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.

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Resilience Takes Confidence and Adaptability, Laura Says

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It’s worth taking a moment to celebrate just how resilient we’ve been in the last year. This is a key quality at healthy aging and thriving in life, and we’ve all been tested by COVID-19.

As May is Older Americans Month, we’re spotlighting a couple of our staff members who have done a great job of demonstrating strength and resilience and what that means.

“For me, resilience means having inner confidence and a belief in myself,” said Laura Atkins, our METCC Community Connector. “It means being able to adapt to changing circumstances, knowing where to find resources and being willing to ask for help and offer help.”

There are plenty of ways we’ve seen that play out since the pandemic made us all shelter in place. The business community adapted by offering more take-out and delivery services, she noted. Some restaurants even offering drinks to go!

Getting on Zoom

All the participants in Community Living Campaign’s activities on Zoom also deserve applause. They embraced the often awkward and unfamiliar experience of trying a new way to be part of exercise classes, musical performances and art programs.

Indeed, that exercise is part of what Laura says has helped her feel strong through this period.

“Keeping to a healthy lifestyle as much as possible — eating well, exercising and spending time with friends and family — is a big part of how I continue to feel strong and resilient,” she said.

“I’ve also been pushing myself physically by walking up the hills and stairs of Bernal Hill and meeting with friends outside to swim at Aquatic Park. That helps support my mental strength as well and keeping a positive mindset.”

Laura also helps others stay connected to each other by co-hosting an ongoing program we named — appropriately — Community Tales!

Calling & Writing Cards

Beyond CLC, she helps support others to feel strong and resilient by calling and writing cards and then listening. We all need to feel heard.

A fun tradition she’s formed is having Zoom dinners with friends.

“One of my best friends and I turn on Zoom while cooking, talk and then sit down to share the same dinner we each made separately.”

Throughout it all, she’s actually been able to reconnect with some old friends and has seen those friendships get stronger.

“I’ve also been able to build connections with new friends, particularly in the CLC neighborhood,” Laura said. “My walking area has grown as well. I now walk (masked) with a new friend in the METCC neighborhood. Big hills and walking friends are found all over San Francisco.”

 

Read another profile of our Community Connector Nicky Trasvina.

Advance Health Care Planning with Dr. Grant Smith (Virtual)

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Whether you are a person living with a serious illness, a caregiver, or the healthiest you have ever been, having some form of a care plan in the event you are unable to speak for yourself, is important for providing you and your family with the comfort and confidence knowing that your wishes will be honored no matter what happens. In this webinar, we will define advance health care planning, provide a framework for thinking about your wishes, and give guidance for talking to your doctors and loved ones about your wishes.

HOW TO JOIN THE EVENT:

To join by phone, dial 888-475-4499 (toll-free) or 669-900-6833 (local). Enter Meeting ID: 865 6747 4200, then press # twice.
To join with video, click this link: https://zoom.us/j/86567474200 to register and join. Wait in the “waiting room” until the activity is ready to start.

To create a friendly environment and minimize interruptions, we will close the activity to new participants 15 minutes after the start time. The above link will work on your tablet or your computer. You’ll be prompted to download a Zoom app the first time you use Zoom. If you’re using a PC or Mac, you can join from your web browser without using the Zoom software.

Post-Election Recap (Virtual)

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Election got you worried? We’ll be here to help you make sense of local, state, and national election results.

 


To join by phone, dial 888-475-4499 (toll free) or 669-900-6833 (local).
Enter Meeting ID: 865 6747 4200, then press # twice.
To join with video, click this link: https://zoom.us/j/86567474200 to register and join. Wait in the “waiting room” until the activity is ready to start.

To create a friendly environment and minimize interruptions, we will close the activity to new participants 15 minutes after the start time.

The above link will work on your tablet or your computer. You’ll be prompted to download a Zoom app the first time you use Zoom. If you’re using a PC or Mac, you can join from your web browser without using the Zoom software.

We’re Staying Home – So Let’s Reorganize! (Virtual)

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For those of us staying home — how many of us have peeked into a drawer, or the back of a closet, or the top of a shelf, and thought “Maybe it’s a good time to sort through things? Maybe throw some things out, give some things away, organize what we want to keep?” But then, how many of us closed the drawer or the closet, or looked away from the shelf and said “It’s too big a project! Maybe later”? There are some simple ways to organize ourselves to make it all easier. Come join us, share your thoughts, and let’s make a plan!

