The Gatekeeper Program's proactive education and outreach increase public awareness of the needs of the vulnerable elderly before a crisis occurs. Trained community members are called Gatekeepers because they "open the gates" between the isolated elderly and sources of assistance. Upon identification of a frail senior, a trained Gatekeeper volunteer makes one phone call which initiates the individuals assessment and a variety of in home supportive services. This prevents needless suffering and premature nursing home placement.

The Gatekeeper Program represents a collaboration between Friendship Adult Day Care Center (Founder and Lead Agency), Cottage Hospital Parish funded by St. Francis Foundation and Santa Barbara County's Adult Protective Services, and Geriatric Assessment Programs. This proactive program dedicated to deterring elder abuse and self neglect has been made possible in our community by grants from Santa Barbara County's United Way, Montecito Bank and Trust, St. Francis Foundation, the Towbes Foundation, The Herbert and Gertrude Latkin Charitable Foundation, City of Goleta, Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services, APS and Veneco, Inc.

For additional information, call Eryn Eckert, Program and Family Services Director, at (805) 969-0859