Furry Friends volunteers and their pets visit people in variety of settings, including assisted living communities, nursing homes, and hospital rehabilitation wards. All volunteers, animals included, undergo an evaluation and training before visiting facilities.

The Humane Society of Sonoma County has over two hundred volunteers that help implement services for seniors and the infirm. The Society's active pet-assisted therapy program is available to residents of retirement homes, convlescent hospitals and other care facilities.

The award-winning SHARE (Special Human-Animal Relationships) program helps seniors and people with AIDS who live at home with their animal companions. The program offers dog obedience classes for seniors and their canine companions, conducts pet adoptions for home-bound individuals, brings animals to visit facilities and provides pet care assistance. Some of the services include dog-walking, pet grooming or transporting pets to the groomers or vet, and delivering free pet food and supplies to SHARE clients.

The San Francisco SPCA's Animal Assisted Therapy Program brings the healing presence of animals to people in health care facilities citywide. Society volunteers take their own pets on the visits: dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits-even cats.

Jeanne Rose is a renowned Bay Area aromatherapist, teacher and author of nineteen books on herbs and aromatherapy. Her application of aromatherapy to quell anger, aggression, mood swings, confusion and combativeness is useful for clients with various disorders, including forms of dementia. Jeanne has created an assortment of blends specifically for individuals suffering from Alzheimer's. She designs aromatic blends for personal use, and instructs individuals and businesses in the art of growing appropriate plants and distilling true essential oils. Jeanne consults with professional and family caregivers.

Art Spark brings expressive and innovative activities to homebound seniors. With a background in social work, geriatrics, education and the arts, its practitioners have extensive experience working with older adults. Through activities such as painting, building collages and scrapbooks, and movement with music, Art Spark practitioners provide companionship to the homebound elderly. The projects bolster seniors' self-esteem and cognitive function while promoting new interests-important areas that are often overlooked, even when a person is receiving otherwise excellent care.

CEYA coordinates projects for seniors and youth to collaborate on, under the instruction of professional artists. Both groups benefit from the collaboration, not only through their creations, but also through the bonds they form with one another. The team effort builds seniors' self-esteem by allowing them to become a valuable resource for the young people, and the youth are often able to satisfy a range of learning requirements set forth by the school districts. CEYA programming is available in schools, senior establishments and at other selet sites.

The two-person staff of InnerVoice has nine years of experience engaging individuals with Alzheimer's and dementia through art and poetry classes, which are tailored to the specific needs of people with diminishing mental and physical capacities. InnerVoice appeals to strudents' highest creative poetential by soliciting their personal experiences through drawings, poems, stories and discussion. In addition to leading classes, InnerVoice staff also creates projects for caregivers to implement. Whether in a group setting or one-on-one, teaching Alzheimer's clients or stressed caregivers, InnerVoice fosters a communal atmospher, emphasizing tolerance and support for individual differences.

Photozig develops innovative therapies, based on digital photography, to facilitate the care of elderly persons and individuals with special needs. The National Institute on Aging funded one research project known as Lifezig, which incorporated digital photos and music in reminiscence activities. Photozig also develops Alzheimer's programs applying digital technology. Organizations and individuals who are interested can contact Photozig for potential participation in research projects.

Storyzon is a company which brings family and personal histories to the printed page. Through conversations and recordings, Storyzon's experienced and multi-lingual interviewers collect and craft the history of an individual, a family or even a company. The result is refined by Storyzon's editors, writers and designers, and published as a high-quality, professional book which can include photos or other significant documents within. Custom-tailoring each book is a specialty of Storyzon. Storyzon's philosophy is to produce works that will both capture the imagination of the reader and put forth the intention and narrative voice of the client, and the quality is always guaranteed.

Cristina Flores is a registered nurse with a master's degree in gerontology. Her education and extensive experience with seniors make her one of the most capable and knowledgeabel owner-administrators in the board and care field. She is also the executive director. Cristina runs five homes in San Mateo and San Bruno.

The administrator, Lorna Farol, is a registered nurse who is highly skilled at dealing with difficult situations. She runs four homes in San Francisco and accepts both ambulatory and non-ambulatory individuals.

Joyce McGriff runs Margie's Care Homes. There are two locations in San Francisco. Her soothing yet confident manner make family members feel at ease, knowing their loved one will receive the highest level of care and attention at either one of these board and care homes.

