Posts in category: blog

In 2016, Donna Fontenot left her job as a social worker after 21 years. “I had post-traumatic stress disorder,” she says. “I lost so much; I had to heal when I got to Sacramento.” In 2017, she came to the SCSEP program at ACC to retrain for another career.

Judy Fong’s husband Gary passed away a couple of years ago, and it was an adjustment. She had been his caregiver for years and had lived her life for him. Now she had lost her companion, her confidant, and being single changed the way she interacted with others. Judy stayed home, feeling sad and alone. ACC Rides and ACC’s Lifelong Learning and Wellness helped Judy get back on her feet.

Donna and Judy are fortunate. They knew intuitively that their social and economic well-being had a huge impact on their physical and mental health. It’s also what healthcare providers know, but too often they have little control over what happens to their patients outside of their office.

Many studies have shown that up to 80% of a person’s health outcomes is attributed to social, economic and environmental factors while only 20% is attributed to clinical medical care. These non-medical factors are known as Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). They include transportation, food, housing, income, social support, and education. Often, they overlap or interact to influence a person’s health status: the number of bus transfers a person needs to take to buy groceries, fill a prescription, or get to their doctor’s office. Do they have enough money to pay for food, heating, air conditioning, or pest control? If they are a sole caregiver for someone, the problem gets worse.

Judy understands the interplay of these kinds of non-medical conditions, and the effect they have on a person’s well-being, too. She took care of her husband who was on dialysis and he later had a heart attack. During this ordeal, “ACC was a lifesaver.”  Judy used ACC Rides five times a week to get Gary to dialysis and other appointments. It was so much easier than using Paratransit, which required long waits; and it was much more affordable than calling Lyft. But most importantly, the drivers were nice and caring and became trusted friends. Talking to to the drivers became the highlight of their day. “When you’re sick, not too many people come around. They don’t know what to say or they feel uncomfortable,” says Judy. Socializing with the drivers gave Gary and Judy a strong feeling of support. Today, Judy visits ACC two times a week, sometimes more. Friday Bingo is her favorite activity and she has made a new group of friends. “I learned that I could stay at home and look at the four walls, or I can go out and do something, learn something,” she says.

Donna Fontenot, like so many other SCSEP job-seekers, credits ACC with helping her achieve economic stability. She now works for the Department of Public Health and is a certified life coach on the side. “At ACC, not only me, but all the other seniors who came through SCSEP sharpened their skills and became better at who they are.”

In recent years, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recognized the power of SDOH in improving people’s health status, reducing health disparities in vulnerable populations, and lowering overall costs for all. New policies that cover non-medical interventions like transportation, home-delivered meals, health and fitness classes, housing access, employment supports, and activities that improve social support represent the gradual shift CMS is making from a fee-for-service model that rewards the quantity of medical services delivered, towards value-based care that makes health plans and providers accountable for better health outcomes. In other words, CMS is now encouraging health plans and providers to treat and hopefully prevent diseases by tackling SDOH like poverty and loneliness. Ultimately, that will save money and have the greatest impact on the health of our communities.

Meals on Wheels by ACC (MOW) has been doing this for years. MOW serves more than 2,000 meals a day to underserved people in Sacramento County and provides a lifeline to nutrition and social interaction. MOW delivery drivers, many of them volunteers, form lasting friendships with their participants and get them extra resources and help when needed. 

“The evidence is clear: social determinants of health, such as access to stable housing or gainful employment, may not be strictly medical, but they nevertheless have a profound impact on people’s well-being,” says past CMS Administrator Seema Verma in a CMS press release. “Patients are more than a bundle of medical diagnoses, and it’s time our healthcare system treated them as such.”

Fostering health and a better quality of life by looking at the whole person, not just their medical diagnoses, but their socio-economic, environmental, and cultural make up, has been a part of ACC’s mission since our earliest days. Our Home and Community-Based programs like Rides Transportation, Senior Employment, Caregiver Support, and Lifelong Learning and Wellness are a testament to that belief. 

