1. What is San Francisco Village - Northside?

San Francisco Village is a new membership-based non-profit organization designed to help you remain in your own home or apartment as you age. We do this by providing assistance with practical day-to-day tasks and access to social, cultural, and educational activities, health and wellness programs, and volunteer opportunities. We serve older adults living west of Van Ness and north of Golden Gate Park, in the Richmond, Presidio Terrace, Presidio Heights, Jordan Park, Laurel Heights, Pacific Heights, Western Addition, Japantown, Cow Hollow, and Marina neighborhoods. We are modeled after Beacon Hill Village (www.beaconhillvillage.org), a successful program launched in 2000 by a group of Boston residents.

2. Why is San Francisco Village needed?

San Francisco Village provides an affordable option for people whose greatest wish as they grow older is to remain in the diverse, multi-generational communities they often have lived in for many years – close to the cafes, bookstores, restaurants, churches, and local businesses they know well. San Francisco Village helps older adults continue to “have a place” in their neighborhoods and contribute to the vibrancy of their communities.

3. What are the benefits of being a San Francisco Village member?

As a San Francisco Village member, you have a “home beyond your home” in your neighborhood. Our services include the following:

• One central phone number to reach our knowledgeable Village staff or volunteers for information, services, or screened referrals
• An intake conversation with our trained staff so that we can learn about your goals, interests, concerns, and needs
• Access to pre-screened vendors and to a member-only database to search for screened service providers
• Access to a member-only website to connect with other members
• Both free and fee-based services to help you with day-to-day tasks as well as provide opportunities for you to stay active and engaged and be connected to others in a variety of ways.

Free services include:

• Volunteer transportation assistance
• Connections with individuals willing to talk about their own experiences, e.g. travel, volunteering, work, health care, moving, caregiving, adjusting to the death of a spouse/partner, etc.
• Staff or volunteer assistance in creating Share The Care groups
• Phone check-in calls (requested)
• Home safety and emergency preparedness reviews
• Participation in Village-sponsored classes, exercise groups, and social and cultural activities
• Member-only special events
• Our monthly calendar and regular newsletter
• Extensive volunteer opportunities with San Francisco Village as well as with other organizations

Fee-based services include:

• Minimum cost assistance with specific tasks such as personal transportation, grocery shopping, petwalking, etc.
• Prepared meals
• Home repair
• Computer assistance
• Home modification consultation and planning
• Health and in-home care assessment
• Care management
• Access to medical and non-medical home health care
• Financial and retirement planning
• Long term care insurance consultation
• Participation in partners’ programs
• Transportation for social and cultural events and outings

4. What are the annual membership dues?

Dues are $750 for a one-person household and $1,000 for a two-person household. Additional memberships in the same household are $250 each.

5. What does the intake conversation consist of?

Each new member meets with San Francisco Village staff or a trained volunteer to learn about your needs, concerns, interests, and questions. All confidential information is protected and made available to staff or your surrogate when needed. Members with more advanced needs will receive a complimentary in-home assessment from a nurse, social worker or gerontologist, provided by our partner Sage Eldercare Solutions. This assessment covers health, safety, nutrition, psycho-social, emotional, and a range of other issues.

6. What if I’d like help arranging services that involve a fee?

Your San Francisco Village membership gives you access to a wide range of providers offering everything from transportation to home repair to computer assistance to house cleaning and more. We have pre-screened these providers so you don’t have to and we have made arrangement with many of them to provide discounts to San Francisco Village members.

San Francisco Village staff can help coordinate these services for you or you can contact the providers yourself to make your own arrangements.

7. San Francisco has lots of organizations that serve older adults. Are you working with them?

Absolutely! We are developing partnerships with the Institute on Aging, the Institute for Health & Healing, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Northern California Presbyterian Homes and Services, RENEW, UCSF, and the San Francisco Community Living Campaign, and others. Our goal is to make it easy for our members to learn about and use these services rather than duplicating them.

8. What are some examples of how members use San Francisco Village services?

Members use services differently, depending on their needs. Members who live alone might find our social, cultural, and educational activities most appealing. Members with some physical limitations might use our volunteer or fee-based transportation service to help with grocery shopping and medical appointments. A member returning home after a hospitalization might need help lining up in-home services, such as hiring a caregiver. Still another might need a fellow member’s help to change a change light bulb.

9. What roles do volunteers play in San Francisco Village?

San Francisco Village is truly a program “of, by, and for” the people who are part of it and it is our members who make it strong and successful. We want volunteers to help run the Village, by helping with administrative tasks, organizing outings, leading book clubs, etc. We also know that while most members will need help at some point, everyone also has something to give. We encourage members to help each other, and ask all new members to tell us about the talents, skills, and interests they have and can share with the Village and with other members.

10. What if I need something that is not on the list of services?

Ask us! We’ll help you find what you need.

11. I am in good health. Why should I join San Francisco Village now?

Many people see their memberships in San Francisco as an insurance policy of sorts. By joining now, you can take part in the activities that appeal to you today. If you break your hip tomorrow, you can be assured that you will have help coming back home after your hospital stay, and the support of San Francisco Village volunteers and staff as you recuperate. San Francisco Village helps you be prepared for the unexpected while giving you a sense of belonging to a group and remaining connected to your community.

12. What are the payment options?

Members may pay annually or monthly, by check or credit card.

13. Can I buy a membership for my parents?

We encourage you to! This is a thoughtful gift for parents’ birthdays or for the holidays. Your parents can then use San Francisco Village services when they wish, and you have the peace of mind knowing your parents have access to assistance should they need it.