flowers
you can share with loved ones or neighbors to let them know how much you care!

 

Stories about the ADA

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On the 33rd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we asked participants to share their stories about how the ADA has impacted their lives. Here are just a couple of those stories:

From John Trasvina:

When I worked as Senator Paul Simon’s counsel on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in the 1980s and 1990s, he was instrumental in the passage of the disability access provisions of the Fair Housing Act and the full Americans with Disabilities Act.   The most compelling memory I have is when members of the public who had disabilities would come to Washington D.C. to speak with staff or at hearings about the importance of these laws to their daily lives.  In particular, representatives of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) who were afflicted with these illnesses would describe their daily challenges.  Their courage and strength educated people in Washington and helped pass these laws.   They should be remembered today as well as the political leaders who passed the bills and signed them into law.

From Nicky Trasvina:

When my kids were little we rented a funky old house at 46th and Taraval. It felt like the end of the world out there. But there was a highlight! On the corner stood The Bashful Bull Too, a large diner with huge plate windows that served excellent pancakes. Those pancakes were so delicious that my father enjoyed bringing us there almost every Sunday. Sometimes we were  joined by my uncle or a family friend or two. We were a party of at least 6.

But during the 1990s tragedy struck and my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers and simultaneously lost her mobility, making her wheel-chair bound. Yet my dad insisted we keep going to The Bashful Bull Too. So we brought my mom downstairs, into the car, along with the wheelchair and off we would go. Tragedy struck again around 2002 and my dad was stricken with a form of ALS, aka Lou Gehrig’s disease. Our family was in shock to see two very intelligent and active seniors lose most of their physical abilities almost overnight.
But we knew that my dad wanted to continue the Sunday family tradition of going to The Bashful Bull Too. So almost every Sunday, my brother, my boys, and I would somehow carry my parents down from the second story of their home, get them situated in the car, load up the wheelchairs  and drive to 46th and Taraval. Then we would carefully get them out of the car, unload the wheelchairs and off we would go!
The bittersweet aspect of this story is that when the Bashful Bull Too owner and waiter saw us approaching the front door they did everything they could to accommodate us! They held the door for us while another moved tables and chairs. They saved the corner table for us to shield us from the drafty door opening and closing, they brought us coffee and menus immediately. They made the experience as easy as possible for my parents and for the rest of the family. I will never forget their kindness and the respect they showed to my parents! We never felt like a spectacle causing so much commotion, but appreciated the fanfare of their welcome!
Yes, this did take place after the ADA was voted and approved in 1990, but to me, the owner and her staff embodied the underlying meaning and mission of the ADA. They did not behave this way because of the ADA. Yes, it’s important but a sad commentary that we have to have laws to tell people the right thing to do, to notice and to make accommodations so that everyone is treated fairly and given full access. It is the strength of the law that protects what differently -abled individuals have gained and benefit in their daily lives.
The bittersweet aspect of this story is that the owner and her staff did not behave this way for the ADA. Their assistance to us was inspired out of the goodness of their hearts. Their show of respect and kindness to my parents is a bittersweet story of all our fortitude and determination to make my parents’ lives as regular and happy as possible for the longest time possible. We could not have done it without our friends at the Bashful Bull Too.
I want to thank Jennifer Walsh, a warrior for the differently-abled community, for asking for stories about how the ADA has impacted our lives and the experiences of those with disabilities.

CLC Does Carnival in the Mission

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It as a grand cultural celebration and CLC was an active part of it this year, thanks to a great team of folks lead by Miguel Hurtado & Marie Jobling.  Thanks go out to Yvan Torres, Maia Veres, Connie Adachi, Molly Hankwitz, Olivia Franco, Mark Huynh, Paul Hickman, Jennifer Walsh, Betty Traynor, Alan Lam, Robin Nasatir & Jon, Laura Atkins, Wanda Liu , Noah Weaker, and CanXin Tang. 

Some of us had to look twice, as we had only seen each other on Zoom!  But it was fun to reconnect, to reach out to a new community with a collection of material in Spanish as well as promotion for our many programs.  Special thanks to Sam, Miguel, Yvan, Maia and Karla Soumala for helping get material ready for this special event.  

