Posts in category: blog

Dr. Scott Stringer is the Medical Director at ACC Care Center and an expert in keeping seniors out of the hospital. As a former emergency room physician, Dr. Stringer treated patients during the “golden hour,” the period of time following a traumatic injury when medical care has the highest likelihood of preventing expensive hospital stays and death. As such, early intervention has become a common theme in the treatment of sepsis, stroke, heart attacks, heart failure, and many other medical conditions.

This is especially true at ACC Care Center which presents a unique opportunity to treat reversible conditions before they become much worse or even fatal.

There is a cost benefit too. Hospital care accounts for a whopping 33% of all health care spending in the U.S. This number has always bothered Dr. Stringer who believes that good care can and should be delivered at a lower cost. That means treating patients early enough to prevent hospitalization or, in many cases, readmission.

Sepsis is a common diagnosis for seniors being admitted to hospitals from skilled nursing facilities. “Treating sepsis is the most expensive form of hospital care, not to mention very traumatic for families,” says Dr. Stringer. “People can be in the hospital for months.”

Sepsis is the body’s reaction to bacterial blood infection caused by pneumonia, urinary tract infections, the flu, or even a cut or a scrape. Septic shock sets in when  blood pressure drops, reducing the amount of oxygen that reaches your vital organs. Detected too late, it will often lead to death.

“I think the biggest initiative I brought to ACC was teaching the nurses about sepsis,” says Dr. Stringer.

Sepsis is treated with antibiotics given intravenously. Fluids are also given to patients to prevent blood pressure from falling and inducing septic shock. “But,” says Dr. Stringer, “there’s an old quote, ‘sepsis is hard to recognize in the beginning and easy to treat. But, as it becomes more advanced, it gets easier to recognize, but a lot harder to treat.’ Late stages of sepsis are often irreversible.”

Dr. Stringer did not want his patients at ACC Care Center to be just another statistic. “I think the biggest initiative I brought to ACC was teaching the nurses about sepsis, recognizing acute infections and being aggressive.”

He says that even subtle changes in a person’s mood, mental state, and vital signs could be early warning signs. “For that matter, every employee at ACC is in a position to notice if anything is not right about a patient.”

Dr. Stringer has given talks in the community about addressing infections in the elderly and showed how quickly people above the age of 70 can become septic.

“Unfortunately, by the time someone gets transported to the hospital, the golden hour may have already passed,” says Dr. Stringer. “Training employees in early detection and using advance antibiotic therapy at ACC Care Center give patients every opportunity to reverse the process. Patients might still go to the hospital but with a much better outlook physically and financially.”

Early Warning Signs of Sepsis

• Confusion or disorientation
• Shortness of breath
• High heart rate
• Fever, or shivering, or feeling very cold
• Extreme pain or discomfort
• Clammy or sweaty skin

Source: CDC

For many leaders and staff members of ACC, supporting the organization’s mission of serving older adults is more than just a job, but an opportunity to develop fulfilling careers and find enrichment in enhancing and preserving the quality of life for the community’s seniors and their families.

Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Tony Waterford is one such person at ACC who strives to go above and beyond his duties to represent and support the organization’s mission and vision. Leading ACC’s Human Resources Department, Waterford describes his position as one that allows him to “serve as a strategic partner adept at leading change in support of a growing and changing company and be a leader and champion for a healthy, safe, and engaged workforce.”

Tony discusses a leadership tool with Chia Moua and David Lin

Although his day-to-day job duties keep him busy, Waterford finds the time to show his commitment to the community’s seniors in a variety of ways. With a talent and interest in singing and dancing, Waterford often performs at major ACC events like the Big Day of Giving party every May, and emcees the annual Care Center Fundraiser in September.  At these events, he enjoys singing hits from a variety of genres that include country, disco, and pop. Tony also hosts ACC’s annual staff holiday party, and gives concerts for ACC Care Center residents and visitors every month.

“Having the opportunity to perform at Care Center concerts and ACC fundraising events is a ‘bonus’ for me,” he said. “When I was a child, my three siblings and I dreamed of becoming professional entertainers. While my parents supported our dreams, they emphasized the importance of getting a good education, and I was ultimately groomed to become an HR professional and entertainer. Their advice paid off!”

Originally from Chicago, Waterford’s early beginnings include an interest in aviation, and he became a cadet in the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. However, over time, he developed a new found passion for community health and public administration, which led him to complete a Masters of Arts degree in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University and go on to a fulfilling career in human resources.

Now approaching his ninth year at ACC, Waterford has seen how much the organization has changed over the last decade, and why a strong team of leadership, staff, and volunteers is important to its success. “I am amazed and excited about the continued growth of ACC and Meals on Wheels by ACC (MoW),” he said. “I am very fortunate to be part of an organization that embraces change, champions diversity, and celebrates success.”

Tony and Maeley Tom put on a Christmas show with special guest Darrick lam at ACC Care Center last December

According to Waterford, the combined workforce of ACC and MoW has grown over 50 percent since 2010, and will continue to grow as ACC prepares for its grand opening of ACC Maple Tree Village, an assisted living and memory care center slated to open later this year.

With this projected growth, Waterford will continue to work towards building and supporting a workforce that truly desires to enhance the quality of life for seniors and their caregivers and families. “To serve our community and have an impact on the quality of life of seniors is precious,” he said. “I think that many of our employees and volunteers have chosen careers (not jobs) at ACC and MoW, and as Confucius says, ‘Choose a job that you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.’ That says it all for me.”

