I recently received a special invitation to a meal. It was with Iona’s Dementia Solidarity Group (five individuals who meet weekly for lunch at Iona to talk about life after their diagnosis). We talked about our favorite desserts (coffee ice cream and key lime pie, to name a few), the monuments at the National Mall, and what’s been on our minds this week. Their humor filled our time with laughter, and their vulnerability as they shared their struggles grounded us in our shared humanity. When one person said quietly while looking down at her hands, ‘It’s been a tough week,’ we didn’t rush to fill the silence. We just sat with her.
I’m tempted to talk about each of their storied careers and accomplishments, but they, along with so many of my teachers in the Iona community, remind me that being is more important than doing. That truth shapes how I think about our mission: how do we create a world where everyone can age well, not just for some, but for all?
The five people I sat with for lunch are part of a much larger story. In our city, 1 in 6 older adults is living with dementia. 1 in 3 is experiencing hunger. Many are aging alone, and here and across the country, 11,000 people turn 65 every day.
Last year, we worked to meet these needs by serving over 100,000 meals to nearly 1,600 food-insecure older adults, providing more than 5,000 classes and activities to reduce isolation, and conducting over 80 memory clinics at low-income senior housing facilities. The Washington Post featured our work, but the recognition matters less than the reality that the gap between what’s needed and what’s available keeps widening.
Over the past three months, I’ve met with nearly 300 program participants, clients, volunteers, and supporters through listening sessions. We talked openly about what people are carrying right now, about uncertainty, change, and what it means to grow older in this moment, in the District, and in our country. What I heard was both sobering and inspiring: deep concern about the challenges ahead, as well as an eager willingness to act and be a part of the change.
It reminded me of Edith Childs. In 2007, at a small gathering in South Carolina, she started a chant that energized a room of 20 people and eventually became a rallying cry for millions. “Fired up! Ready to go!” One voice in one room sparked a movement for change.
That’s what I’m seeing and hearing from our community now. We know there are hurdles ahead of us. But standing together, shoulder to shoulder, I’ve never been more fired up to advance our collective vision for a world that ensures all people can age well. In the coming weeks, we’ll share about the opportunities to join me at City Council hearings throughout the year and provide you with practical tools to learn and get involved.
For now, I’d love to hear from you: what would aging well look like in your ideal vision for our city? To share your response, please email joonbang@iona.org.
Two and a half cups of flour, two sticks of butter, three eggs, and four ounces of dried pineapple are just a few of the ingredients in Ms. Taylor’s delicious “Apple-Nut Raisin Muffins” recipe. I first met Ms. Taylor nearly four years ago at our adult day health center that serves elders living with dementia in Congress Heights. As we became friends, I learned that she loved baking, praying for others, and working on her crossword puzzles in the morning with a cup of coffee. When I received a call from her godson two months ago to let me know she had passed away during the night at the age of 93, it broke my heart. Towards the end of our call he said, “Joon, she talked about you and Iona often and had a lot of pride knowing that you were her friend.” I replied, “I have a lot of pride knowing we were friends, too.”
There are many privileges in the work we get to do at Iona and one of them is the opportunity to walk alongside the people we serve and to learn from them. Ms. Taylor was not only a friend, but one of my many teachers in the Iona community.
As we look forward to celebrating Iona’s 50th anniversary this year, we are guided by the tailwinds formed by the thousands of supporters, program participants, family caregivers, volunteers, partners, and staff that were and are a part of our community. We remain steadfast in our shared humanity and grounded by the conviction not to lose sight of the needs of our older neighbors who are vulnerable, marginalized, and aging alone, along with the people who are caring for them.
3 in 4 older adults are living alone.
1 in 3 older adults are experiencing hunger.
1 in 6 older adults are aging with dementia.
As I write this letter to you, we are learning about the President’s decision to freeze funding that directly supports the Iona community and older adults across the country. Although there is a temporary pause, this freeze means we are unable to provide services to care for our most in need. Iona remains concerned that the critical programs and services which support our community are in jeopardy.
