NHC SF Member Blog: The Transformative Power of Social Connection

Hi everyone! My name is Sarah Niederholzer (she/her) and I am from Yuba City, California. I am currently serving as the Senior Vitality Assistant at Curry Senior Center, a San Francisco non-profit serving older adults, most of whom live in the Tenderloin, one of San Francisco's most under-served and publicly misunderstood neighborhoods.

Curry’s work beautifully reflects their motto: “Aging with Health, Hope, and Dignity.” Many older adults experience loneliness and social isolation, especially those who do not have the financial means to visit loved ones or those who are at a heightened health risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is detrimental to their physical and emotional wellbeing. Curry provides medical care through the Curry Primary Care Clinic, as well as case management, housing services, wellness and social programs, among other services. In addition, they have a drop-in cafeteria where Project Open Hand serves hot meals every day, 365 days a year. High quality whole-person care is available to all older adults, including uninsured and low-income seniors. As the Senior Vitality Assistant I dedicate most of my time to the Senior Vitality Program– a program for older adults who aim to gain tech literacy, combat social isolation, and improve their overall health. Each client is given an iPad, smart watch, and digital scale, and they attend class in small groups each week. Additionally, they meet with health coaches to set and achieve wellness goals and have one-on-one tutoring sessions to boost their technology skills. Senior Vitality provides clients with the skills necessary to stay connected with loved ones and to prioritize their health. Testimonials from clients show how transformative this program is, providing seniors with a safe place to gather and learn alongside others in their community while gaining the necessary tools to remain independent, healthy, and connected outside of class.

Serving at Curry has turned Mondays into my favorite day of the week. I spend Monday mornings at the San Francisco Senior Center where we host the newest Senior Vitality class. In the afternoons I head back to Curry’s main location where I set up class for the next group of clients. In both settings I feel truly honored to get to know the unique, insightful older adults that faithfully attend their technology classes and share their experiences with me. They never fail to bring a smile to my face, whether through sharing photos they have taken throughout the city or simply telling their life stories.

I am continuously amazed by the collective efforts by staff to keep Curry’s programs running smoothly. I have witnessed the ways Curry positively impacts the lives of their clients, both through direct feedback from the seniors and observing how their attitudes change as they progress in their respective programs. In addition to the valuable experiences I have already had as an NHC member, I am certain by the end of my service term I will have an even deeper understanding of how important comprehensive community support is to older adults

About the Author

Sarah Niederholzer is one of the 2022-2023 NHC San Francisco AmeriCorps members. She is currently serving as the Senior Vitality Assistant at Curry Senior Center.