Eskaton Blog

Eskaton, a nonprofit organization serving seniors for 50 years is recognized by LeadingAge California for best practices, innovation and advocacy. LeadingAge California, the state’s leading advocate for quality, not-for-profit senior living and care, honored Eskaton with Best Practices/Innovation and Grassroots Advocate of the Year awards.

What was your first car? How did you feel when you turned the key and felt the engine rumble?

Ride Rite from Virginia Tech earned the winning title at the 2017-2018 Design Challenge at Stanford Center for Longevity. The innovative bike handle designed for older adults captured the attention of the judges and attendees at the April 18, 2018, event. Among the judges were Eskaton’s President and CEO Todd Murch and Chief Strategy Officer Sheri Peifer.

ROSEVILLE, Calif., -- Eskaton, a nonprofit provider of senior services celebrating 50 years in Northern California, recently launched a groundbreaking technology solution at Eskaton Village Roseville. “Eskaton Connect will turn senior living apartments into smart homes allowing each resident to manage their day-to-day activities,” said Sheri Peifer, Eskaton senior vice president and chief strategy officer. “We partnered with K4Connect to customize its platform for our residents to use to turn on and off lights, set reminders, track fitness, video call family and much more.”

Eskaton celebrates the ninth school year of the Kids Connection program, bringing elementary school children together with older “buddies” to create meaningful friendships and abolish loneliness.

This year 2,776 walkers in Sacramento came out to support the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The morning air was cool and crisp—a refreshing change from the warm Sacramento summer heat. It was a perfect fall day—the crowd was filled with people wearing purple who were holding forget-me-not flowers that each tell a story. The feeling that day was hope.

The nonprofit, known as Eskaton, began in the 1960s when several members of the Disciples of Christ Church in Oakland, California, formed a charitable organization to provide health care, housing and other services to seniors and their families. The name Eskaton was drawn from the Greek language and interpreted to mean "the dawning of a new day."

Russ, a retired Los Angeles firefighter and Korea War Veteran, lives in a cottage at Eskaton Village Placerville with his pet Bella. One of his favorite things is happy hour at the dog park. Russ and his neighbors enjoy a glass of wine or cocktail while watching the dogs. Neighbors without pets also welcome to join the evening party.

Born: 1898 – Independence, Missouri

Died: 1988 – Oakland, California

Hazel was a registered nurse, musician (organist), poet, writer, widow, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She lived opposite Moeser Lane Shopping Center before its construction, and was prompted to activism by the eviction of trailer residents living there at the time.
Hazel became increasingly disabled by loss of sight and hearing and by frequent falls, but insisted on independent living, refusing family offers of shelter. She finally yielded to residency at “The Berkshire”, a board and care facility in Berkeley.

By Javonte Page, Communications Intern for Eskaton

A common misconception is as we get older we are faced with an inevitable loss of mental capabilities, and the decline cannot be stopped. Well, I have good news for you: That is not true. Music and Memory, a program developed by New York City Social Worker Dan Cohen in 2006, is proving to be a way to restore the mind’s abilities, even after the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Cohen’s evidence-based program brings personalized music to people experiencing memory loss.