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

If you type “Pickleball Sacramento” in Google’s search bar, it may come as no surprise that the first result in the Google Maps directory is ACC Senior Services. This may be because ACC is home to some of the first ever pickleball courts in Sacramento, and also a popular gathering place for longtime and beginner players alike.

“We get people from everywhere vacationing or visiting Sacramento calling to ask where they can play pickleball,” said Program Director Linda Revilla. We went from three to four courts just to keep up with the demand. There are even people in their 80’s and 90’s playing.”

Revilla believes the sport is popular in the community because it allows players to get good exercise, meet new friends, and learn a fun new hobby.

Revilla shared a personal example of pickleball’s ability to attract new enthusiasts: “My friends played pickleball once and they went out that night and bought pickleball equipment. They were hooked after the first time.”

Program Assistant Anna Su agrees, and admits she occasionally takes breaks to see pickleball matches. “Sometimes I go outside to watch the players because it’s fun to watch,” she said. “People get addicted to it!”

With features similar to tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, the pickleball craze shows no signs of slowing down.

With features similar to tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, the pickleball craze shows no signs of slowing down. Although the sport was created in 1965, a 2018 AARP report states that pickleball is one of America’s fastest growing sports, and found that players experienced positive health benefits like lower levels of depression and improved blood pressure.

Throughout Sacramento and many parts of the country, it’s common to see municipal tennis courts alternatively used as pickleball courts, just by making simple temporary changes to the lines or nets.

Despite its current popularity, pickleball has only been at ACC for a few years and will begin its fifth season this March. Sunny Jung, Heman Lee, and Jeannie Fong were among the first volunteers to help establish pickleball at ACC, and have seen the impact it has made on the ACC community.

In 2015, Jung, Lee, Fong, and a few other dedicated volunteers were instrumental in helping ACC receive a grant from the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) to build its first courts. Led by an all-volunteer effort, ACC’s pickleball courts were ready for action once lines were painted, equipment was purchased, and clinics were organized.

Clinics are especially important because they introduce new and interested people to the sport, and the instructors strongly emphasize that pickleball is more about enjoying oneself than being competitive. “Our focus has always been to teach people how to play the game, socialize, and have fun, said Jung, who organizes and leads many of the clinics alongside Gary Elias Berg, another longtime player. “Even if you played little to no sports growing up, it’s a very easy game to learn. You can learn to play in a matter of minutes.” Jung adds that pickleball is not an intimidating or high-impact sport, especially because the average game only lasts about ten to fifteen minutes. “You may find pickleball is less stressful on your body,” he said.

To usher in the new season, the next ACC Pickleball clinic will take place on March 15, 2019, at 12:30 p.m in the ACC Community Room. The clinic will provide an overview and brief history of the sport, and attendees will get a chance to see tutorials and have one-on-one time with skilled pickleball players.

But for those who cannot make the clinic, new players are always welcome on the court. Drop-in sessions are on Wednesday and Friday mornings beginning March 20, and only cost $3 for three hours, which covers equipment on loan. Session schedules are dependent on weather, so it’s important to call ACC Programs on rainy days to check whether times are subject to change. There will also be a pickleball tournament at ACC’s Big Day of Giving Party on May 2, 2019, where players will showcase their skills on the courts.

Jung and Fong encourage others try pickleball because along with physical fitness, new friendships and great team camaraderie are bonuses. “We have potlucks and socials,” said Fong. “It’s just a very social group. You meet people who will leave an imprint in your heart for life.”

For more information on ACC Pickleball, including schedules and clinics, contact ACC Programs at (916) 393-9026. To donate to ACC Pickleball, please write a check to “ACC Pickleball” and mail it to ACC Senior Services, 7334 Park City Drive, Sacramento, CA 95831. Donations to ACC Pickleball go towards maintenance and repairs of ACC’s pickleball courts and equipment.

​Picketball Terminology

From www.pickleballportal.com

Ace: A serve that is not returned by the opponent. Point is won on serve without being returned.

Dink Shot: A soft that arcs over the net and falls into the opposing non-volley zone.

Doubles: Pickleball game played between 4 people (2 on each team). Teams can be men, women or mixed doubles.

Overhead Shot: Any shot hit where the paddle starts high above your head and drives downward, similar to the motion of a tennis serve.​

Serve: An underhand stroke used to put the pickleball into play. Serving team has two attempts to serve the point. ​Paddle must contact the ball under the server’s waist level.

Volley: Hitting the ball in the air before the ball has a chance to bounce onto the pickleball court.

Kitchen: The non-volley zone on either side of the net. If you are standing in the kitchen, you must let the ball bounce before hitting it.

Thanks to the vision and generosity of Art & Barbara Tom, the ACC Senior Services Capital Campaign is 67% of the way towards the $3 million goal. Their $500,000 matching gift and the $500,000 raised from hundreds of other households raised $1,000,000.  The campaign pledges and gifts to date total $2,018,819 and 97% of the pledges to date have been fulfilled.

The $1 million contributed through the matching gift remains dedicated to the ACC Care Center transformation project.  ACC is currently engaged with the Fox Group in a market study the results of which will guide the decision making for the future of skilled nursing care at the ACC Care Center. To date, Capital Campaign gifts have helped renovate the ACC Senior Services campus at 7334 Park City Drive, funded the conversion of the assisted living units at Greenhaven Terrace and helped pave the way for Maple Tree Village.

Thanks to everyone – all 2,491 gifts and pledge donors – who have supported the Capital Campaign through each of the phases since its launch in 2013.   The promise of assisted living and memory care at Maple Tree Village will be fulfilled in the next year followed  by the vision for the ACC Care Center.