Two older adults who participate in the Caring Rides program with the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa share a hug on an outside walk. [Photo credit: Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa]
From Mill Valley to Calistoga, North Bay seniors are improving their mental and physical well-being by taking time to enjoy and listen to one another. Having safe, open spaces that celebrate diversity and inclusivity helps older adults face down many hurdles, including medical concerns and differences in socioeconomic backgrounds.
“The idea is to create a road map for what you want to do with the rest of your life,” says Cynthia Gregory, executive director of the Village Network of Petaluma. “Older adults who come to programs and events tailored to them learn they have options and a community. We advocate motivating people so they are excited to make friends.”
The Village Network, a nonprofit that offers social programs for adults 55 and over, is one of many organizations across the North Bay that coordinates activities between its members and with other entities, such as senior centers, libraries, service organizations like Rotary clubs and chambers of commerce.
The links between nonprofits, educational institutions, local businesses, libraries and senior centers is critical to establishing spaces that are secular and welcome seniors from all backgrounds. It can be particularly important to open the door to older adults such as LGBTQIA+ individuals and Spanish-preferring speakers, who face barriers that relate to language and prejudice.
“We’ve learned that people come for different reasons, from eating lunch to finding space to be creative to making friends. Ultimately, what matters is that they walk through the door,” says Stacie Morales, executive director of Vintage House Senior Center in Sonoma.
The first time an older adult comes to Vintage House, they can be a little quiet. A staff member will show them around and answer their questions.
“When they come in the next time, they’re standing taller. After a week or two, it’s like they’ve been here forever. When we see them answering a newcomer’s questions, those are the moments that my staff and I smile at each other,” says Morales.
Understanding the role of senior centers
Senior centers are community spaces where older adults can come to learn, interact and access services like meals and fitness classes. Some senior centers are nonprofit organizations, while others are run by city governments, usually with parks and recreation department funds. Senior centers can offer their own programs and host those offered by other organizations.
The Healdsburg Senior Center, which is run by the Community Services Department of the City of Healdsburg, has become an important space for older adults in northern Sonoma County to become engaged.
Staff at the center often use icebreakers at events to introduce newcomers. These range from one-to-one introductions between people who have the same name to inviting people of different ages to share a table during Bistro, a free to $5 meal program held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
“You can break bread with anyone. Offering meals also helps older adults who don’t have the resources or stamina to cook an entire meal. We usually average 20 to 45 people per meal,” says Grant.
Since 2019, the Healdsburg Senior Center has seen its membership increase by 56%. Grant is now seeing “junior seniors” in their mid-60s coming to events.
“Finally, the ‘silver tsunami’ that was predicted is here. We see people from 60s to 90s share tables and talk,” says Grant.
It can be a challenge to create programs for people from different generations. The three generations of older adults in the North Bay are the Silent Generation, born between 1928 and 1945, baby boomers, between 1946 and 1964, and Generation X, born from 1965 to 1980.
“You’re trying to serve widely different demographics, folks who love the Glenn Miller Orchestra, those who like Bob Marley and the Wailers and those who enjoy Metallica. It helps to ask people what they prefer,” says Grant.
One of the most successful social events is a birthday club with cake and ice cream. This occasion celebrates everyone with a birthday that month.
Grant has found older adults from all income levels and backgrounds are looking for friends.
“There are those who are financially secure, but all their family members work. Without us, they’d spend a lot of time alone. Then there are those with less financial resources who are still working but want to relax with people their own age. Everyone gains by coming here,” says Grant.
Katie Davis, executive director of the Sebastopol Area Senior Center (SASC), says popular programs for multiple generations in West County include ride-sharing services, fitness classes, lunches, film nights and classes offered by the center or lifelong learning programs.
“In 2023, we had 24,000 sign-ins for different programs. We offered programs to 2,300 individuals,” says Davis.
Approximately 2,000 sign-ins were for LGBTQIA+ services. SASC’s queer-oriented programs include potlucks and caravan day trips and gay-men’s and lesbian-women’s support groups. These groups hold mixers, walks and happy hours.
SASC also keeps seniors connected to friends and family far away. Volunteers offer one-on-one technology tutoring to teach older adults how to use smartphones and laptops. SASC often sees attendees travel considerable distances to come to its programs, from Cazadero to Petaluma.
“We partner with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office to check in on seniors during and after natural disasters. We also check on older adults experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity on a regular basis,” says Emily Heinzelman, director of senior services, crisis support and employment services for West County Community Services (WCCS).
The Russian River Senior Center has its own van, so it offers transport for trips and errands. These range from getting groceries to traveling to San Francisco for Broadway shows.
Social interaction helps older adults relax after dealing with issues like clean-up and repairs after floods. Heinzelman says the Russian River Senior Center refers its most vulnerable members to Third Street House, a West County Health Center facility where some WCCS staff is co-located. The building offers free showers, assistance with obtaining medications and meals beyond the senior center’s four weekday lunches.
Models for outreach, from city to country
In San Rafael, Vivalon’s Healthy Aging Campus shows how a community hub can be a “one-stop shop for older adults.”
