May 27, 2020

K4Connect, a mission-driven technology company that creates solutions that serve and empower older adults and individuals living with disabilities, announced a new initiative with Amazon to support senior living residents during COVID-19. K4Connect is distributing over 8,000 Echo Dots to more than 40 independent and assisted living communities in West Coast regions highly affected by COVID-19, allowing residents to use voice technology to stay more connected while in isolation. Devices were donated by Amazon as part of a $5 million device donations program created in response to COVID-19, and will integrate with K4Community, K4Connect’s advanced enterprise solution designed for the residents and staff of senior living communities. The experience allows residents to immediately begin their voice experience with minimal involvement from community staff. Communities simply plug in the Echo devices and start enjoying all the benefits of Amazon Alexa, as well as various new capabilities from K4Connect that make community information, services, and communication just an “Alexa” request away.

May 7, 2020

Thomas M. Garberson, a 2002 graduate of Livermore High School, has been named general counsel at Eskaton, a Sacramento-based nonprofit providing senior living and care facilities at Northern California locations from Burlingame to Roseville.

Garberson was previously a partner in the Sacramento law firm of Low McKinley Baleria & Salenko, where he dealt primarily with medical malpractice and long-term care defense.

May 6, 2020

Danville’s Jewish retirement center The Reutlinger Community has announced that it has officially finalized its affiliation with the Eskaton network, a Sacramento-based senior living nonprofit organization.

Approved after two years of negotiation and government approvals, the affiliation will allow The Reutlinger Community to access the services and resources provided by Eskaton, while still maintaining its priority of preserving Jewish cultural values, practices and policies.

April 20, 2020

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Controversial “coronavirus wings” have been popping up at nursing homes across the state.

Not everyone thinks its a good idea, especially those with loved ones at assisted living facilities, sharing the same space.

Betsey Donovan, Chief Operating Officer at Eskaton Senior Living, says there’s a need now for a space for senior coronavirus patients that are discharged from hospitals but still need intensive care.

“When they’re ready to go, there needs to be a place for them to go,” Donovan said.

Now, the Eskaton in Fair Oaks will open its doors.

“We’re learning from the experts we can do both, we can protect the vulnerable who have not tested positive while meeting the short-term needs of those who are in the step-down program,” she said.

April 17, 2020

At California senior living centers run by the nonprofit Eskaton, technology use is up among seniors looking to fend off loneliness. Their changing habits shed new light on why some tools like voice assistants are more useful than others.

At the Eskaton assisted living communities across Northern California, residents and staff are doing their best to create a shared sense of hope and solidarity through the COVID-19 pandemic.

To keep residents safe, communal rooms are closed for activities, but hallway happy hours have become a common occurrence. Residents must eat their meals in their own apartments, but the staff has treated them with door-to-door candy deliveries. Visitors are no longer permitted on premises, but tools like messaging apps and videoconferencing are helping residents feel connected to their loved ones. 

April 14, 2020

Staff at Eskaton Village in Placerville serenaded its residents last week — lifting their spirits while sheltered in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The inspiring singalong to “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers was the idea of Eskaton employee Christy Nordell.

“We have the best employees and this was amazing,” Nordell said. “We wanted to do something to spread some happiness around here.”

April 7, 2020

Although certainly not the only demographic at risk of serious illness and death from the novel coronavirus, the elderly face elevated risks from COVID-19.

But that hasn’t dimmed the spirits of many older adults in Nevada County — quite the opposite. New celebratory and socializing rituals have arisen in these communities.

At Grass Valley’s Eskaton Village, independently living residents on Sparrow Circle head outside at 10 a.m. every morning to greet their neighbors from their own doorsteps, some blowing bubbles, honking horns, playing music and even dancing with the person they live with.

March 31, 2020

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new campaign on Tuesday to help the state’s seniors fight social isolation and food insecurity amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The governor urged Californians to check in on people over the age of 65, the population uniquely at-risk to COVID-19.

I“No older Californian should be forced to go outside to get groceries or their medication,” Gov. Newsom said at a press conference on Tuesday. “It’s on all of us across the state to check in on the older adults in our lives – our friends, family and neighbors – to help them during this outbreak.”

March 25, 2020

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – The Sacramento community is coming through to help seniors when they need it most.

Local nonprofit Eskaton has seen a surge in the number of people asking to volunteer and chat with seniors at a time when many are feeling lonely.

It can be a simple “hello” or “how are you,” because sometimes it’s the simplest of questions that matter most in times of turmoil.

“I’m here for no less than seven hours a day, and I’m constantly on the phone,” said Larry Dawes, one of Eskaton’s volunteers.

He volunteers daily to speak with our community’s most vulnerable by answering their calls for help or just being a listening ear for those on the other line.

March 24, 2020

Socializing, security and the comfort of hearing a friendly voice are all part of Eskaton’s Telephone Reassurance Program, where trained volunteers make phone calls to isolated and homebound seniors. The calls serve to keep older adults engaged with the community while providing an opportunity to socialize with someone who cares. Loneliness and isolation are leading causes of both mental and physical decline in the elderly. Eskaton, committed to serving seniors in the greater Sacramento region, recognizes the impact of loneliness and the importance of connection by offering this service free of charge.

March 24, 2020

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
It’s the fourth day of California’s stay-at-home order, yet many people are still going to work or mingling in public despite the mandate.

Getting outside to exercise is one of the few ways to relieve stress from worries about COVID-19. Some people do it alone, while others walk or jog in groups. Dr. Katren Tyler, an emergency room doctor at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, said this is cause for concern.

“The more people that are in an environment — even outdoors – you’re still going to increase the chance that you’re going to get touching of a surface where a virus might still be alive,” Tyler said.

March 16, 2020

California’s attorney general has approved an agreement to shift management control of the Reutlinger Community in Danville to Eskaton, a nonprofit regional senior care provider.

Attorney General Xavier Bacerra conditionally consented to the shift in “control and governance” of the 70-year-old Jewish senior living center, pending approval from the California Department of Social Services. Deputy Attorney General Anita Velasco notified lawyers of Bacerra’s decision in a letter dated March 11.

March 1, 2020

Welcome to technology’s new wave: age-tech — the preferred term for products and experiences aimed at America’s “gray tsunami.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are an estimated 73 million Baby Boomers. And the Census’ 2017 National Population Projections showed that by 2034, seniors 65 years and older will outnumber children under 18.

February 2, 2020

Kaiser Permanente, along with the Sacramento Ballet, has formed a unique partnership to help seniors keep their feet underneath them and maintain their balance — and have fun doing it.

They come once a week to the Sacramento Ballet, so many, that one room isn’t big enough for all of these so-called baby-boomers.

“I could not believe how much fun it was, because I kind of thought, ‘Ballet, how am I going to get on my tip-toes? I don’t think I’d be very good at that,” student Kathy Frodahl said.

December 1, 2019

A partnership with senior housing and care provider Eskaton prompted tech-forward home care company Honor to accelerate its transition to a management model based on teams focused on specific geographic areas.

A year in, that model has positioned Honor for further partnerships with large-scale organizations, and Eskaton has seen a revenue boost expanded into new markets. But the partnership did not get off to an auspicious start.

November 27, 2019

A partnership with tech-forward home care startup Honor has enabled senior living nonprofit Eskaton to boost revenue and smoothed the organization’s expansion into new markets. But the partnership did not get off to an auspicious start.

Sacramento, California-based Eskaton completed its transition to the Honor platform in Dec. 2018, and issues emerged soon after.