Seniors At Home - San Francisco, California

Cindy Bishop

My dear mother Betty Levin, of blessed memory, was visited faithfully almost every week for six years by Henry Lasky, of blessed memory, a volunteer for Seniors at Home, often with his therapy dog Sophie. My mother was blind, became increasingly less independent during those years, began experiencing some dementia, and was helped immeasurably by the gift of those visits. Her friendship with Henry was one of the highlights of her life, and went a long way towards mitigating the considerable challenges she faced losing her eyesight, losing some of her memory, and establishing a new home (she moved to California to live closer to family). Through Seniors at Home and Henry's visits, Mom had much joy in her life and and felt deeply valued and seen, because she was. Our family will be forever grateful.

Nancy E

I've been a volunteer with Seniors at Home Palliative Care program for 8 years and have watched their caregivers up close with clients. It's not easy to maintain patience with elderly clients with dementia. Some of these caregivers border on sainthood. They are the ones I'd call for my loved ones were they to need help at home. The agency does a masterful job of unwinding the complications of coordinating help during stressful times.

Jan Bowman

I contacted Seniors at Home when my 86 year-old mother’s dementia became so impactful that it was clear that soon she’d need more care in our home than we could handle. I dreaded the evaluation suggested by Seniors At Home as my mother views needing help as an insult, as she does the facts of aging themselves. Further, many speak to the elderly condescendingly, which my mother detects and hates. Andrea Korusunsky came out to evaluate my mother. Andrea was respectful, aware of my mother’s strengths as well as her deficits, humorous and very knowledgeable. My mother loved her and so did I. We thought we had a little time before engaging someone, but a few months later my mother became ill rapidly and almost died. While she was in the ICU, we knew it wouldn’t be safe for my mother to remain in our home without the degree of care that would rapidly have drained her and then our resources. I called Andrea and she coached us in how to deal with hospital, which wanted to discharge my mother to our care -- a disastrous option even had we been able to be with her 24/7. Andrea identified what turned out to be the perfect assisted living center, Rhoda Goldman Plaza (RGP), for my mother. Andrea coached us as to what info RGP would need to place our mother appropriately, to accomplish it rapidly, and to make sure the hospital bureaucracy did not discharge my mother until she was accepted at RGP, which involved keeping her in the hospital a few more days. Andrea did all this during the last week before her maternity leave, taking calls on the weekend and evenings, coming to the hospital to help us with my mom’s evaluation by RGP. She went above and beyond. I have also dealt with others at Seniors at Home when I needed transport for a doctor’s appointment to which I couldn’t drive my mother. They were accommodating and willing to try to help with a last minute request. We are so grateful we found Andrea and Seniors at Home and couldn’t recommend her and them more highly.

Cheri O'Neil

From Phyllis Friedman
Dear Seniors At Home,

Judy Ruga has been my caregiver since June of 2015. She is a superb caregiver.

She is clean, cheerful and always willing to help me. And even when I don’t ask she is close by and ready to assist me.

She prepares delicious and varied foods for me. She encourages me to exercise but she retreats when she senses I need to be alone; maybe I need to nap. Maybe I need to be quiet to read or read my emails.

I feel safe and content with Judy. She makes suggestions and so I engage in games or exercise or just conversation with her/ with friends/
with one lone visitor.

Judy is prompt and I can rely on her. She will come on time and is ready and eager to take care of me.

She has a grand sense of humor. She is smart and often explains the results of the movie we are watching together.

I look forward to her being with me. She is a jolly, competent and sensitive lady in my home.

From the first day she arrived I have enjoyed her companionship.
Thank you for assigning her to me.

Sincerely,

Phyllis Friedman
October 23rd, 2017

Alla Gladysheva

We have received so much care, love, and support from our Social worker Victoria! She is an amazing professional and amazing human being. We have learned from her how to really care for our senior folks, she became a real friend to us and to them. If I would be able to double the stars, I would do so without hesitation.
This is a great program and it needs to be supported by all means.

Zen PowerFitness

A place bringing heart and soul back into healthcare. Highly highly recommend participation in the Palliative Care Volunteer Program.

Amy DiLaura

Christine Coleman