Vivalon, formerly known as Whistlestop, is a Marin County nonprofit that serves older adults and people with disabilities. The organization opened the Healthy Aging Campus in downtown San Rafael in January 2024. The six-story campus contains a cafe, fitness center, medical clinic, technology center and art studio, as well as 66 units of affordable housing.
“Having a campus like this helps us serve older adults better. They quickly become familiar with the resources we offer,” says Joe O’Hehir, interim CEO of Vivalon.
Vivalon provides almost all of its programs in Spanish. Its resource center counselors speak Spanish too.
“The Spanish-speaking population is the fastest growing segment of our senior population. Vivalon also has support groups and other programs for LGBTQIA+ individuals. This is partly because the Spahr Center, the primary Marin County nonprofit to serve the LGBTQIA+ population, closed in February 2024,” says O’Hehir.
Vivalon, which offers rides to older adults throughout Marin County, is brainstorming ways to address social isolation in Marin’s smaller cities. The lack of appropriate and affordable housing in Marin County is part of the problem.
In the Sonoma Valley, Vintage House sees over 2,000 people a month walk through its doors. Some travel from distant locations, like Petaluma and Napa. This senior center offers over 60 classes a week. It is the only senior center between Kenwood and Schellville.
Close to 61% of the center’s classes are physical activities like yoga, strengthening and dance classes. The center also offers art, music, ukulele, bridge, German, Spanish, French, Italian classes, as well as lectures from experts on a variety of art and science topics.
One of Vintage House’s most popular programs is its Friday “Soup’s On” event, in which local chefs make soup for a crowd of between 85 and 160 people. Basque Boulangerie Café in Sonoma donates the bread.
Vintage House is now partnering with local businesses and nonprofits to encourage older adults to visit locations beyond the senior center.
“We offer aqua fitness classes in partnership with Sonoma Splash, a local nonprofit aquatics center located in the City of Sonoma, and photography classes at Sonoma Botanical Gardens. Transcendence Theatre Company has put on special performances at Vintage House, which underlies the strength of our partnerships. All of this gets seniors out into the community to explore,” says Morales.
In Napa Valley, connecting older adults requires collaboration with cities.
Jenny Ocon is the executive director of UpValley Family Centers, a social services nonprofit that serves Calistoga, St. Helena, Angwin and Pope Valley.
“There is no senior center in Calistoga. That’s part of the reason we offer services in that city,” says Ocon. “The City of Calistoga provides us with some funding in recognition of the need for services to be provided locally.”
In mountainous areas, outreach depends on word of mouth.
“Community members often refer neighbors to us,” says Lupe Maldonado, program director for the Family and Senior Wellness Program of UpValley Family Centers. “We partner with everyone, from schools who serve as distribution sites for gift card distribution during disasters to local food banks who distribute resources to people in need. That helps us learn which older adults may want to come to our programs,”
It usually takes time and positive experiences to build trust. UpValley welcomes Spanish-preferring clients by sharing information in Spanish language printed materials and having bilingual staff at events.
“Yet often getting older adults to come back is about offering resources that they need, like vouchers for rental assistance or rides for doctor’s appointments, right in their community and from someone [with whom] they’ve built a relationship,” says Ocon.
Since there is no public transportation in the mountainous areas, roundtrips to St. Helena and Calistoga are very welcome.
Free rides and a bit of socialization is also the aim of Caring Rides, a program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa that serves Santa Rosa residents. This program aims to help seniors stay active and feel engaged and connected to their community.
Jennielynn Holmes, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, says Caring Rides helps prevent isolation and ensure seniors are present for important medical appointments. She says approximately 22% of Catholic Charities’ clients are over 60.
“We also run another program called Caring Voices (CV) in Sonoma County. CV involves volunteers calling homebound seniors on a daily basis. The contact helps ensure older adults are not experiencing emergencies and get to hear the same friendly voices,” says Holmes.
Both Catholic Charities programs rely on volunteers.
“Many of our volunteers are seniors as well. Getting involved to help people in their age bracket in the community gives them a sense of purpose and engagement,” says Holmes.
The importance of education
Educational workshops and classes offer chances to learn new information and discuss it with others. This is typically a sure bet to draw older adults. There are multiple programs in the North Bay that provide such opportunities, from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Sonoma State University to activities offered by Village Network’s different groups.
The Emeritus Students College of Marin (ESCOM) provides an avenue for active adults to connect through approximately over 20 free clubs that meet at College of Marin’s Kentfield and Indian Valley campuses. Some clubs also meet online, says Leonard Weingarten, vice president of the ESCOM Council, the governing body for ESCOM.
“As of fall 2024, we have about 3,100 members. We partner with outside organizations such as Book Passage in Corte Madera to invite authors and distinguished leaders for talks. We also work with the Marin Commission on Aging, which is associated with Marin County’s Health and Human Services Department, to offer free computer and technology-oriented workshops,” says Weingarten.
ESCOM makes it possible for older adults to support College of Marin’s students by sharing their time, experience and commitment.