Peachie Nacario's effervescent and energetic manner spill over into the care she provides to her board and care residents. Her creativity helps her not only to come up with unique and engaging actvities, but also to problem solve. Peachie is excellent at communicating clearly with all members of the professional team as well as family members. Peachie runs five homes in San Francisco.

Patrick Nobis' involvement with the San Francisco Association of Residential Care Homes (ARC) led to his position as a mentor to many of the City's current board and care home administrators. All of his board and cares are clean, well-run and homey. They are managed by his wife and daughter, Carole and Laura Nobis. They have seven homes throughout San Francisco, South San Francisco and San Bruno.

Virginia Bell and David Troxel's four guidebooks assist professional and family caregivers in caring for individuals with Alzheimer's. The books educate caregivers on how to offer emotional support and promote communication and positive behavior. One of the books outlines approximately 150 activities geared specifically toward people with Alzheimer's. Another book aims to improve Alzheimer's care by assisting facilities in recruiting and training staff.

CCT trains informal caregivers in its free classes that emphasize the practical skills and strategies needed to provide care for a loved one at home. The classes are taught by a volunteer faculty comprised of doctors, nurses, physical therapies, social workers, lawyers and funeral directors. Classes are held in various locations and are also available online.

Four times per year, Family Caregiver Alliance hosts Camp for Caring, a two-day retreat for adults with Alzheimer's or other adult-onset cognitive impairments. A weekend of stimulating activities such as arts, music and gentle sports are offered to campers, leaving their caregivers free to take a much-needed break. Conversely, caregivers get their turn at the retreat center twice a year during FCA's Caregiver Retreat, FCA helps make it possible for caregivers to attend by helping find and fund respite care for the caregiver's loved ones during the retreat. Activities at the Caregiver Retreat include workshops, support groups, arts, massage therapy, games and other forms of entertainment.

The MedicalView website provides links to interactive programs that address a wealth of medical issues, including cancer, multiple sclerosis and heart attacks. The site offers a comprehensive list of short informational programs that answer questions pertaining to specific medical conditions. Web audiences click on the queries to receive detailed responses from medical specialists.

Owner Betty Burr has over twenty-five years of experience in helping people realize their potential. She is passionate about working with caregivers and addressing their special needs; one of her areas of expertise includes helping caregivers make a life plan to achieve their goals. Betty is also skilled in career transitions and retirement planning. As a graduate of the Gerontology program at SFSU, she is especially attuned to aging issues. She is also a member of the International Coaches Federation, American Society for Training and Development and Northern California Human Resources Association, and she has taught on the extension faculties of San Francisco and San Jose State Universities.

For over twenty years, John Jeffery has guided caregivers toward self-understanding and personal growth. Since 1995, John has co-led the Family Caregiver Alliance Retreat. He conducts workshops on grief and loss for male caregivers through the Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center in Sacramento an dis spiritual chaplain for the hospice program at Kaiser Permanente. John has a Master's degree in divinity and theology and is available for workshops, seminars and individual consultation. A sliding fee scale is available.

Elder Wisdom Circle is web-based nonprofit organization of volunteers, sixty and older, who offer practical advice on a broad range of topics—from gardening and personal goals to major life changes. The organization encourages seniors to share their experiences in ways that not only empower those in need but also reinforce their own roles as leaders within their communities. Seniors may participate from the privacy of their homes or in groups within their long-term care settings.

Maureen Samsn has twenty years' experience serving seniors in a variety of roles. In her private practice, Maureen counsels seniors and caregivers in a support group setting as well as on an individual basis. Maureen accepts Medicare and other insurances, and even makes home visits. For twelve years, she was a case manager at Jewish Family and Children's Services, where she also supervised their conservatorship program. In addition to her counseling skills, she is adept at offering advice on planning for long-term care.

OAFC, a program of Stanford University and the VA Palo Alto, offers free programs to caregivers of people with memory loss, supporting them in a variety of languages: English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese. The support groups offered by OAFC are a popular feature of the programming.

Robert Sarison is in private practice psychotherapy, specializing in families and couples therapy. He has extensive experience with senior-related topics such as eldercare, chronic illness and placement issues. Robert's involvement in the long-term care community includes his role as the program manager for the respected Irene Swindells Alzheimer's Residential Care Program at CPMC in San Francisco.

