ACC President and CEO Darrick Lam has been appointed to the State-level committee that will develop the roadmap that provides all Californians, regardless of race, economic status or level of support, an opportunity grow old safely, with dignity and independence.
During his State of the State speech in on February 12, 2019, Governor Newsom said, “It is time for a new Master Plan on Aging. We’ve deferred it for far too long. 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.”
Mr. Lam joins 33 other professionals on the newly formed Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee. The group will help to develop components of the Master Plan, including best practices and data metrics, to guide the work of state government, local communities, private organizations and philanthropy to build environments that promote an age friendly California.
“California is the state with the most number of people who are 65 years and older, totaling 5.1 millions in 2017; this number is estimated to increase to 8.6 million by 2030,” says Mr. Lam. “I call them the ‘Silver Tsunami.’ They are facing severe shortages in just about everything from healthcare to transportation. It’s interesting, though, that Governor Newsom’s vision for aging adults has been ACC’s vision for decades.”
As a trained social worker and holder of an MBA, Mr. Lam has over 29 years of experience in the field of aging and long-term services and support in both the public and private nonprofit sectors.
Says Board Chair Winston Ashizawa, “Darrick’s appointment makes sense not only because of his experience, but also because the ACC community is a microcosm of everything the Governor has been taking about. We provide skilled nursing, assisted living, independent living, transportation, meals, social services, and health and wellness programs.”
In a related development, Governor Newsom and Former First Lady of California, Maria Shriver, announced the Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness Task Force. Both had parents who died from this disease. Says Mr. Lam, “ACC’s construction of Maple Tree Village Memory Care Center could not be more timely. Beyond the physical construction of the facility, we are doing a lot of work on developing programs for residents and their family caregivers.”
ACC is honored to bring our knowledge and experience to the Committee that will develop governor’s Master Plan on Aging,” says Mr. Ashizawa. “We feel that what has worked for our seniors will also work for other seniors across the State.”
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