Many of them are also isolated with few family or friends. But through the work of our social workers and other TNDC staff, we make “aging in place” a reality for many who would otherwise be subject to public facilities that are costly to taxpayers and demoralizing to residents.
TNDC helps seniors achieve independent living through a combination of on-site staff assistance and linkages to available community services. Some resources that our seniors benefit from are:
- Home delivered meals from such organizations as Meals on Wheels, Meals That Heal, and Project Open Hand.
- Assisted shopping trips, doctor visits, and a myriad of other services that maintain an older person’s independence and sense of dignity.
- Assistance in managing finances.
- Visits from public health nurses.
- Care for the terminally ill.
- Links to places like the Senior Survival School, where seniors learn about housing, in-home supportive services, health care, transit services, and other community resources.
- Educational opportunities, such as computer classes allowing seniors to access the world through their fingertips on the Internet.
- Home housekeeping services.
- Laundry assistance.
And to further our reach to seniors, TNDC has started an exciting new development project—in joint venture with Citizens Housing Corporation—by acquiring the property at 999 Geary Street. This facility is slated to provide 130 additional housing units for low- to very- low income seniors seeking supportive housing or independent living. On-site services with links to off-site resources will then enable the elderly residents to maintain stability in their home environment as they age.
990 Geary will also include ground floor retail space, a residential lobby, on-site parking, a community room, and property management staff offices. A second story outdoor deck will provide additional community and open space.
Finally, the development will contribute to ongoing revitalization efforts of the Lower Polk Street area, including public safety and street improvements, by creating a stable residential development at a main intersection. It will preserve housing opportunities within the neighborhood as well by stabilizing housing at the perimeter.
While we are proud of this project and all that we’re doing, the need to do more is always there. For every senior we assist, there are many more people outside our reach who require the same kind of assistance. That’s why TNDC is focused on providing more housing and more services to people in need—including San Francisco’s lowest-income seniors.