Robyn Yale has over twenty years of experience in the fields of Aging and Alzheimer's disease. She is a leading expert, educator and advocate in the field of early dementia. In 2002, she received the MindAlert Award from the American Society on Aging. Robyn provides counseling, consultation and care management services to people with early-stage dementia and their families. Her support groups for assisted living residents address memory loss, dealing with emotional reactions, problem-solving, coping with change an planning for the future. Her approach enhances residents' quality of life, potentially extending their stay. Consultation and training is available for professionals in the industry.

Dr. Patrick Arbore, Ed.D., the 1988 recipient of the American Society on Aging award for outstanding contributions in the field of aging, is the founder of Friendship Line for the Elderly. An expert with more than thirty years of experience in the areas of aging, grief and crisis intervention, he is a noted workshop leader and lecturer, speaking on such issues as crisis, depression and despair in the elderly.

SFSP was founded in 1963, making it the oldest crisis line run by volunteers in the U.S. While suicide prevention is an important part of what they do, they also offer more general counseling services. Over 150 trained volunteers are supervised by a small staff, working rotating shifts in four program areas which operate hotlines on a 24-hour basis.

The Blende Dental Group cares for the phobic and disabled communities, including individuals with Alzheimer's. With more than twenty years of experience in Sedation Dentistry, Sleep Dentistry, and Hospital Dentistry using General Anesthesia, Dr. Blende's group is committed to patient comfort and safety. Dr. Blende is chief of the Dental Division at California Pacific Medical Center hospital in San Francisco, and has extensive experience providing comprehensive dental care in hospital settings as well as private practice. He is a member of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, former chairman of the California Dental Association's Council on Scientific Affairs and Research, and former president of the French Foundation for Medical Research and Education.

BAPTA's team of assessment specialists provide expert psychological and neuropsychological testing. Their accurate assessment of cognitive functioning and psychological diagnostics have been important for Bay Area professionals working with specific populations, including those with forms of dementia. BAPTA provides diagnoses and measures the clinical severity of numerous behavioral and cognitive disrders. State-of-the-art assessments ensure that decisions about patients and family members are based on a thorough knowledge of individual strengths and weaknesses. BAPTA develops highly individualized recommendations based on the resuls of ease case.

The San Francisco Alzheimer's and Dementia Clinic is one of the few clinical institutions in the U.S. devoted to the investigation, diagnosis, treatment and management of Alzheimer's Disease. The clinic is directed by Jerome Goldstein, M.D., a board-certified medical neurologist and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. The clinic applies a compassionate medical philosophy to its approach, which includes blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing for Alzheimer's and dementia. The clinic also provides continuing care for its patients. The staff keeps abreast of continuing research and advances in Alzheimer's and dementia treatment, which is reflected in their evolving philosophy and care.

Growth House is a website that provides resources for life-threatening illnesses and end-of-life care. Its mission is to improve the quality of information and resources for this population. Growth House's network serves an international consortium of health organizations, which hosts a discussion forum for over 18,000 professionals. The website explains major issues in hospice and home care, pain management, grief, and death with dignity. It also offers disease-specific interviews and guides, and maintains an online bookstore. Growth House Radio is a unique online entertainment service that offers a unique mix of music and educational features on end-of-life care.

Living/Dying was founded in 1977 by Stephen Levine, the author of "Who Dies?", the internationally acclaimed book about issues surrounding death. The Project offers support programs for terminally ill clients and their caregivers.

Music-thanatology is a field of end-of-life care. Not attached to any religion, it addresses the spiritual and physical needs of the dying through attentive presence and music. Kelly Lockwood, the founder of Night Song, is a graduate of The Chalice of Repose project, the U.S. training center for music-thanatology. In this form of care which uses harp and voice, themusic is "prescriptive," in that factors such as the emotional state, breath, pulse, diagnosis and pain level of the dying person are carefully responded to by the type of music played and way in which it is played. Kelly works with the Bay Area End-of-Life Network, Hospice By The Bay and UCSF, as well as serving an appreciative private clientele.

Sweet Home Estate Liquidation provides complete estate liquidation services within the Bay Area, from an initial consultation, to preparing an itemized inventory, to the final sale. Their staff has extensive experience with both small and large estates.

Life Management Associates provide quality care and financial management services to elderly and disabled people. They also assist professionals serving this clientele in making important decisions reguarding health, financial and legal matters. The founder, Barbara Held-deVries, LCSW, MPA, is the former director of Geriatric Mental Health Services for Alameda County. She has over twenty years of experience in the field of social service, which includes both clinical and managerial positions in several organizations.

