CESP: Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention & Grief Counseling
How It Works
To Get Started
Complete and fax the IOA Intake Form.
Fax: (415) 750-5338
Download Form
Don't want to fill out a form? Contact our Intake Department for personal assistance finding the right service for you.
Questions? Call (415) 750-4111 or email
info@ioaging.org.
Older adults often face a multitude of changes and stresses in relation to the aging process, including health concerns, physical limitations, financial problems, and loss of loved ones. These changes may trigger depression, grief, a sense of isolation, or thoughts of suicide. Institute on Aging’s Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention (CESP) focuses specifically on the needs of older adults, providing connection, compassionate counseling, assessment, and crisis intervention.
Hope and Support
CESP offers hope for persons suffering from life-threatening depression. With help, older adults become connected to the community, begin the healing process, and discover that life is worth living again. CESP hosts a number of support groups for individuals of all ages who have experienced trauma and grief. Consider joining a weekly traumatic loss group and a survivor of suicide grief group. Or visit the drop-in grief group held on Saturday mornings from 10:30am – 12 noon. Call (415) 750-4111 for more information. Learn More
Suicide Intervention
CESP brings Patick Arbore's experience and compassion to educational workshops and lectures on suicide intervention. Training can me geared toward volunteers, community members or professional. Request a speaker.
We work to encourage caring connections because that is what binds us to life.— Patrick Arbore, Founding Director
24-Hour Telephone Support
CESP sponsors the Friendship Line, a 24 hour phone
line providing support for seniors in crisis, outreach phone calls for
medication reminders, well-being checks and emotional support, and counseling
and senior care information and referral by phone. Sometimes, knowing
there is someone who cares can make all the difference. Learn more about
the Friendship Line
or call the line today: (800) 971-0016.
Learn More
Services Include
- 24-hour Friendship Line -, a crisis and support line for seniors
- Outreach phone calls - providing emotional support, medication reminders, and well-being checks
- Home visits - for supportive counseling and psychotherapy
- Group and individual grief counseling
- Specialized counseling and bereavement support - for people who have experienced traumatic loss to suicide or sudden death
- Volunteer opportunities
Who is eligible
Grief counseling and support groups are open to people of all ages
who have suffered a loss from suicide, or sudden or traumatic death.
No one is ever turned away for lack of funds.
Payment Options
| Payment Options | MediCare | Private Pay | Donations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee Is Covered |  |
|
|
| Notes | — | Counseling services are provided on a sliding fee scale | Donations are gratefully received for support group participation. |
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Contact Information
Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention (CESP)
Institute on Aging
3575 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94118
Phone: (415) 750-4111
Toll Free: (877) 750-4111
Volunteer Information: (415) 750-4140 x124
Email: friendshipline@ioaging.org
Hours: 9am - 5pm
Volunteer Opportunities
Make a real difference in the lives of the Bay Area's elderly. Get involved with IOA today.
