As the first Adult Day Program and Counseling Center in Los Angeles, OPICA has been serving adults challenged with memory loss and their families in the West Los Angeles area for more than 35 years. OPICA creates a structured, yet socially engaging, nurturing and fun environment that enables members to avoid isolation, to experience an overall improved quality of life, and to maintain dignity, meaning, and a sense of self-worth.
OPICA provides much needed respite and peace of mind for CAREgivers. Our supportive programs and counseling services help guide families with a loved one challenged by memory loss along their unique journeys, relieving stress while providing hope. OPICA provides the community at large with a place to turn when needing information and/or guidance regarding memory loss-related conditions and we are committed to collaborative cooperation with health care providers and other social service agencies.
OPICA’s highly experienced staff and diverse set of volunteers are dedicated, hands-on, and focused on the comfort and well-being of OPICA’s members in its unique Stoner Park setting.
Day Program activities include:
For the monthly calendar of day program activities, click here.
For more information regarding the Adult Day Program, contact Sara Kaye, Director of Family Services.
Are you or someone you know caring for a loved one with memory problems? OPICA’s support groups and supportive services are open to the public and offered five days a week. All our counseling is conducted by licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and supervised trainees/interns, on-site at OPICA unless otherwise indicated below.
Support groups impart information and comfort, and facilitate discussion in a warm and open atmosphere as individuals endeavor to find their own balance. Sessions focus on strategies for emotional support, stress reduction, lifestyle changes, relationships, depression and crisis management. The groups meet once a week and are limited to eight people.
Support groups are offered at the following locations:
*Enrollment requires initial phone consultation with group facilitator. Please contact Anne Galbraith, Director of Counseling or Elizabeth Lira Associate Director of Counseling.
Individual, Couples and Family Counseling
Our licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and supervised interns are available to support those learning to cope with emotional and/or relational challenges such as depression, grief and life transitions in addition to the changes associated with early memory loss and related chronic illnesses. We support clients towards expanding options, and creating and achieving meaningful goals.
OPICA’s Brain Train for Early Memory Loss
OPICA provides a comprehensive set of programs and services to meet the needs of families throughout all stages of memory loss, contributing to an overall improved quality of life.
For individuals experiencing early-stage memory loss, OPICA’s Brain Train is a weekly four hour program delivered by a professional multi-disciplinary team. Program components are designed to help individuals find healthy ways to cope with their emotions, learn techniques to support memory, enhance creativity and provide opportunities for friendship. A support group for family CAREgivers offered concurrently provides peer-to-peer support, a greater understanding of dementia and specific care management strategies.
For more information please contact Elizabeth Lira, Associate Director of Counseling.
For information regarding the South Bay location and information, contact Gillian Scott, Associate Counselor.
OPICA’s Brain Train is offered at three locations:
OPICA, Stoner Park
Thursday 10:00am – 2:00pm
Silverado, Beverly Place
Wednesday 10:30am – 2:30pm
Beach Cities Health District, Redondo Beach
Tuesday 10:30am – 2:30pm
Learn how to Care for yourself while Caring for a loved one. You will learn techniques to:
This series is offered six consecutive sessions.
Savvy Caregiver, helping Alzheimer’s Family Caregivers is offered three consecutive sessions. For information regarding when the next series is offered for either class, contact the instructor, Carol Hahn, MSN, Rc
This FREE program is based on research conducted by Dr. Gary Small of the UCLA Memory and Aging Center. It helps participants learn general strategies to improve memory, remember names and faces, develop techniques to recall numbers, and learn about factors that impact memory.
The four-week workshop (not intended for anyone with a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease) focuses on the four top memory complaints:
This series is offered four consecutive Mondays beginning:
Instructor: Carol Hahn, MSN, RN
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: OPICA, Stoner Park, 11759 Missouri Ave, Los Angeles 90025
For more information, contact Carol Hahn
This monthly workshop, conducted in a studio environment, is intended for family caregivers and people in related caregiving professions. The focus of the workshop is designed to foster self-care practices, respite, and enjoyment for participants.
The workshop will integrate creative self-expression and basic mindfulness practices with an emphasis on loving-kindness, and self-compassion.
* Learn to cultivate loving-kindness, self-compassion, and therefore, well-being.
* Discover the role of mindfulness practices as a pathway to stress reduction and compassion for self and others.
* Enjoy using art materials with a focus on color, movement, symbolism, and textures.
* No artistic talent needed!
Presented by:
Anne Galbraith, MA ATR, LMFT, Director of Counseling at OPICA
Elizabeth Lira, MA, LMFT, Associate Director of Counseling
The workshop begins with a brief lecture on the topic. Space is limited to 12 participants per workshop, register early to guarantee your spot.
The fee for this program is $25 per workshop.
Through a broad range of socially and intellectually engaging cognitive stimulation programs delivered by specially trained staff and volunteers, OPICA creates a structured, yet joyful and nurturing, environment that enables adults in all stages of memory loss to maintain dignity and self-worth.
Is a dementia-specific advance directive necessary? A growing number of Americans over age 60, have a standard advance directive, designating a decision-maker to direct their medical care if they became incapacitated. Not all experts are convinced another directive is needed. An article in the New York Times, “One Day Your Mind May Fade. At Least You’ll […]