ACC’s newest programs have a similar underlying logic and value system which targets SDOH.  Over this next year, we will be providing mental health assessments and coaching for seniors, expanded opportunities for social engagement and care coordination to reduce isolation; and direct care worker training, career coaching and incentive programs to develop the workforce that helps older adults and their families through the aging process. All these services are designed to help people lead healthy, active and rewarding lives utilizing non-medical interventions.

As we continue this important work and grow our services, we hope to join forces with health plans and providers to marshal our resources in providing value-based care for older adults and their families. We have had some initial meetings with health plans in the Sacramento region which has resulted in a new partnership with Alignment Health. They are now sponsoring field trips for seniors using ACC Rides vehicles, staff and volunteers and capitalizing on the relationships we’ve built with seniors and their families over the years.

Judy Fong signed up for the first field trip to the California State Railroad Museum, and is looking forward to the next one. She encourages others to sign up too. “You gotta get out of the house,” she says, eyes shining as they crinkle into a smile, “because you always learn something!”

Working at the ACC Care Center was not only Sumintra Devi’s last job before retirement, it was her first job, ever!  Soon after relocating from Fiji to the USA, Sumintra joined the ACC family as a housekeeper at the Care Center in 1999. After being a stay-at-home housewife in Fiji, she was excited to take on a new role.

When Sumintra began her employment, she also enrolled in English language classes through ACC in order  to better communicate with co-workers and residents. She even learned to drive so she didn’t have to rely on public transportation to get to and from work. Sumintra also took advantage of as many continuing education and professional development courses that she could during her time with ACC, proudly displaying her certificates and awards all over her walls.  

Sumintra’s pride in her work and accomplishments was the theme of her recent retirement party, hosted by her ACC co-workers. When asked what she is going to do with all of her free time, she immediately agreed to come back and volunteer in the activities department, working directly with the residents that she loves. Sumintra’s daughters shared that their mom wants to continue to learn and grow in retirement, even learning how to use a computer.

Mark Williams, Environmental Services Director at the ACC Care Center, shared the story of when the community first adopted radios for department communication, Sumintra vehemently refused. She later became a super user and was frequently the first person to respond, always keeping the radio by her side. Perfecto Bravo, Director of IT, shared that when they were doing an exercise on empathy, the entire environmental services staff were told to go home for the day and management staff took over their department – laundry, housekeeping and maintenance. Sumintra refused to leave, insisting that she needed to help!   

Sumintra’s family shared that their mom is always on the move, working through being tired or in pain to get the job done, and their hope is that she will put her feet up from time to time. Not only is she passionate about her work at ACC, but in her free time she loves to cook and entertain her children and grandchildren. There is always something on the stove and she never lets you go hungry when you visit.  

She loves to travel the world, seeing different locations for vacation and visiting her family, who are spread over various continents. In the near future, Sumintra is planning trips to New Zealand, Canada and Paris, just to name a few!

Volunteers have a 50-year history of service at ACC, helping to grow our programs and services to what they are today. The early volunteers were student activists from UC Davis, CSUS, and Sacramento City College. Along with leaders from the Sacramento Asian community, they started ACC in 1972. 

These early volunteers operated afterschool programs for immigrant children and classes for their non-English-speaking parents and grandparents. In 1983, hundreds of volunteers signed up to run ACC Bingo. Under the management of Francis Lee, the operation ran for 23 years and helped fund operations for our skilled nursing facility, the ACC Care Center.

Many of these volunteers went on to become ACC board members and volunteers for ACC Rides, Meals on Wheels by ACC, and instructors for the Lifelong Learning & Wellness Program, among dozens of other activities that are thriving and bustling today.

Today’s volunteers continue to bring their warmth and drive with them in providing support to an array of ACC programs and services. ACC’s volunteers have helped create and build an extraordinary community of caring!

