Friendship Line

Are you feeling lonely, isolated or depressed? Give the Friendship Line a call – because sometimes we all need a friend.

888.670.1360

The Friendship Line is California’s largest warm line, and has never gone unanswered since it was founded in 1973 by Dr. Patrick Arbore. Dr. Arbore’s observation that “connection to others binds us to life” led him to establish the Friendship Line, which provides phone calls that offer emotional support and friendly conversation.

Institute on Agingโ€™s staff and volunteers respond to more than 11,000 inbound and outbound calls per month. The nationally-known Friendship Line is a signature program of Institute on Agingโ€™s Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention and Grief-Related Services, and is accredited by the American Association of Suicidology.

Call us Toll-Free in California: 888.670.1360

For Volunteer or Intern Opportunities, contact Aleks Bartlett at abartlett@ioaging.org

This program serving the community is funded by the following:

  • The California Department of Aging

  • City of San Franciscoโ€™s Department of Disability and Aging Services

Program Services

Friendship Line

  • Emotional support in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Korean
  • Specialized support for adults ages 60 and older, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers

Center for Elder Suicide Prevention and Grief Services

  • Virtual grief and bereavement support groups

Related Resources

April is Arab American Heritage Month! ๐ŸŒŸ

This month, we celebrate the rich culture, contributions, and heritage of Arab Americans. At IOA, we honor and support the diverse communities we serveโ€”today and every day.

#ArabAmericanHeritageMonth #InclusionMatters #IOACares
๐—–๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ง๐—ถ๐—ฝ: ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—”๐—ป๐˜…๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐˜๐˜† ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐——๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฎ ๐—–๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ

Anxiety is a common symptom of dementia, and knowing how to respond can make a big difference. Alexandra Kaplan, IOAโ€™s Lead Caregiver Coach, shares three key strategies to help:

1. Reassure โ€“ Offer comfort and a sense of safety.
2. Validate โ€“ Acknowledge their feelings, even if the anxiety isnโ€™t based on reality.
3. Redirect โ€“ Gently shift their focus to something calming and positive.

Have you found helpful ways to ease anxiety for your loved one?

#CaregiverTips #DementiaCare #AlzheimerSupport #CaregiverSupport #IOACares
๐—๐—ผ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜๐˜€, ๐—–๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ด๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐Ÿงก

Weโ€™re just weeks away from the 2025 IOA Galaโ€”and thereโ€™s still time to be part of this unforgettable evening.

On May 1, weโ€™ll gather to celebrate community, compassion, and the vital work that helps older adults and caregivers thrive. Your presence supports IOAโ€™s mission to ensure everyone can age with dignity.

Reserve your tickets now by clicking the link in our bio! 

Letโ€™s join heartsโ€”and change lives.

#IOAGala2025 #JoiningHeartsChangingLives #IOACares #SupportSeniors
April is National Diversity Month โ€” a time to celebrate the strength that comes from embracing our differences.

At Institute on Aging, we proudly serve older adults and caregivers from all backgrounds, cultures, and identities.

Weโ€™re committed to fostering a welcoming environment where everyone feels seen, respected, and supported.

#NationalDiversityMonth #InclusionMatters #AgingWithDignity #IOACares