We need your help to advocate for older adults and caregivers. Would you take 5 minutes to share your personal experience with aging?
Last year, I shared that as more than 11,000 people turn 65 every day, we’re expected to see a significant increase in the number of people living with dementia. New studies indicate that the risk of Americans developing dementia after age 55 has doubled from previous estimates, with new reports pointing to one million new cases annually by 2060.
Iona is the only nonprofit organization in Washington, DC providing comprehensive support for individuals and families impacted by dementia. Our federal grants awarded by the US Administration on Community Living and Congress give us the opportunity to expand our services to meet the needs of our most vulnerable as they age with dementia.
I recently heard, “that the ultimate moral test of any government is the way it treats three groups of its citizens. First, those in the dawn of life — our children. Second, those in the shadows of life — our needy, our sick, our handicapped. Third, those in the twilight of life — our elderly.” Iona’s programs help individuals age well and live well, especially those who are in the twilight of life like Ms. Taylor and thousands who are in need of Iona’s services.
We invite you to share your stories of how Iona’s programs have been of help to you by submitting your experiences here. To find contact information for your elected officials, click here. And, to make a financial contribution in support of Iona’s work, click here.
Yours sincerely,
Joon Bang Chief Executive Officer
With the support from you and partners like the DC Department on Aging and Community Living and The Washington Home, Iona has increased the number of people we serve by over 27% from previous years.
The summer ended with the Paris Olympic Games hosting athletes from over 200 nations with vast linguistic diversity, colorful life experiences, and of course, competitors of all ages. Among the thousands competing this year, the youngest athlete was just 11 years old and the oldest was 65. Jill Irving made her Olympic debut at the age of 61 and reminded us that it’s never too late to live out our dreams. She said in an interview, “for all you 61-year-olds out there, go for it, live your dream.”
Throughout the past year, I’ve met with many wonderful members of the Iona community who are boldly living out their dreams or stepping out of their comfort zones to learn something new. One person recently shared, “I found out I love to paint and have talent because of Iona’s Around Town DC program. I’ve sold a couple of paintings and donated some to auctions to raise money! I’ve learned so much in Iona’s art classes and am now venturing into mixed media and fiber arts.”
Stories like this highlight Iona’s transformative impact on individuals, and they reflect the broader progress we’ve made as an organization with your support. Last year, in partnership with the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL), we expanded our nutrition and socialization programs to six new locations in Ward 2, serving low-income older adults in diverse communities, many of whom live below the federal poverty level. As hunger, isolation, and poverty rates continue to rise throughout the aging population, your support allows us to advance Iona’s mission by seeking innovative ways to serve older community members and their family caregivers.
A year of significant growth
As a result, close to 60,000 meals, an increase of 500% from previous years, have been served to food insecure older adults during the past 12 months. We made sure they had access to important socialization programs to overcome loneliness and isolation, education and counseling for better health outcomes, and critical social services to ensure elders in the community receive the care they need. The collective efforts of the Iona team have resulted in our ability to serve an additional 850 individuals in comparison to previous years. This represents a growth of over 25% in people served by the organization in one year.
Recognizing our efforts, DACL has awarded Iona the Ward 4 Senior Service Lead Agency grant for the new fiscal year. With this new grant, we are creating a dedicated team to implement services for older residents of Ward 4. For more information on our Ward 4 sites, visit www.iona.org.
Additionally, our growth enables us to better support older adults in need of memory care resources, especially for people who are aging alone. If Washington, D.C. were a state, it would have the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in the nation, making it crucial for us to advance Iona’s dementia care capabilities. With a new grant from the Washington Home Foundation and vital donor support, we’ve developed a strategy to provide education and assessments at all of Iona’s community-based sites in Wards 2 & 3. Based on these assessments, individuals will have access to Dementia Navigators for planning or referrals to medical specialists. Additionally, we’re implementing the Savvy Caregiver program, to empower caregivers with skills and strategies, while offering respite support through Iona’s Adult Day and Age Well/Live Well programs.