Susan Ford acts as a private fiduciary, monitoring the daily financial affairs and reviewing the overall financial situation of her clients. Her services include investment monitoring and overseeing contract obligations, property management and proper insurance coverage. Susan maintains payment schedules, cash flow, records for tax purposes and provides general financial counsel to her clientele.

Forty-Plus Fitness provides healthy older adults the opportunity to improve their overall fitness and well-being. The group exercise component focuses on making fitness fun, through creative use of age-appropriate popular music and TheraBand stretching. The Big Band Workout, Bandstand Workout movement and Memories, and Rock, Roll, and Remember are currently staples of the group exercise programming at a number of assisted living facilities and other senior communities.

For individuals, Forty-Plus Fitness offers annual assessments, individual exercise "prescriptions" and personal training. Participants undergo blood lipid and glucose analysis, dietary evaluation and body composition assessment. The information obtained from these assessments is used to develop personal exercise regimes. All personal fitness training sessions are instructed by exercise professionals and certified instructors.

Karin Schmidt and Hailee Bland-Walsh, the founders of Urban Recess, are available for personal fitness training and pilates instruction. Both instructors are well-versed in seniors' physical issues. Urban Recess incorporates balance and strength training techniques that are appropraite and beneficial for older adults. Safety is their top priority.

Montefiore, a division of the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF) offers a plethora of engaging opportunities for older adults, including: ongoing education classes, lectures and presentations, holiday celebrations, movie viewings, social interest clubs and more. The kosher lunch program serves hot meals five days a week in a social setting, where participants can benefit from complimentary blood pressure readings and weekly nutrition seminars.

New Leaf Outreach to Elders, formerly known as Gay and Lesbian Outreach to Elders (GLOE), serves lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender elders age sixty and older. New Leaf provides a range of senior social services that promote independent living and quality of life. The program offers information and referrals, support groups and services, friendly visits for the homebound, educational and cultural activities, holidy celebrations, group outings, and women's and men's social and recreational activities and groups. New Leaf's Geriatric Mental Health component offers in-home, senior-specific counseling services and medication management.

Seniors At Home, a division of Jewish Family and Children's Services, provides a panoply of services that includes counseling, conservators, estate planning, friendly visiting, kosher meal service, spa services (hair, massage, manicures, and pedicures) and more. The services and programs of Seniors At Home help seniors live safe, healthy, comfortable, independent lives in their own homes; however, they also serve residents of assisted living communities. Seniors At Home has a reputation for being a highly compassionate and experienced problem-solving group.

The philosophy behind Eileen's Gardens is that a garden should be a source of serenity, not another chore. Eileen McCann has twenty years of practical experience in garden design, maintenance and troubleshooting. She helps streamline gardens to fit her clients' current needs, creating a plan to simplify and enhance the existing space. One of Eileen's specialties is working with seniors who wish to modify their gardens to accommodate mobility and cognitive limitations.

Little Brothers--Friends of the Elderly is a volunteer-based organization providing outreach, advocacy and companionship to socially isolated elders. By visiting, socializing, and assisting with household tasks, volunteers strive to meet the emotional needs of elders who lack the support of family or friends in their area. Their motto, "Flowers before bread," means that the pleasures that make life worth living are as vital to the human spirit as bread is to the body. Little Brothers serve over five thousand isolated elderly persons each year.

Outreach helps seniors and the disabled live independently. Their three main programs, Money Management, Outreach Transportation and Senior Outreach, further that goal. Through Senior Outreach, social workers visit seniors and assist them in determining which services they need. The social workers also coordinate those serviced and help the seniors apply when necessary.

SASH volunteers shop on behalf of homebound seniors. When calling, ask for the SASH coordinator. The program serves the following cities in San Mateo County:

(650) 595-0783 Belmont  (650) 780-7274 Redwood City
(650) 522-7494 Burlingame (650) 616-7155 San Bruno
(650) 522-7494 Foster City (650) 802-4384 San Carlos
(650) 259-2370 Millbrae (650) 522-7494 San Mateo
(650) 738-7384 Pacifica (650) 829-3824 South San Francisco

Tele-Friend is a free service for San Francisco residents that unites isolated and homebound older adults with a volunteer via telephone. Many participants and their family members are comforted to know that someone will call to check on them. To receive this service, the participant provides the Tele-Friend office with the name of a person to contact if he or she does not answer the phone. The participant and the volunteer agree to a specific time and day(s) to call.