Carnival was an incredibly diverse and wonderful event that brought ten’s of thousands of folks of all ages together to enjoy themselves after two years plus of isolation.   We met and talked to lots of people in Spanish, Chinese and English.  Now we need to figure out what to do next to let more people know about what CLC has to offer.   In the meantime, enjoy Mission Local’s write-up and great pictures of the Caravan parade 
 

Celebrating 80 Over 80

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It was such a wonderful celebration of the project to interview 80 elders 80 and older to share their stories as blog posts, podcasts and a wonderful print edition.   Kudos to Dr. Anna Chodos who persevered with the project despite a pandemic.  Through lots of volunteer help and willing interviewees, the project was completed (for now).   Enjoy the pictures and those who came to celebrate.  

Photos by Nicole  Henderson.  Come back soon.  More photos to follow.

You can also connect with the 80 over 80 website here.   More info and a place to order books, t-shirts and tote bags to commemorate. 

Senior Beat Covers the In-Home Caregiving Crisis

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Staff writers Mary Hunt and Judy Goddess wanted to write about in-home caregiving in part because they and their friends are of the age when the need is a present or near-future reality. And they figured it’s better to learn to navigate the system when you’re in better health than not.

Once they started to explore, Goddess said, it suddenly seemed as though every middle-aged and older person is giving or receiving care or has a caregiver story. Often, they involve children or spouses trying to convince a frail senior that they need care. Or they’re about seniors or their families struggling to find a reliable, competent caregiver whose personality and skills suit the recipient. Just as importantly, they’re about figuring how to pay for that care.

As of 2020, there were 2.3 million home care workers in the United States, according to April Verrett,  president of SEIU Local 2015 in California, the nation’s largest long-term-care union. And if we are to meet the needs of our aging population, she wrote in TIME magazine, we’ll need another 1.2 million by 2028. Yet, even now, there are not enough caregivers to meet the needs.

Their efforts to look into the world of in-home care produced a series of stories we’ll be releasing over the next several days, along with resources for readers. You can subscribe to San Francisco Senior Beat (see the top of our website) to get email notices when new stories are published, or follow us on Facebook, or follow this guide to know when to check our site for our caregiving stories.

THE SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, May 4: High costs and dearth of financial assistance programs for middle-income seniors leave them in the lurch when help at home is needed. The Rev. Eileen Kinney is one of the many Americans, those of middle-income, for whom costly in-home care is unaffordable. She began having trouble with basic tasks like cleaning and cooking when her neuropathy worsened. But not being wealthy enough to hire care, nor poor, which would have qualified for in-home care through Medi-Cal, she had nowhere to turn – until she was able to get into one of the rare programs that offer financial help for seniors in the middle-income gap.

Friday, May 6: ‘I’m too young to need a walker!’ A fall and fracture jolt an independent life in a comfy Stonestown apartment. Mary Hunt didn’t think of herself as old at the age of 76. Even when she broke her wrist in a fall, she didn’t see the need to hire a caregiver. She lived alone but had friends around and a sister in Daly City. Her daughter lives in Georgia. Having some stranger come in felt like an intrusion.

Sunday, May 8: Tending to aging seniors in their homes a necessary and noble occupation, but undervalued – and physically and emotionally challenging: Debbie Gilli had always loved being around her grandmother and her in-laws. She simply liked older people. It wasn’t much of a stretch to become a caregiver. Anna Kivalu likes the look into other lived worlds she gets when helping clients. Lourdes Dobarganes gets clients to salsa dance with her to strengthen their balance and keep them moving. She’s also been known to have them hug trees for a positive energy experience. They have few complaints about their work, but would like to make more money and have benefits like overtime, sick time or workers compensation. Those obstacles are barriers to the supply of caregivers keeping up with the demand for their services.

Tuesday, May 10: Family members make up majority of in-home caregivers due to help’s high cost, taking on all-consuming, sometimes overwhelming role. The high cost of in-home caregiving has led many families to take on the burden themselves. In fact, the vast majority of caregivers serving Medi-Cal clients in San Francisco – hired through the city’s In-Home Supportive Services program – are family members. While most become members of the caregivers union and make slightly more than minimum wage, it is still an all-consuming, physically exhausting and sometimes maddening job.

Thursday, May 12: Neighborhood and ‘village’ networks help seniors who live near one another as aging makes daily tasks more difficult. Within eight years, a third of San Franciscans will be 60 or older, and according to various studies about a third will live alone. In 2020, that would have been about 54,000 seniors. The ones who have no family, or none that live nearby, are turning to neighbors to form support networks for help with everyday tasks they’re having trouble with – getting to a doctor’s appointment, shopping for groceries, changing a lightbulb –temporarily or long term. Some of these neighborhood networks are informal; others involve low-cost memberships that offer support as well as activities.