New federal support and partnership
I am very excited to share that Congress has awarded Iona a grant which will be utilized to support our mission-critical but underfunded programs like the Mental Health Program, Caregiver Support Groups, Aging and Caregiver Support (formerly Iona Care Management), and Adult Day Health. Our goal is to develop sustainable business models for each of our advanced wellness and eldercare services.
Lastly, Iona has been selected through a competitive RFP process to join a cohort of 400 organizations to implement the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model. This model, developed under the Biden Administration’s Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care, aligns with the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease. It utilizes Medicare as an alternative payment model to support people with dementia and their caregivers. Iona will begin implementation of GUIDE in July 2025.
As we approach Iona’s 50th anniversary, we remain dedicated to ensuring that everyone’s basic needs are met, and advanced care is available for all people on their aging journey. Thank you for your continued support in helping to advance Iona’s important mission.
Yours sincerely,
Joon Bang Chief Executive Officer
Celebrating Together: A Look Back at Iona’s Community Highlights
As we reflect on this incredible year, we’re excited to share some memorable moments! From community gatherings to special programs, events and celebrations, these images capture the heart of Iona’s impact and the people who make it all possible.
The Asian and Pacific Islander Senior Center (API Center) provides services like recreational activities, meals, counseling, case management and more, to the API community in the District. Here are highlights from the Center’s Lunar New Year celebration, yoga and violin activities, and fashion show.
The Oasis Senior Center offers a safe space for unhoused older adults to access nutritious meals, supportive services, and a welcoming community. Pictured are participants and staff at the Mayor’s 13th Annual Senior Symposium, hosted by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL).
The Active Wellness Program at St. Alban’s is a daily wellness program designed to bring older adults together through exercise, classes, workshops, and a healthy lunch. Pictured are highlights from a weekly Improv class and our Pride celebration.
Iona’s Community Dining Sites combat senior hunger in D.C. by providing nutritious food and resources they need to age well. Pictured are staff and community members at James Apartments enjoying a summer Aloha-themed party (pictured above, right).
Iona’s Memory Café offers a welcoming space for individuals with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia and their families to enjoy a shared experience. Pictured are participants, families, and Iona staff and volunteers enjoying a St. Patrick’s Day-themed Memory Café with live entertainment, food, and community (pictured above, left).
The 2024 Summer Arts Exhibition highlighted the remarkable work of our participants and community artists at The Lois & Richard England Gallery in Iona’s Tenleytown location (pictured above, center).
In 2025, Iona Senior Services will be celebrating our 50th anniversary—marking five decades of impact serving older adults and caregivers in the District and surrounding communities. Throughout the years, we’ve proudly provided essential services to help people age with dignity and care.
As we approach this milestone, we invite you to celebrate with us! Stay tuned for exciting events and opportunities to reflect on this incredible journey together. Subscribe to our eNewsletter for the latest: www.iona.org/enews
Iona’s CEO, Joon Bang, spoke at the budget hearing for the DC Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) before the DC City Council on Monday, April 22, 2024. He urged the Council to reinstate funding and provide ongoing support for Iona’s Dementia Navigators and Money Management programs. Read Joon’s full testimony below. You can also view the video here.
Councilmember Anita Bonds Chairperson Committee on Executive Administration and Labor Budget Hearing of the Committee on the Department of Aging and Community Living
Monday, April 22, 2024
Good morning, Madam Chair Bonds, Council member Frumin, members and staff of the Committee. Thank you for your commitment to DC’s older adults and aging community. I’m Joon Bang, CEO of Iona Senior Services, for almost 50 years, Iona has been a lifeline to older adults and caregivers across the District. Today, we serve older adults and their family caregivers across the City with our Adult Day Health Centers in Congress Heights (Ward 8) and Tenleytown (Ward 3), we provide citywide programs like Dementia Navigators and Money Management, along with 8 satellite locations to provide meals, engaging activities, social services, as well as, a virtual platform for lifelong learning through Around Town DC to meet the diverse needs of our aging population. We help older adults with opportunities to age well and overcome food insecurity, loneliness, language barriers, homelessness, and provide care for individuals and their families impacted by dementia and other difficult challenges.
