Eleven thousand Americans turn 65 every day. The nation is in the midst of “Peak 65,” the largest retirement wave in U.S. history, and by 2030, adults 65 and older will outnumber children under 18 for the first time ever. This “silver tsunami” poses a hard question for caregiving: the traditional answer — adding more people — cannot scale to the velocity and magnitude of the wave. Augmenting the caregiving workforce with new tools, including robotics, is no longer science fiction; it is becoming a necessity.
This was the backdrop for Executive Director Izumi Yaskawa’s talk at The Forum at Rancho San Antonio, delivered at the invitation of the Forum Charitable Fund — a homecoming of sorts, as The Forum is her former workplace. The morning was filled with reconnections, old friends, and a warm welcome.
Her talk explored what adult day service really is. The answer comes down to one word: socialization. Research links social connection to better cognitive, physical, and emotional health in older adults — and at Live Oak, every program is built around it. The music, the meals, the exercise, and the arts are the vehicles; what they carry is always human connection.
Izumi shared a finding that surprises many: about half of Live Oak’s members are high-functioning older adults who don’t need care so much as a community to belong to. As friends pass away and driving stops, the structure of social life can quietly disappear. Live Oak fills that gap — and in our most recent family survey, 81% of caregivers named Live Oak a decisive factor in keeping their loved one at home.
The talk also covered Live Oak’s trial with Mirokai, a companion robot by Enchanted Tools, vetted through our partnership with the Stanford Robotics Center. Members described what they witnessed as “people coming out of their shells”: for members with mild to mid-stage dementia who had withdrawn socially, the infinitely patient robot offered safe ground to practice conversation and regain the confidence to rebuild human connections. Robots, in this vision, do not replace caregivers — they augment a workforce that cannot grow fast enough on its own.
Finally, Izumi discussed how adult day services can support Independent Living communities — helping residents living with early dementia remain in IL longer while providing meaningful respite to their spouses.
To learn more about Live Oak’s programs or schedule a visit to one of our four Santa Clara County locations, contact us at liveoakadultdaycare.org.