Persons of any faith who are fifty-five or older, and manifesting serious emotional or behavioral problems, may be admitted to the Jewish Home's 12-bed gero-psych unit, which is housed within their skilled nursing facility. Patients must be admitted voluntarily; no 51/50s are accepted. The average length of say is less than two weeks. The Jewish Home accepts individuals that are not currently residents of their skilled nursing facility. The unit is staffed with medical and psychiatric personnel twenty-four hours a day. All rooms are private.

HICAP is a volunteer-supported program offering free information, education and counseling services on Medicare benefits and rights. The services include legal advice and representation, and advocating for individuals to whom coverage has been denied. Some of the topics covered by HICAP counselors include supplemental long-term care insurance like Medigap, to help people make the choices best suited to their individual needs. HICAP is administrated by the California Department of Aging; its volunteers undergo continuing education and are registered with the state.

Applying "universal design" to a home can be a cost-effective alternative to living in a care facility, with the added benefit of aging, in one's own home. Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS) use strategic techniques to design and build attractive, barrier-free environments. ASI has over twenty years of experience in general contracting, including designing and constructing care facilities. ASI applies this unique esperience to remodeling projects for the aged. ASI evaluates customer's needs, auditing the design of their homes, including furnishing, fixtures and equipment, in order to prepare are prioritized list of proposed modifications.

Max-Ability provides and installs assistive technology in a variety of settings, helping clients to safely and conveniently maintain their independence. Max-Ability's experienced condultants plan and implement solutions for every situation. One of their specialties is the "stair chair", a stairway lift that can be designed to fit in with many decors.

Premier Bathrooms transforms bathrooms for elderly, frail and disabled people so they can comfortably maintain their independence. The company's products range from walk-in showers and baths to bath seats, grab bars and hydrotherapy tubs. Premier Bathrooms' representatives advise their customers on the best options for their unique needs. A full demonstration of all products is available at local stores.

Senior Coastsiders is the primary resource for extensive senior services on the San Mateo coast. Their Home Rehabilitation Program is stellar. Seniors and disabled people who are sixty and older may qualify for emergency and annual home repairs. Repairs that address issues of safety, health and accessibility are given top priority.

Irene Smith, the founder of Everflowing, holds over twenty years' experience in the field of death and dying, and massage therapy. She specializes in the therapeutic treatment of older adults, having served many clients in both long-term care facilities and home environments. Everflowing practioners apply Irene's unique methodology with elderly clientele.

Ira Schwartz has worked with seniors for the past twenty-five years. He has been masseaur-in-residence at two assisted living communities and is also experienced with an Alzheimer's population. Ira is a massage therapist for Family Caregiver Alliance's caregiver retreats, where he works endlessly with stressed caregivers. Ira also works in the rehabilitation department at the Institute on Aging, where his clientele struggles with problems resulting from strokes and other pain-causing disorders. Ira's wish is to nurture his clients; he treats his elderly clients as he would want his parents to have been treated in similar circumstances.

Overseen by Julie Groves, OTR, licensed and experienced occupational, physical and speeck therapists serve individuals in their homes, office or other desired locations. Therapy in Your Home specializes in blending homecare and therapies to provide optimal patient comfort and response. Their practitioners regularly serve within San Mateo County, but will take referrals in other Bay Area counties s well.

This organization provides a wide variety of services, products and resources which allows disabled senior to remain as self-reliant as possible.

This organization provides a wide variety of services, products and resources to allow seniors to remain as self-reliant as possible.

The following organization provides a wide variety of services, products and resources which allow their local residents to remain as self-reliant as possible.

The Books on Wheels program is offered through the Marin County Free Library, and provides a generous selection of materials for seniors to choose from-the bookmobile can accommodate up to 3,000 volumes! Some of the materials include large-print books, audio books, videos and music. The bookmobile makes scheduled stops in Marin, usually twice a month at each location.

Library on Wheels, a program of San Francisco Public Library, offers older adults the opportunity to borrow, return and reserve materials without having to visit the library. The wheelchair-accessible bookmobile makes more than forty scheduled stops per month at various senior centers and communities within San Francisco. In addition to print materials, seniors may borrow audio books, language learning programs and music, and can even obtain a library card if they do not have one.