Through our partnership with the DC Office on Aging and Community Living, Iona first became the Ward 3 Senior Service Lead Agency in 1982 and forty-one years later in 2023, Iona was given the privilege of not only continuing our role as the Ward 3 Lead Agency, but becoming the Ward 2 Senior Service Lead Agency as well. I am grateful for the partnership of Director Hines and the hard-working staff at DACL and at Iona. In just the past 7 months, we have served over 30,000 meals to over a thousand food insecure and often isolated older adults across Wards 2 & 3 since October. We’ve expanded our services with the Oasis drop-in center to provide older adults experiencing homelessness with daily meals, education and socialization opportunities, while receiving support to find housing. Iona also now serves the Asian Pacific Islander older adults living in the District with language barriers through our API Senior Center.
Each of the thousands of people we serve have incredible life stories and we are honored to walk with them on their life and aging journey. I want to share with you the the story. Mr. Smith (using a pseudonym to protect his identity), almost 80 now, immigrated to the US from the Middle East, found a job as a hospitality worker in the District, and made a new home in an apartment in Glover Park in 1981. Throughout the four decades he met his wife, developed a community of lifelong friends and like all of us traversed the good and the hard of life. When his wife was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, he took on additional responsibilities as a caregiver. When you meet him, you can feel his zest for life, he carries a joyful spirit despite some of life’s difficult curveballs. What is also remarkable is that he lived in the same home in Glover Park for forty years until last year when his apartment was severely damaged in a storm and became unlivable for months. He was on the verge of going to the shelter while trying to manage his declining health due to chronic conditions until Iona’s social worker began working with him to find health services and a new place to call home. Mr. Smith could never have navigated the application process, the signing of the lease, the move, find medical attention while navigating all aspects of this difficult life transition alone. Like Mr. Smith, more than 74% of the District’s 84,000 older adults are living alone and many require continued care and support to age safely in their communities.
I share Mr. Smith’s story with you to highlight the important work of Iona’s social workers and case managers. As you already know, in FY22, the decision to remove funding for case management and home delivered meals from lead agencies resulted in a substantial decrease in lead agency grant budgets which has a direct impact on our ability to provide the individualized support and care for many older adults aging alone in the District.
Iona’s Ward 3 lead agency grant has seen a significant decrease of over 50% coming into FY24. Ward 3 is still home to the largest older adult population in the District and I respectfully request the Council to support Iona in restoring our Ward 3 Lead Agency budget levels to that of 2019-2023. In addition, we need your continued support for Iona’s Dementia Navigators and Money Management programs as they are the only community-based comprehensive subsidized dementia care management and navigation for the District. We’ve uploaded client profiles onto our website for public view of our work at www.Iona.org and attached to this testimony. They highlight the important work of Iona’s Dementia Navigators and the diverse clients served throughout all 8 wards of the District.
I thank you for your leadership in the city and the opportunity to testify.
We began the new year at Iona Senior Services by hosting our first Memory Café of 2024. The evening provides only a handful of times during the year for people with memory loss and their loved ones to unwind together in a judgement-free, fun, and supportive environment with good food, live entertainment, and a welcoming community. On that night, one of our family caregivers requested the song Smoke Gets In Your Eyes. He and his wife began slowly dancing to the lyrics “They asked me how I knew my true love was true oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, I, of course replied, ‘Something here inside cannot be denied.’”
That special moment reminds us today that while there are undoubtedly complex challenges caused by aging with and caring for people with memory loss, love gives us the power to transcend our obstacles.
As CEO, I often reflect on the deep sense of privilege that comes with the work of advancing Iona’s mission which contributes to the dignity of our aging community. I’ve felt a special connection to our work during the past two years as I have been able to support my mother as she cared for her mother with aphasia, mild dementia, and ultimately, my grandmother’s end-of-life journey, and the grief process that followed.