To join by phone, dial 888-475-4499 (toll free) or 669-900-6833 (local).
Enter Meeting ID: 865 6747 4200, then press # twice.

To join with video, click this link: https://zoom.us/j/86567474200 to register and join. Wait in the “waiting room” until the activity is ready to start.

To create a friendly environment and minimize interruptions, we will close the activity to new participants 15 minutes after the start time.

The above link will work on your tablet or your computer. You’ll be prompted to download a Zoom app the first time you use Zoom. If you’re using a PC or Mac, you can join from your web browser without using the Zoom software.

Ruth’s Table: Creative Spark (Virtual)

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Join Ruth’s Table director, Jessie McCracken, as we explore bringing creativity into your life. You don’t have to be an “artist” to join this exploration. The word “creativity” can be intimidating, but we are all creatives in our own way.  Creative Spark offers opportunities for us all to stay socially connected while we remain physically distant. We invite everyone to use the power of creativity to fuel our resilience, provide a sense of comfort, engage our minds and bring us together.

In May, we will explore our relationship to place. Participants will explore how external factors can affect our internal emotional landscape. The session will provide tools to use that can help connect with ourselves and encourage us to connect with others.

We’ll be meeting virtually.

To call in, dial 669-900-6833
You’ll be prompted to enter Meeting ID: 947 3509 0322, then press # and wait for the activity to start.

Click to join with video, click this link: https://zoom.us/j/94735090322 and wait in the “waiting room” until the activity is ready to start. To create a friendly environment and minimize interruptions, we will close the activity to new participants 15 minutes after the start time.

The above link will work on your tablet or on your computer. You’ll be prompted to download a Zoom app the first time you use Zoom. If you’re using a PC or Mac, you can join from your web browser without using the Zoom software.

Strong Dignity Fund Legislation Introduced

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Dignity Fund Campaign Logo smPlease join us in thanking Supervisors Malia Cohen and Eric Mar for their leadership in shepherding strong Dignity Fund legislation to introduction May 24 at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. They were joined at a press conference earlier in the day by Supervisor Campos and leaders of the Dignity Fund Coalition. Supervisors Yee and Avalos have also pledged their support as we move the legislation forward for a hearing at the Rules Committee later in June. The Dignity Fund will be a measure on the November 8th San Francisco ballot and will assure improved long term funding for senior and disability services and supports in San Francisco.

Funding levels for many services for seniors and adults with disabilities have not kept pace with population growth. Right now, people 60 and over represent 20% of San Francisco’s population. Taken together with the number of adults with disabilties, that number is 25% and expected to grow to 30% by 2030. Many seniors and adults with disabilities are living on fixed incomes as the cost of living here continues to rise.

How can you help? Log onto the website www.sfdignityfund.org to learn more and to sign-up for regular email updates (and even make a donation to help with the campaign!) Over the com
ing month, we will be seeking additional organizational endorsements and expanding our outreach efforts. We need your help there as well.IMG_6431

The Dignity Fund Coalition is a broad coalition of San Francisco not-for-profit and community organizations and advocates that has come together to address the growing need for services for seniors, adults with disabilities, veterans, and those living with chronic illnesses, to ensure that San Francisco becomes a more aging and disability friendly place. It promotes independence through services and support that allow people to live at home while remaining connected to their communities.

Watch out for our June CLC Newsletter arriving early next week with more details about the legislation and the campaign ahead.

Building Connections for Healthy Aging – Step by Step

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We celebrated the third anniversary of our Connections for Healthy Aging Workshops with a reunion, bringing together an enthusiastic and diverse group of participants from past workshops all over San Francisco. These workshops, created and led by Marcia Peterzell and Linda Silver, are a wonderful way to explore issues around aging, including identifying and strengthening networks of support, and advocating for oneself and others.

During the reunion, we caught up on what’s been happening and talked together in small kitchen table conversations. Everyone shared resources and ideas we thought would be helpful to one another to keep us all prepared for whatever lies ahead, including completing a Vial of Life (emergency medical form) and the other items on our Empowered Elder To Do List.