Santa Rosa Junior College’s (SRJC’s) Lifelong Learning program, formerly the Older Adults program, connects seniors through a wide variety of free, non-credit courses.
“In fall 2024, community members could sign up for 96 classes. We had about 2,900 enrolled. Some classes are online, but many are in-person. Most of the classes focus on art, writing, genealogy, fitness and discussions of topics like current events,” says Kelly Mayes, coordinator of SRJC’s Lifelong Learning program.
Some classes focus on new topics, like LGBTQIA+ history, vinyl classics—which involves listening and discussing classic records—and banned books, which involves reading and discussing controversial books.
Classes for adults can also take place in libraries. The Sonoma County Library engages many older adults through virtual and in-person book clubs, author talks, genealogy and history presentations and educational workshops with third parties such as the League of Women Voters.
“In addition, we also offer intergenerational recreational activities like cooking classes. This year, our squash blossom quesadilla class was a favorite. It provided a way for grandparents to connect with their adult children and young grandchildren,” says Aleta Dimas, adult services administrator for the Sonoma County Library.
The BiblioBus, a mobile library that makes stops at senior centers and senior housing communities, draws many older adults searching for new books.
“People often come with their friends. There’s camaraderie built around these visits,” says Dimas.
Libraries are always looking for ways to support individuals with memory issues. One method is Memory Kits, a project that is a component of the partnership between the Sonoma County Library and the Mendocino County Library.
Learning can happen in social clubs as well. SIR, a nonprofit public benefit corporation, is a social organization that has chapters throughout California. Every chapter of the organization is open only to men. The exception is Chapter 92 of SIR, in Oakmont, which also welcomes women.
Marianne Neufeld, who serves as President of SIR 92, says the organization frequently invites speakers to talk about subjects ranging from autism to nature.
“We have about 75 members, who love to get together, talk and plan outings, like to the 6th Street Playhouse. I’ve seen attendance at a SIR talk lead to friendships form outside the presentation room,” says Neufeld.
Seniors often enjoy learning from one another. At LGBTQ Connection’s center in Napa, between four to six queer seniors gather every month to interact with peers.
“Safety is an important topic. People share how to come out late in life, to their doctor, family members and new friends. There’s so much to learn and it takes time to build trust. That’s why we sit together and learn about each other’s lives. Then we can understand what to teach each other,” says Coach Bailie, Napa program director for LGBTQ Connection.
A number of programs for older adults focus on promoting good health. Avoiding falls is an important topic, says Denise Johnson, director of senior nutrition and health services for Council on Aging in Santa Rosa.
“We offer fall-prevention and aging-in-place programs and many other services, like Meals on Wheels and senior peer support. We hold these programs at senior centers, low-income housing community rooms and in households of homebound seniors,” says Johnson.
It is helpful to hold the program in a person’s living space because many high-risk seniors are homebound and cannot drive or easily walk to their residence community rooms. The Council on Aging sends a trained employee to participants’ homes twice a week. Seniors are assessed for mobility, flexibility and strength. The staff then create a customized exercise plan to address each participant’s specific needs.
“Overall, the Council on Aging’s programs serve close to 6,500 seniors a year. Most of our programs have waitlists showing the need for these services. The only program without a waitlist is congregate [group] dining,” says Johnson.
She attributes this to the fact that many seniors continue to exercise caution in group settings.
Learning from the pandemic
As North Bay organizations move forward in encouraging seniors to socialize, they are keeping in mind that the COVID-19 pandemic has had lasting effects on older adults’ mental and physical health. Successful strategies depend on organizations sharing what works and what does not.
Dr. John Newman, an assistant professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato, says the COVID-19 virus killed millions of people. A degree of isolation and protection was necessary.
“Given that [isolation] was important—and for some people it still is—reducing the risk of getting infected involves avoiding large crowds and being careful about interactions,” says Newman.
“Social connectedness and physical and mental activity are really important to the health of older adults. We know that older adults who are socially isolated, or who are lonely, their health is worse off in very quantifiable ways,” says Newman.
Four years in, it is hard for many seniors to continue utilizing strategies that worked in the early years of the pandemic, like long walks. This is because it is difficult to change long-held habits and older adults tend to face greater mobility challenges as they age.
Finding reasons to meet friends, especially outdoors, is one of the best ways to promote mental and physical health, says Dr. Wynnelena Canio, a geriatric medicine specialist with Kaiser Permanente in San Rafael.
“Going for a short walk with a friend, shopping, or having lunch somewhere special all encourage older adults to leave the house, feel happy and become more physically healthy. Even coming to a community or health center class like Kaiser’s “Memory Fitness” is beneficial,” says Canio.
She says classes like “Memory Fitness”—which discuss the link between socialization and aging—give older adults many tools to remain well. Participants leave the class with a fuller understanding of the links between actions like strength training and memory retention.
“In addition, people end up forming groups in the class. That’s one of the most uplifting things to see, older adults creating happy memories as they learn how their brain works. We usually watch them continue to find support and offer support themselves through keeping in touch with the friends they’ve made,” says Canio.
