Many of us are hoping and planning to “age in place”, i.e. to stay living at home as long as we can. Most of us probably would prefer never to move into a retirement community or nursing home. However, this sobering report from NPR shows that we have a lot to consider in our decision-making.  There are no easy answers – for ourselves, or our families.  Discovering the True Cost of At-Home Caregiving .

The 2012 Aging & Disability Technology Summit, which takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15 at City Hall in San Francisco, will serve up a bevy of technology information and resources for seniors, people with disabilities and their caregivers.

There is no cost to attend. You must pre-register though. Register here.

For those of you who are interested in computer training and support for seniors, persons with disabilities and their caregivers, this conference will be a valuable resource for you. A wide range of interesting workshops and presentations will be featured on how to take advantage of the benefits of online resources. You can also see how our sister county is working to empower older and/or disabled citizens and caregivers.

For instance:

• The Summit kicks off a city-wide program of free Internet access and training for seniors and adults with disabilities.
• Touch-screen computers will be installed in 50 San Francisco non-profit community centers serving these populations.
• Free, multi-lingual classes and tutoring will be offered by trained volunteers.

The Summit is being sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of San Francisco, the Department of Aging and Adult Services, the Department of Technology and the Community Living Campaign. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee will welcome attendees and the event is hosted by Belva Davis from KQED and Dave Clark from KTVU.

If you are unable to attend in person, you can participate online via live video streaming at SFGovTV starting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday May 15.

Some of the very useful topics featured in this conference will include:

• Finding Reliable Health Information Online
• Connecting Caregivers to Digital Support
• The Digital Divide: Addressing Multiple Barriers
• The Science of Brain Fitness
• Staying Connected for a Good Life
• Beginning Genealogy
• Protecting Your Privacy Online
• Finding and Buying the Right Computer for You
• Finding Employment and Volunteer Opportunities Online

A side note: One of the nonprofit organizers of this event is the Community Living Campaign (CLC). The CLC is part of a nation-wide “aging in place” groundswell movement sweeping the country. We in Marin can watch and learn from their successes and mistakes as we strive to empower our own older and/or disabled adults here. In their own words, this is part of how the CLC describes their mandate:

“So where does the Community Living Campaign (CLC) fit in?  We know that the challenges ahead are daunting, as the number of San Franciscans growing older with chronic conditions and disabilities is escalating.   Because of the high cost of living and the stalled economy, many now are living alone with family far away. Family members and neighborhood leaders are looking to give those they care about the ability to have a good life while they age in place. Giving individuals this choice will only be possible with a huge, grass-roots effort to mobilize financial and social capital in service of this goal. Building public awareness, strengthening relationships and building kind and just communities is at the heart of the Community Living Campaign’s efforts.”

I hope you have a chance to attend the conference either at San Francisco’s beautiful City Hall or online.