 

California Masterplan on Aging Local Event

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SAN FRANCISCO REGIONAL FORUM SPOTLIGHTS URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS CRISIS IN HOMELESSNESS FOR SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 

October 27, 2021

The CA Master Plan for Aging San Francisco Regional Forum: Ending Homelessness Among Seniors and People With Disabilities

Over 400 people, including policymakers, stakeholders, and service providers in aging, disability and homeless services, joined together on October 26, 2021 to address the growing crisis of unhoused older adults and people with disabilities in the San Francisco region. Organized by the Long-Term Care Coordinating Council of San Francisco, the “ENDING HOMELESSNESS AMONG SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES” forum initiated discussions about implementation of The California Master Plan for Aging (MPA) in San Francisco with an emphasis on homelessness as a top priority.

The event opened with a welcome video by San Francisco Mayor London Breed and a keynote address by Dr. Margot Kushel, Director of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative.

Dr. Kushel provided data showing that the homeless population in San Francisco is aging with every calendar year, with those 50 and older growing from 37% in 2003 to about 50% today. She also brought attention to the troubling health outcomes of people experiencing homelessness in older middle age, noting that health conditions worsen much faster than for those in the general population. For those experiencing homelessness, said Dr. Kushel, we found that “50 is the new 75.” Dr. Kushel ended her remarks with a “call to action” for the system to be more responsive to older adults with a “housing first” model that includes collaborations between aging and homeless services to address their specific needs.

Dr. Kushel’s remarks were followed by a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Del Seymour, Founder and Board member of Code Tenderloin. Panel participants included Shireen McSpadden, Executive Director, San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing; Kelly Dearman, Executive Director, San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services; Yolanda Harris, Commissioner, San Francisco Housing Authority; and Beth Stokes, Executive Director, Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco. The panelists shared highlights of collaborative responses underway, including some that emerged from the pandemic

crisis response, and took questions from the virtual audience.

A hallmark of the event was its inclusive access with live captioning, ASL, Chinese and Spanish interpretation, and an open Q &A to ensure accessibility in a virtual Zoom setting. Access was also made possible through viewer watch parties for residents who have experienced homelessness, hosted by partnering service providers – Curry Senior Center, Episcopal Community Services, PRC, and the Felton Institute. Episcopal Community Services held a watch party with residents at the Sanctuary Shelter, and the Felton Institute watch party was held for those who lived in Shelter in Place Hotels during the COVID Pandemic. All of the watch parties fostered conversations among residents and with staff about their own experiences and challenges of finding secure housing in San Francisco and what the City should be doing to address the problem.

The event, sponsored by the Scan Foundation, the Metta Fund, the Dignity Fund Coalition, Homebridge, the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and the San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services, was especially notable for bringing together service providers, advocates and government leaders who are not often at the same table, yet share a part in forging solutions to the crisis: homeless services, IHSS and older adult services, and disability services. The event generated the beginnings of a common message platform on the issue and raised awareness about the City and County of San Francisco’s current initiatives and potential gaps which can be addressed with increased coordination and collaboration among providers.

For more information about the event and follow-on activities, go to: https://www.sfdignityfund.org. To watch the “Ending Homelessness Among Seniors and People with Disabilities” forum, go to: https://fb.watch/8WCnt3Uuv1/.

The California Master Plan for Aging (MPA), developed with the input of many leaders and advocates in older adult and disability services in the San Francisco region and released by the Newsom Administration in January 2021, outlines five bold goals and twenty-three strategies for implementation by state and local government, communities, and private and philanthropic organizations, including a focus on ensuring housing with appropriate supports and services for

older adults and people with disabilities.

 

Snapshots from Good Neighbor Summer Activities

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It has been a good summer so far and we are delighted each time we see old friends and new acquaintances in person.   We have been walking, excercising, practicing yoga, doing improv, celebrating birthdays, visiting friends in hospitals and assisted living, honoring those that have passed, standing strong for justice and so much more. 

Here a some snapshots of summer activities from August  

And from July – stay tuned more to come. 

Bridging the Digital Divide in Unique Ways

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The need for more accessible and affordable technology to connect seniors and people with disabilities doesn’t end when the state officially opens.

Just because everyone is no longer sheltering in place doesn’t mean people — especially in underserved communities — don’t struggle with a lack of digital access, digital literacy, or tech support that have become so fundamental to our connected lives.

That’s why Community Living Campaign has partnered with the San Francisco Tech Council to regrant $50,000 in Equity and Innovation funding from Metta Fund to five community-based organizations that work to close the digital divide. We want to accelerate that work to decrease social isolation and improve wellness.