Thousands of unique and important experiences are happening in our community every day. At Iona, we remain focused on the vision of a society where everyone’s basic needs throughout their aging journey are met and those who are vulnerable and living in the margins of society have the support they need.
As the new senior service Lead Agency in Ward 2 and continuing Lead Agency in Ward 3 designated by the DC Department on Aging and Community Living (DACL), we’ve expanded our service delivery model first piloted at the Regency House over a year ago to four additional low-income senior housing facilities in Ward 2. They represent a diverse community of over 500 older adults with an average annual income of less than $15,000. We’ve incorporated community dining, resource navigation by licensed social workers, and added health and wellness programs to address their food insecurity and isolation. Since the expansion of our programs in October 2023, Iona has served more than 12,000 meals in just three months to hundreds of food-insecure older adults; and, to reflect the city’s diverse aging population, we’ve also increased our citywide programs to meet the needs of low-income Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) older adults with language barriers. A tremendous amount of work has gone into the transition of our role as the Ward 2 lead agency and I want to thank the DACL team and all of our staff for making the transition a success. I’m especially thankful for our Ward 2 team at our community dining sites, Oasis Senior Center, and AAPI Senior Center for hitting the ground running to ensure the people we serve receive the care they need.
An issue of deep concern for many of us is the rising population of older adults who are experiencing homelessness. Nearly 40% of the city’s unhoused are our older neighbors. According to the District’s annual count of unhoused persons, there are 383 unsheltered seniors living in the area, up from 118 counted in 2022. Three of the unhoused people counted last year were older than 90, while more than two-thirds were 70 or older. Iona’s new Oasis Senior Center is the only program in the District that provides a safe space for unhoused older adults to find a warm nutritious meal during the day while receiving supportive services and a community that welcomes them. The data is clear that many older adults in the District are in crisis and we will work to develop the solutions to ensure no one ages without a place to call home.
With 11,000 people turning 65 every day, we’re expected to see a significant increase in the number of people living with dementia. At Iona, we are building an ecosystem of care for people with memory loss through our adult day health centers, dementia navigation, and money management. We’re expanding on Iona’s legacy volunteer program, the Friendly Visitor, with the launch of the Age Well/Live Well volunteer and respite program. This initiative seeks to support older people living alone with cognitive and physical impairments and family caregivers of neurodiverse individuals aging with dementia by providing respite through volunteers under the guidance of a clinical social worker.
To learn more about our new locations and programs, please visit: www.iona.org
Whether they are moments that remind us of the power of love or the simple acts of compassion and kindness we see in our community, I am thankful you are walking alongside us to advance Iona’s mission to ensure all people have the opportunity to live and age well.
In October 1994, John Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit Earth, addressed his colleagues at the US Senate with the story of Mrs. Jones (told to him by then-Iona Executive Director Elizabeth Fox). At 87 years old, Mrs. Jones was a former government employee and a member of the naturally occurring retirement community (NORC) on Connecticut Avenue in Northwest DC. She lived alone, did not have any savings, and her osteoporosis made it difficult to prepare meals or do light cleaning. More than anything, Mrs. Jones was afraid that her situation would require her to move to a nursing home and leave her home of the past 40 years.
That’s when her apartment manager put her in touch with Iona. Soon, Mrs. Jones began receiving home-delivered meals seven days a week. An Iona volunteer visited her weekly to check on her, and she received the care and support she needed to remain in her home. Most importantly, she found a new community in Iona.
During my first year as Iona’s CEO, I had the honor of meeting many individuals similar to Mrs. Jones. And much like her, I too have found a new community in Iona. From cake recipes, poems, life stories, hugs, and even the occasional American Sign Language lesson, I have received so much more from the people we serve in a single year than I can ever return.
In Senator Glenn’s message to the Senate, he shared: “Mrs. Jones’ story has a lot to teach us about policies and programs which will help our country cope with its growing older population. The government alone cannot give Mrs. Jones the quality of life that we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. Rather, the government needs partners to mobilize volunteers… to be part of the solution… Iona Senior Services is an outstanding example of this partnership.”
