DOS commission highlights expanded vaccine access and new senior escort program amid spike in anti-Asian elder violence

San Francisco's Disability and Aging Services Commission on April 7 heard an executive director's report outlining steps to expand vaccine access for older adults and to support older Asian and Pacific Islander (API) residents facing violence and harassment.

Executive Director Sherry McSpadden told commissioners the department is partnering with the district attorney's victim services division, Self Help for the Elderly and other contractors to expand outreach and support. "We are collaborating with the DA Victim Services Division, Self Help for the Elderly, and our elder abuse prevention contractors," McSpadden said, describing plans for translated materials, outreach and a hotline for API older adults.

McSpadden also described a mayor-funded senior escort expansion that will pair trained staff and volunteers with older adults who request assistance traveling to appointments, grocery shopping or vaccine sites. "This is a new one, and it's a critical part of education and outreach to API communities," she said, explaining the program originates as a partnership with Self Help for the Elderly to provide escorts and to build volunteer capacity.

On vaccine access, McSpadden said the department has coordinated with the Department of Public Health on designated vaccine sites and mobile clinics targeted to older adults and people with disabilities. She cited specially designated clinics at Lighthouse for the Blind and events in partnership with University of the Pacific and the University of San Francisco and Kaiser. "We've been hearing that many people with disabilities have been vaccinated...but we unfortunately don't have good numbers," McSpadden said, urging continued outreach through the city's VAX call center and the SFGov COVID web pages.

Public commenters urged further action. A caller who identified herself as a community organizer offered to assemble vaccination appointments for seniors in the Bayview and said in part, "San Francisco has let down the seniors," urging the commission to set up targeted clinics.

Why this matters: the department is balancing pandemic recovery, outreach to communities facing targeted violence, and reopening plans for congregate service providers. Commissioners pressed staff for follow-up data on vaccinations for younger adults with disabilities and for metrics on program reach; McSpadden and staff committed to provide those details.

Next steps: the commission moved later in the meeting to approve several program renewals and contract modifications that provide operational funding for the escort services, nutrition programs and community-based outreach described in the report.