The Fromm Institute is an educational program for older adults sponsored by the University of San Francisco. Lifelong Learning offers a diverse range of classes, includig: anthropology, architecture, art history, cinema, creative writing, environmental studies, history, law, linguistics, literature, music, natural science, philosophy, political science, psychology and theology. Special lectures series on topics such as government are a regular feature of the program. Scholarships are available.

The County of San Mateo's extensive Lifelong Learning program serves people age fifty and older, and individuals with disabilities. The San Mateo Adult School offers classes at various community locations for adults with special needs. The classes cover vocational topics, community access, recreation and leisure, and communication as well as a variety of other subjects. The Adult School will set up classes at a certain site if there is a group of twenty or more disabled or older adults who would benefit. The Fifty-Plus Program offers programming throughout San Mateo County, which includes classes, games and trips. Transportation is available for a fee in certain areas.

San Francisco State University's Sixty-Plus Program offers educational and other intellectual opportunities for adults ages sixty and older. For $75 per year (or $40 per semester), participants may audit classes, with the instructor's permission, on a space-available basis. The program also allows for use of campus facilities such as the gym, pool, library and restaurants. Sixty-Plus program participants receive discounts to a variety of cultural events including local theater, and the San Francisco Ballet, Opera and Symphony.

There's Always Hope is a consulting firm that specializes in developing and delivering customized lifelong learning programs that promote positive aging for communities, organizations and individuals. Examples of specific programs include Memory and Mental Fitness classes, Guided Autobiography groups, and intergenerational activities. In addition to over twenty years' experience in the field, a Master's degree in gerontology, and a Master's degree in special education, Hope Levy, the company's owner, keeps abreast on cutting-edge research and developments in the field in order to continually find new, effective, creative, and engaging ways to help people maintain and improve their cognitive vitality.

Home on the Range prepares home-cooked meals daily and delivers them, within San Francisco, at no extra charge. The meat and poultry they use contain no added hormones. Nutritional analysis of the meals is available on request. A monthly menu is available for advance orders. Home on the Range accepts orders twenty-four hours a day.

Jane Peal specializes in gourmet vegetarian cuisine. She uses fresh ingredients, organic when possible, and does not use eggs or dairy in any of the dishes. There is no delivery charge for the meals. A monthly menu is available for advance orders.

Meals On Wheels of Sonoma is staffed by ninety volunteers and serves the Sonoma Valley. Homebound people in this area can choose either to receive meals from the county or from MOW of Sonoma, which currently has sixty homebound clients. This MOW is unique in California: all the meals are gourmet, using fresh local produce as much as possible, and all baked goods are made from scratch. One senior recently wrote that she was so spoiled by the wonderful food that she was ambivalent about getting well and resuming her normal life. She was delighted to receive a bottle of wine for Christmas and a bottle of champagne along with her New Year's Eve meal.

WOW delivers meals directly from a variety of Bay Area restaurants right to one's door. To view the selections, call to have a menu book sent. A set fee is applied to each order—if more than five are made within a month, an $8 credit is applied to the following order.

Bischoff's sells medical supplies and equipment; however, they specialize in medical support hose. At their San Francisco and Burlingame locations, individuals can be fitted for hosiery designed to target a number of problems: fatigued or aching legs, poor circulation, varicose veins, swelling (edema) and deep vein thrombosis.

Clothing Solutions offers attire for people who require full or partial assistance in dressing. With a varied population in mind—from individuals with limited mobility, to those who may attempt to undress themselves at inappropriate moments, to those who are incontinent—Clothing Solutions manufactures pieces to suit individuals in various scenarios. The designs include features such as zip-fronts, inseams secured by snaps, pullover styling, rear seat panels and back openings. All of these features are disguised to promote the wearer's dignity as well as their comfort.

e-Pill is an online store that offers a plethora of medication-reminder merchandise. Alarms, vibrating timers, watches and pagers, pill organizers and identifiers—all are technological solutions to the often hard-to-remember and easy-to-forget problems with tracking daily medication schedules. e-Pill provides a money-back guarantee for all its products.

Express Ramps is a web-based business that specializes in wheelchair ramps. Some of the ramps less than ten feet long collapse for easy transport. Ramps longer than ten feet are described as "modular," since they can be assembled by joining small pieces to create more permanent ramps that do not require building permits. All ramps fulfill a spectrum of needs. The company's online ramp wizard ensures picking out the correct design is fail-safe. Customer service representatives are helpful and well-trained in regard to their products. Customers need the skills and help of at least one handy friend to set up most ramps.