“We’re giving an opportunity to organizations that don’t have access to other funding so they can pilot ways to reduce social isolation and loneliness through tech access,” said Margot Rose Lederer, the equity and innovation pilot coordinator for the SF Tech Council.

“The pandemic was not all that different for some isolated seniors or adults with mobility challenges or who didn’t have access to transportation,” she said. “They always needed ways to connect to the world around them. It’s hard for them to attend things in person anyway, and that isn’t about to change.”

The whole grant process has also highlighted the need for multi-lingual tech training, so we’ve encouraged and supported groups that offer that.

Here are the organizations that received the grants.

Curry Senior Center

This group is funding Vietnamese-language digital literacy and tech training by lending tablets. This project focuses on the Tenderloin neighborhood, while the group also seeks to serve the LGBT community.

They’re providing tablets, training support and internet connectivity. They’re also expanding their digital resource programs for seniors.

Family Caregiver Alliance

They’re providing tablets, in-home support and internet connectivity for six months to Spanish-speaking caregivers. The goal is to improve health outcomes for the client as well as enable more professional learning and support for the caregivers. Caregivers have become especially isolated during the pandemic without the benefit of in-person and direct support.

“This group has struggled more with shifting to Zoom, in part because of their lack of tech,” Margot said. “Family caregivers also suffer from isolation and exhaustion due to the 24/7 nature of their roles.”

Felton Institute

“The focus here is on improving connectivity and access to health services for an often transient population,” Margot said. “That’s a challenge because it’s hard to keep in touch with people who move more than most.”

The Institute specializes in helping people with behavioral health challenges throughout the city; it’s in a good position to help this population.

Mission Neighborhood Center

This grant focuses on a small group of LatinX, Spanish-speaking seniors in the Mission District, partnering with health providers to improve wellness and fitness.

This group had exercise classes and health screenings before the pandemic. The grant enables them to integrate digital devices, like Fitbit step trackers. That lets individuals monitor themselves and keep up with their activities, Margot said.

Televisit

This nonprofit tech organization customizes tablets to make them simpler to use, targeting Chinese seniors. They’re also providing in-home support and internet connectivity. That makes it easier to participate in social activities and connect with family.

In particular, the tablets are designed for those with cognitive decline and linguistic, cultural and personal limitations.

Since receiving funding, this group has also incorporated classes on racism. The rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders has increased the tension and fear, especially in the senior community.

“In these pilots, we’ve enabled groups to innovate and iterate as the project progresses if they see an additional service they can contribute,” Margot said.

 

To find out more about the SF Tech Council, visit their website.

Learn more about other ways CLC helps people connect through technology, read this.

The Transition from Hospital To Home – San Francisco Must Do Better

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The transition from hospital to home has always been fraught with peril.   Now has  become even more so in the era of COVID-19.  The limits on caregivers and advocates visiting and supporting a patient in the hospital, the over stretched hospital staff, including social workers and discharge planners, and the significantly reduce options for transitional care are major barriers.   But many of the problems existed before the pandemic.  In fact, a  Transitional Care Blueprint released in San Francisco in 2008 documented the issues and provide a wide range of improvements needed.  A few were implemented and remain, others were implemented and then disappeared when funding was cut.  The rest are still good ideas that could be implemented locally with strong advocacy.   

As more and more of the neighbors we meet through the Community Connector networks and our other programs face increasing illness and disability, this issue has resurfaced as a critical one to address.  One of our earliest neighborhood networks created a team that called itself the “Keep Helen Out of the Hospital” .  A Community Connector enlisted neighbors and health professionals alike to support Helen in this goal.  It included both a good discharge plan but a commitment to prevent re-admissions which are often result from  an unsafe discharge.   CLC is working with the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA) to expand its Safe Hospital Discharge workshops and provide thousands of wallet cards about who to call if you or your loved one is not getting a good discharge.   

CLC will be presenting a workshop at the next OWL meeting on your patient rights in a Navigating Hospital and Beyond.  It will be held Saturday, February 27 from 11:00 to 12:00 on Zoom.  Participants will receive a packet of information via the mail from CLC as well as the Hospital Discharge Wallet Card shown here.  In the meantime, if you would like us to mail you this card, send your address to  info@sfcommunityliving.org.  

To connect with CARA for. workshop near you or if your organization would like to sponsor one, contact jreid.cara@gmail.com.  Or download some of the information  that will be available to those who attend these workshops.