When I tell people my mom lives in a memory care community, they often say, “That must be such a relief.” I usually nod, because it is easier than explaining everything that came with that decision. Yes, Mom is safer now. She has structure, companionship, and support throughout the day. But choosing memory care was not a moment of clarity. It was a moment of heartbreak mixed with doubt. Even when I knew something had to change, I kept asking myself if I was doing the right thing. I wondered if a better daughter would have found a way to keep her at home longer. I felt the weight of other people’s opinions, and the quiet fear that I was letting her down. I live nearby, which allows me to visit often and stay involved. Even so, the transition was harder than I expected. Letting go of daily caregiving and trusting others with her well-being took time. I learned quickly that being close does not erase worry. And for families who do not live nearby, I now understand how much heavier that uncertainty can feel. I thought the move would make things easier. Instead, my role changed. I was no longer managing everything myself, but I was still carrying the responsibility and the emotional weight. Letting go is not a single moment. It happens again and again.

“How often do you have the opportunity not only to see great films but to talk about them with the filmmakers?” asked Ed Kaplan. Well, if you are a member of the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living community, like Ed, the answer is at least two more this season. The Campus will continue its partnership with the Jewish Film Institute to host two upcoming screenings and filmmaker Q&As in the Osher Performance Center on November 6 and December 9.

When Tara Collins started medical school, she was told that the vast majority of students intending to specialize in a particular medical discipline change their minds by the time they graduate. “Not me,” Dr. Collins said. “I was psychiatry all the way.” And over twenty years later, the new Medical Director for Psychiatry at SFCJL continues to defy expectations and certain staid conventions. While her traditional professional credentials are impeccable: medical school at Emory University and psychiatry residency at UCSF, where she later taught, she has also integrated holistic approaches into her practice to further promote emotional health and wellness.

On the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living (the Campus), UCSF’s Geriatric Research Team has recently been studying how to best support our elders, particularly how to create the best circumstances for their transition to long-term care.

A new team member will be coming to our San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living. And this aide is unlike any other we have ever had: Incredibly smart, resourceful, energetic, works for free, doesn’t take breaks, and has almost every quality one would look for in a colleague and friend except for two things: a pulse and a name.

In a world where negativity often seems to dominate the headlines, it's refreshing to witness the power of youthful enthusiasm and dedication.  This summer, our San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living (Campus) hosted three cohorts of high school and college-aged interns who were given hands-on opportunities to serve our SFCJL community, and their eagerness and earnest desire to learn lifted the spirits of our residents and their mentors alike.