Gold Violin offers its clients nifty gadgets and support products to enhance independent living. The Gold Violin online catalogue is replete with merchandise for seniors with physical and cognitive conditions that may hinder daily routines; memory enhancing products such as photo phones and day-of-the-week clocks are as handy as they are helpful. Many of the products are specifically designed for people with arthritis, dementia or visual impairments.

HDIS offers a full range of incontinence supplies. Company representatives helpfully answer questions and provide advice. The online catalog is extensive and all orders are delivered in discreet packaging.

Lifeline is an affordable, easy-to-use medical alarm that promotes the independence of seniors, individuals with disabilities, and the chronically ill by helping them to stay safely at home.

MedicAlert, a nonprofit organization, stores important health records for its members. The organization's 24-hour response center quickly supplies emergency response personnel with these records in the event of an emergency. Members wear the MedicAlert Emblem, a bracelet engraved with their ID numbers, medical conditions and the phone number of the emergency response center. The E-HealthKEY is a small electronic device that fits on a keychain and contains medical records that can be quickly accessed during emergencies. MedicAlert also stores state-recognized advance directives and do-not-resuscitate orders so that members' loved ones and medical caregivers have access to this crucial information should the need arise.

MediKeeper is an online record-keeping service that aids seniors, their caregivers and physicians in keeping track of important health-related information. MediKeeper's features include MediKost, which uses personal information to help seniors choose the most appropriate pharmacy and Medicare prescription discount card; MediKabinet, which tracks subscribers' medications and related information including dosage, side effects and drug interactions; MediTracker, which logs personal health markers like weight, cholesterol and blood pressure, and MediForms, which enables subscribers to avoid completing medical forms repeatedly. A phone call to MediKeeper during an emergency quickly provides medical personnel with subscribers' medical information.

Shield Healthcare is a web-based medical supply company that offers products ranging from incontinence and ostomy supplies to nutritional supplements. The company is dedicated to providing the highest level of customer service, making sure that their employees receive regular training on products and services.

Via Rehabilitation maintains an emergency loan closet of wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and other assistive devices which are available to residents of Santa Clara. A physician's order is required.

Interior designer Donna Quinn Robbins has assisted over 700 families with moving their senior relatives. Her ability to assist in all types of moves and transitions is well-respected throughout the Bay Area. Noting an increasing need for support and information, Donna co-authored the book "Moving Mom and Dad—Why, Where, How and When to Help Your Parents Relocate.". Her personal, sensitive and sincere approach to the senior population is refreshing and necessary.

Bread and Roses is a nonprofit organization that provides entertainment to people who live in facilities as well as other isolated individuals. Their professional volunteer entertainers perform at no charge throughout the Bay Area within a variety of long-term care settings, as well as in day programs serving seniors and individuals who require specialized care.

Judith-Kate Friedman is an award-winning folksinger and the founder of Songwriting Works, a nonprofit organization which brings elders, youth and professional songwriters together to create and perform original music within care facilities and in groups throughout the Bay Area. An example of this work can be found on the CD "Island On A Hill," which features original songs written with residents of the Jewish Home of San Francisco. The CD can be ordered by contacting Judith-Kate directly. She and her musicians are available for workshops and concerts, and can help individuals craft songs based on their life histories.

Burton's pharmacists make it a point to get to know their customers and their medications. They deliver citywide, including prescription medications, over-the-counter goods and other supplies, ranging from canes to incontinence supplies. Burton's will package medications in weekly medi-sets to ensure the customer has the correct daily dosage, thereby improving the likelihood that the correct doses are taken at appropriate times.

Thousand Cranes is an independent pharmacy that has served San Franciscans since 2003. Its pharmacists have over twenty-five years of health care experience and have cared for the most complex and therapeutically challenged patients through the owners' previous pharmaceutical enterprises. Thousand Cranes' hallmark is innovative service with personal consultations. The owners and pharmacists respect and care for their customers, striving to maintain their customers' optimal level of health, while being cost-effective. Thousand Cranes maintains an art gallery at the front of the pharmacy that hosts rotating shows devoted to the creations of seniors throughout San Francisco. The pharmacy staff is on call twenty-four hours a day.

J.T. Angeles has been capturing family gatherings and creating portraits for over twenty-two years throughout Northern California. Photographing seniors is one of his specialties. J.T. is a member of the San Mateo and Redwood City Chambers of Commerce.