Marcia and Linda also shared the new one and two hour workshop options to share valuable information on Healthy Aging with those who might not want to sign up for a four-week full workshop. These shorter session topics include:

  • The Lifesaving “Vial of Life”
  • Protecting Our Rights in a Hospital Stay
  • Strategies to Finish Your Advance Directive
  • Building Your Personal Support Safety Network
  • Coping with Grief and Loss
  • Finding Ways to Have More Fun

With renewed funding from the May and Stanley Smith Trust, we are ready to accept invitations to bring this conversation with resources and humor to your neighborhood, faith community or retiree group.  More details on their flyer here or contact Marcia Peterzell at 415-359-1816 or marcia.peterzell@comcast.net.

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Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

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Hundreds of people filled the North Light Court at City Hall on July 1 to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and difference it has made in their life and the lives of so many millions more.  Hosted by the Mayor’s Office on Disability (MOD) and the Community Alliance for Disability Advocates (CADA), attendees were greeted by Mayor Ed Lee, City Administrator Naomi Kelly, former Assemblyman Tom Ammiano.  Nina G acting as Mistress of Ceremonies  invited speakers to recount the history of the ADA movement, with strong roots in San Francisco and honored three long time advocates with special Disability Champion Awards – Donna Calame, Steve Crabiel and Herb Levine.  Inspiring words by Supervisor Eric Mar and performances by Access SFUSD help cap the program with energy and the enthusiasm that carried over for the rest of the event.  You can view a replay of the event on SFGovTV and enjoy a few pictures below.  You can see more if you go to the Keep Us Connected Campaign on Facebook.  Kudos to Carla Johnson, the MOD staff and the rest of the team that helped create such a memorable event.

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CLC’s 2013 Annual Award Event Honors Anni Chung

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Leaders and supporters of the growing movement to help individuals age with dignity and human rights in their San Francisco community gathered again this year.  It was a time to reconnect with friends and colleagues and to honor Anni Chung with the 2013 Norma Satten Community Service Innovation Award.   Proceeds of this year’s event support the organizing and empowerment work of the Community Living Campaign, weaving networks that bring individuals and organizations together to make San Francisco a better place to grow old.   Hope you enjoy the pictures!  If you missed the event but would like to support the work of the Community Living Campaign, just click the Donate button at www.sfcommunityliving.org.  Learn more about Norma Satten and her legacy in tomorrow’s post, with a video by Tree Ring Productions that was showcased at the event.

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San Francisco’s Seniors Act to Protect Social Security

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Congress finally took action at the 11th hour with a tax package, leaving Social Security mostly intact (for now).   All the letters and San Francisco’s fiesty San Francisco’s Social Security Flash Mob surely helped keep the pressure on.   So let’s celebrate and thank our elected representatives for helping hold the line.
 
But the larger issue of reducing the deficit while preventing cuts to safety net programs has been kicked down the road for a couple of months.  The debates will continue on how to close the gap while keeping intact programs funded by the Older Americans Act, Medi-Cal and the like at the national and state level.  We need to keep the pressure up. 
 
And no matter what happens, we are also challenged to take action in our local community.  CLC’s recent Connections for Healthy Aging workshops brought home the reality of just how many San Francisco seniors (and people with disabilities) lack basic financial security.   We talked about the Elder Economic Security Index, developed by UCLA and now a standard for planning for the needs of seniors statewide.  Unlike the outdated poverty measures, it factors in the REAL costs of living. According to that measure, nearly two-thirds (61%) of  S.F. seniors lack basic economic security.  
 
And this is before a person needs to pay for help at home, additional home health services,  more prescriptions drugs, and the like.  Just think about what this will mean for us and for those we care about. 
 
As we look to the future, we hope the prosperous city of San Francisco will help individuals avoid their own personal fiscal cliff with the appropriate levels of formal services and informal support, enabling us to age with health and dignity.  Time to think globally and act locally to keep lots of  us from going over the financial cliff.   Initiatives like providing employment opportunities for older workers so they can rebuild their savings, expanding options for more people to receive health and supportive services on a sliding scale, increasing the amount of  accessible, affordable housing and reweaving communities where people help one another are all part of the solution.
 
We hope, once again, that San Francisco can take the lead in bringing us back from the edge of the cliff.