Agency Details:

The mission of the San Francisco Senior Center (SFSC) is to provide elder San Franciscans culturally and linguistically appropriate opportunities for life-long learning, healthy living, and social and community activities that foster independence and self reliance.

Description:
SFSC is a multi-service, multi-site agency that assists low income and ethnically diverse seniors and their families and caregivers. There are two sites: Aquatic Park, located on the Bay by Ghirardelli Square, and Downtown, established in 1966 in the Tenderloin. Every year over 3,000 participants come through the SFSC’s doors. Our participants range from well or able bodied to very frail or disabled; from the newly retired to octogenarians and centenarians. The population, on average, lives alone or with a family member. 60% of SFSC's attendees are either low income or poverty level as defined by federal standards.

What all of SFSC’s participants have in common is a need for socialization, companionship, and intellectual, physical, and emotional stimulation. SFSC offers a variety of services: Social Services and Case Management; daily, low-cost, nutritious lunches; transitional hospital-to-home care; Senior Literacy; Computer instruction; Continuing Education; and the Always Active Fitness Program. All activities are designed to encourage socialization, independent and active living while preventing isolation.

 Social Work Services: provide comprehensive long and short term case management, intake and assessment, service arrangement, care planning and monitoring, counseling, and referrals; legal assistance; Medicare information provided by HICAP; tax preparation assistance provided by AARP volunteers; and assistance with Social Security and SSI.

 Nutritious meals are provided by Project Open Hand and are served six days per week at Aquatic Park and seven days per week at Downtown.

 The Homecoming Services Program (HSP) is a hospital-to-home transitional care service that bridges the gaps between a hospital discharge and a strong recovery. It is the first one of its kind in San Francisco and combines the best practices and experience of its city wide community partners. Since 2001, the HSP has provided temporary case management, home care assistance, escorts, and in-home personal needs for over 500 frail, low-income, and medically at-risk seniors to secure a safe transition from care facilities to their homes. This cost saving program has decreased rehospitalization in its clients by 50%.

 Senior Literacy Program (SLP): in partnership with the CA Department of Education, the SLP provides basic English reading, writing, and communication skills to seniors who are functionally illiterate in English. The SLP provides free one-to-one tutoring and ESL classes at both SFSC sites, as well as literate life skills classes that teach seniors how to read simple directions, newspapers, navigate public transportation, and use computers and the Internet.

 Computer Learning Labs: computer and Internet classes help seniors stay current with technology and keeps them connected to their community, families, and friends.

 The Chinese and Russian Outreach Program: provides translation services and community resources to seniors who primarily speak Mandarin, Cantonese, and Russian.

 Life Long Learning: provides language study, creative writing, ceramics, painting, photography, chorus, discussion and book groups, Bridge, Mahjong, Chess and other card games, films, dancing, and day trips to cultural and sporting events.

 Volunteer Opportunities at SFSC are available for participants and the community at large. Volunteers work in the thrift stores, at the reception desk, and assist with events, lead group activities, workshops and classes.

 The Aquatic Park Fitness Center is a studio for adults 55+. We provide cost effective fitness and recreation programs that support healthy living for the second half of life. We’re located at the San Francisco Senior Center in the SF Maritime Museum where the water’s edge and views of the Golden Gate bridge provide a beautiful and serene backdrop for our programs. The Always Active and Holistic Health Initiative provides SFSC clients with healthy living programs for the body and soul. They include illness prevention, blood pressure and other medical screenings, and nutrition counseling. In partnership with the San Francisco Bay Club, a premiere, state-of-the-art fitness center, SFSC offers fitness classes, strength training, balance and fall prevention, Tai Chi, Yoga, Qigong, and the Salty Sages and Golden Oars Rowing Teams. Ballroom, folk and line dancing, chair yoga, and gardening are also available.

History:
San Francisco Senior Center (SFSC) was founded in 1947 and is the oldest nonprofit senior center in the nation.

Contact people:

Anne Marino, Development Officer, (phone), (email) Jill Spezzano, Program Specialist, (phone), (email)

Address:

890 Beach St. San Francisco, CA 94109 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.sfsenior.com

Directions:

Nearest Bus Stop: 19, 47, 49, 30, 10

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	18
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	Yes

Last updated on August 6, 2010