News & Impact

Every Hanukkah, Joyce and other residents at a local senior community look forward to seeing JFCS volunteers Mike, Kathy, and their two children, who bring holiday greetings and bags of traditional foods. “The treats are lovely,” says Joyce, “but what I most enjoy is the company. My children and grandkids live far away, so it’s nice to spend time with people I consider part of my extended family.” “Joyce is delightful,” says Mike, “and the kids have grown close to her over the years. We try to visit her and other local residents at Passover and the High Holidays, as… Read More

Seniors At Home is celebrating 25 years of providing home care services! As the largest provider in Northern California, we know how hard it can be to find the perfect match. So many in our expanding population of elderly and disabled urgently need care. But, unfortunately we’ve seen some alarming trends as people choose unlicensed caregivers for themselves or family members. UCLA recently published a report on the unregulated home care industry asking,  “Who is minding the people who are minding our elders?” “Most of us don’t realize that unless caregivers are part of an agency, no one is… Read More

Melissa, a New Yorker, became concerned when she learned that her only living relative, Aunt Millie, in Palo Alto, was a victim of a financial scam and was experiencing significant memory loss. “I can’t handle my aunt’s affairs long-distance, so I was grateful when a friend found JFCS’ Conservatorship program,” says Melissa. “It has given me peace of mind.” Thanks to the program, all of Millie’s needs—whether they relate to housing, health, finances, or day-to-day affairs—are tended to by JFCS care managers. “To be conserved, clients like Millie have to be shown to be lacking the capacity to make decisions… Read More

Loneliness is a major issue for the elderly and has been linked closely with poor health. Debby Katz and John Perkins are volunteers with JFCS’ Senior Companions program. They regularly visit elderly clients and have seen the positive impact of their companionship first hand. They are also getting as much out of the program as the seniors whose lives they touch. Debby and John have found that volunteering is one of the best ways to give back to your community and get connected with others. Both retired professionals, they are among the hundreds of volunteers who have helped our elderly… Read More

Coming home after surgery, Eleanor didn’t have to worry about arranging for the home care she now needed for the first time in her life. Seniors At Home had already done it. “It was a relief that I didn’t have to scramble for services in my condition,” says Eleanor, 84. “Since everyone at Seniors At Home knew what I wanted, I could focus on regaining my strength.” Eleanor is part of the newly available Futures Program, which is for healthy seniors anticipating that their needs will change as they age. Seniors of any age—from their late sixties to their nineties—sign… Read More

When 71-year-old Jay lost his wife in 2011, he received comfort from JFCS’ spiritual cares services and its Bereavement Support Group. “JFCS and Seniors At Home helped me get through a tough time,” he said. That’s why Jay didn’t hesitate to return to Seniors At Home this spring, when he began dating. “I felt like I was cheating on my wife,” he said, “and I needed to talk through issues I haven’t addressed in almost 50 years—sex and intimacy.” “It’s not unusual for many people in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and even 90s to experience conflicting feelings about love, romance,… Read More