All posts by : Darrick Lam

In early April, ACC undertook a change in business direction with the Fund Development Department to improve operational efficiencies and donor services. To that end, ACC has appointed Ted Fong as the Interim Director of Development.

 As the Board President and CEO for ACC, we sincerely apologize to our donors and supporters for problems you may have encountered with donation processing and related customer service activities.

Ted is focusing on improving our software configuration, reducing human errors, and getting donor acknowledgement letters out accurately and on time. He has created a bug reporting system to capture errors, omissions, and, yes, complaints. You can submit your case online at tinyurl.com/acc7070, or email Ted at tfong@accsv.org.

Ted is also meeting with the various Board, Standing Committees and Special Event Committees to discuss what we want to see as the ideal donor and volunteer experience at ACC. These findings will inform the long-term direction of Fund Development at ACC and the level of funding the Department requires.

On a lighter note, we would like to thank all the volunteers and donors for supporting our Big Day of Giving 2019 which raised over $50,000 on May 2nd and our 13th Annual Golf Tournament which raised over $30,000 on May 7th. We would thank Maeley Tom who starred in our epic music video “Rollin’ at ACC” and our sponsors who are listed on pages 4 and 16 of this issue.

ACC was also one of the recipients at the 2nd Annual Pride of the Pocket Awards Ceremony which was held on Thursday, May 30th, at the Didion School Park. Nominated by Supervisory Patrick Kennedy, ACC was joined by other awardees which included Pocket-Greenhaven Moms Group; Friends of the Robbie Waters Library; Matsuyama Principal Judy Farina and Teacher Stephanie Berry; Pocket Little League; Lieutanant Paul Freeman; Lane Shapiro; and Friends of the Sacramento River Parkway. ACC’s head of HR Tony Waterford and our Guitar Ensemble also provided entertainment.

Last but not least, the ACC Board of Directors will lead the development of a new Five-Year Strategic Plan for ACC entitled “Honoring the Past; Building for the Future.” Input will be solicited from clients, employees, volunteers, and other community stakeholders to ensure that our plan will become realistic.

Thank you again for your ongoing support to help ACC with our growth and improvement on our operational efficiencies and customer services.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s father, Judge William Newsom, died last year at 84 after battling dementia and other health issues. Two months later, in his first State of the State Address, the governor said that California will develop a “Master Plan on Aging.”

The governor cited three challenges for California that ACC addresses head on – the social isolation seniors experience, their transportation needs, and Alzheimer’s. “I’ve had some personal and painful experience with this recently,” he said.

ACC Rides, Meals on Wheels congregant dining, ACC Lifelong Learning are just a few programs that show how ACC has been thinking ahead on these issues. And with ACC Maple Tree Village opening later this year, we will be fully committed to helping people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Our work has another dimension to it that often gets overlooked by policy makers. We help family caregivers, not just their loved ones, through support groups, classes, workshops, and social activities. We strive to improve the quality of life for all family members, not just those 65 and older.

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It’s time for a new Master Plan on Aging. It must address: person-centered care, the patchwork of public services, social isolation, bed-locked seniors in need of transportation, the nursing shortage, and demand for In-Home Supportive Services that far outpaces its capacity. And we can’t talk about aging without focusing on Alzheimer’s. Governor Gavin Newsom, February 12, 2019

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ACC has created an environment that promotes dynamic family interactions with seniors. Families come to our assisted living and skill nursing facilities, spending quality time with their love ones. It’s an organic experience that really defines ACC. If you attended our recent Chinese New Years celebrations, you could have seen just how intergenerational these events were.

Therefore, it appears that Governor Newsom’s approach to health policy was shaped by his father’s story. That’s what makes him like the rest of us. Anyone who has been a caregiver knows what older adults and their caregivers need. You don’t have to be the governor, but we’re glad he’s on board. Rich or poor, famous or not, we all want the same thing for our parents and others who are aging.

Read Governor Newsom’s State of the State speech delivered on February 12, 2019.

The ACC Senior Services Blue Ribbon Committee was formed to steward the research and decision making for ACC’s skilled nursing care and, specifically, the future of the ACC Care Center.  We are working with the Fox Group to put together the best plan for the Care Center.

In the meantime, our Capital Campaign donors have helped ACC fulfilled dozens of commitments, strengthening our innovative legacy of improving the quality of life for our community’s older residents at the ACC Care Center.

Many of you gave in response to the $500,000 match challenge gift by Art and Barbara Tom. So, thank you! Your gifts not only benefit our seniors but their community of family, friends, and neighbors whose lives are intertwined with theirs.

ACC Senior Services is fortunate to have a diverse Board of Directors comprised of people from healthcare, government, private enterprise, and community leadership. Some have been family caregivers at one time or another.

This summer, they will lead the development of a new Five-Year Strategic Plan for ACC. It’s our chance to dream big but plan realistically.

So much has changed in the area of aging, not just how we provide care, but also how we look at the social aspects and meaning of “getting old.” The vast majority of people over 70 are not sick or bedridden. That means we need to keep them active, healthy, and out of isolation. One thing is for sure: the “silver tsunami” has a lot of stored energy and ACC is right in front of it!

That is why, as our Board develops the Plan, they will solicit input from clients, employees, volunteers, and other community stakeholders. We look forward to your input.

ACC Maple Tree Village is scheduled to open late this year. If you travel on I-5 near the Pocket Road exit, it’s hard to miss “MTV” rising out the ground. It’s a beautiful building, and we commend Reeve-Knight Construction for their work.

We also want to welcome our new Administrator, Kyle Fredrickson, who has done a great job in moving our resident application process and care policies forward. For more information and to get on the MTV Reservation List, visit this page.

Respectfully,

Winston Ashizawa
President
ACC Senior Services

Darrick Lam
CEO
ACC Senior Services