This past year has generated many successful partnerships that have allowed Iona to serve older adults and the people caring for them throughout the city in new ways. We worked with Iona’s Citizens Advisory Group and partnered with DC Villages to host a Ward 3 DC City Council forum to hear candidates speak about older adult-specific issues. To bridge the digital divide faced by our older adults in Southeast DC, we partnered with Comcast to provide free high-speed Internet access and digital skills training by becoming a community Lift Zone. Through a partnership with the DC Department of Aging and Community Living, we launched a citywide In-Home Peer Support program to provide supplemental income for older adults trained as Peer Support Workers to help reach isolated older adults in need of socialization and light assistance at home, making it a true “for older adults, by older adults” program.
I begin my second year as CEO of Iona this week with a deep sense of gratitude for every person we have the privilege of serving because of the trust given to us. Our listening sessions will continue throughout the year for us to hear and learn from you. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure that all people have the opportunity to age and live well.
In 1975, Pearlbea Labier was just 24 years old and a recent Masters of Social Work graduate from Catholic University when she noticed an advertisement in a newsletter.
A new organization called Iona House was looking for its first Executive Director. Although the position was unpaid, Pearlbea enthusiastically accepted the opportunity and its responsibilities.
“It was a real challenge in the beginning,” she remembers. Iona’s focus had yet to be determined, and there was no funding for programs.
At first, Iona supporters wanted the organization to focus on mental health. But after conducting door-to-door canvassing and learning that Ward 3 had
the highest number of older adults in the District, Pearlbea made a strategic decision. “I realized that there were a lot of older people in the neighborhood, and that was where we needed to focus,” she says.
Pearlbea developed Iona’s first programs with the help of volunteers, including friendly visiting, Telefriends (a daily safety-check phone call), and a Widow to Widow program. Over time, Iona added a recreation program and many more classes and events.
“At the time, the landscape for providing services to the elderly population was totally open,” Pearlbea says. “I had carte blanche to be creative and come up with ideas for programs.”
One of the critical early moments in Pearlbea’s 15-year tenure was securing funding from the DC government. “That was a major accomplishment,” she recalls. “I knew that with public funding, Iona would be a lead
agency with funding for services.”
In 1990, Pearlbea left Iona to create assisted living communities for individuals with memory loss. But she is proud of her legacy and where the organization stands today.
“It’s very impressive how far Iona has come in terms of community and responding to needs,” she says. “To this day, there is still a need for many of the programs we created over 40 years ago.”
Care is at the heart of everything we do at Iona. It calls us to listen to the people we serve, moves us to respond to their needs in times of uncertainty, and brings out our shared humanity, reminding us that we are on this lifelong journey together, no matter the obstacles.
As Iona’s new CEO, it’s a privilege for me to steward the mission of serving our community of older adults and the people caring for them, and to continue the important path forged by former leaders: Pearlbea LaBier, Sally McCarthy, Mary Callahan, Elizabeth Fox, Louise Myers, Joan Lewis, Deborah Peeples, and Sally White. Iona was born 47 years ago to answer an expressed need, and, since then, has pioneered innovative and comprehensive solutions to serve the burgeoning older adult community in our nation’s capital.
We invite you to welcome this new year with us at Iona—one in which we seek to celebrate our diverse communities and come together to serve our elders and caregivers of different races, ethnicities, cultures, incomes, abilities, identities, and orientations. As part of these efforts, we will be hosting listening sessions throughout the year to learn more about your needs and hopes around growing older. Please write me at joonbang@iona.org if you’d like to be involved in our listening sessions and the changes we seek to make. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that Iona is a platform where the voiceless have a voice and the isolated have a community. Iona’s commitment to breaking down the barriers that create inequities in society—particularly those impacting our aging community—is our priority in 2022.
Protecting the dignity of our older adult population is not just a mandate upon Iona—it is our shared responsibility as a society. We invite you to join us in this important work of caring for all our older neighbors and those who care for them.
Yours sincerely,
Joon Bang
Chief Executive Officer
Iona Senior Services