ACC volunteers come from all walks of life and bring with them a wealth of experience, talents, interests, and skills – which they share generously and passionately. Our volunteers have helped build a community that is rich in cultural heritage and full of generous, caring individuals. 

Volunteering at ACC helps older adults sustain their independence and lifestyle. It also creates social engagement, builds friendships, and makes our community the best it can be. You, too, can make a difference and help our wonderfully caring community continue to grow! 

ACC Senior Services offers numerous volunteer opportunities. Volunteer with ACC Rides, the Senior Escort Program, or the Friendly Visitor Program. Support the Lifelong Learning & Wellness Program and help with classes and special events. Share your talents and skills by teaching a class or workshop. Assist with reception at the Welcome Center (Main Campus) front desk. Be an Activity Aide at the ACC Care Center and assist the residents with activities.  If you’ve got some extra time on your hands – perhaps you’re newly retired or on summer break – and you’re looking to make a difference in your community, be a part of ACC’s community of caring and come volunteer with us! 

For more information on ACC Senior Services’ volunteer opportunities and to register to be a volunteer, visit our Volunteer Services website at volunteer.accsv.org or email volunteer@accsv.org. Come volunteer. We look forward to meeting you! 

On April 27, 2023, the ACC Care Center team held a celebration to honor Mrs. Hien Thi Nguyen’s 100th birthday. Mrs. Nguyen’s family was in attendance as was Sacramento City Councilmember Rick Jennings, who presented her with a key to the city! It was a lovely celebration and enjoyed by all. Many thanks to Councilmember Jennings, Debbie Williams and the activities department at the Care Center, and all who attended and celebrated this remarkable milestone.

Centenarians, people who reach 100 years in age, are a common sight at ACC. They live throughout our residential communities. In addition to Hien Nguyen, there’s also Teruko Ono, Mickey Yamadera, Dorothy Koga, Moon Au, Toshi Sakai, Annie Joe, and Paul Dunn. 

In 2019, ACC hosted “Celebrating Our Centenarians” at the Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation. We honored 17 centenarians. All but one attended with their families and friends in tow. We are planning a similar celebration as part of this year’s ACC ‘Ohana Walk on September 16, 2023. See page 20 for details.

In 1950, there were 23,000 centenarians in the world. In 2021, that number rose to 573,000. Obviously, living to 100 years of age is becoming increasingly common. Several environmental and physiological factors contribute to longevity. However, about 40% of human life expectancy is inherited. That means that 60% is due to advances in medicine, improved living conditions, and better nutrition.  

While some may see it as a stroke of luck, there are certain lifestyle choices and habits that play a significant role in determining one’s lifespan.  While genetics does play a role, and obviously cannot be changed, it is possible to make lifestyle choices that can offset certain genetic factors that may predispose individuals to certain health conditions. Additionally, advances in medical technologies and treatments can also improve health outcomes and increase lifespan.

We know that eating well, limiting alcohol consumption, not smoking, and getting plenty of good sleep is vital to a long life. That said, having a positive attitude and a sense of purpose in life also contributes to longevity. Additionally, maintaining social connections and engaging in meaningful activities is crucial. Social isolation and loneliness have been linked to poor health outcomes and reduced lifespan, while participating in social activities and maintaining strong relationships with family and friends have been shown to improve overall health.  

This is why we are so proud to be a part of the ACC Senior Services family. No matter if it’s in one of our senior living communities, one of our many classes that are offered, our escort and transportation programs, or Meals on Wheels by ACC, every day we are providing that oh-so-important socialization.

While living to 100 is a remarkable achievement, it is important to remember that every individual’s journey is unique and that the most important thing is to live a fulfilling life!   

Last month, I attended the funeral service for May Lee, a centenarian who passed away at age 102. She was the State of California’s longest-serving employee – 79 years! And up until last year, May was working as a retired annuitant. She was my mentor early in my career (in the mid 1980s) with the State of California. May showed me how to review financial statements, how a budget is created, and how to write and justify funding requests. You could ask her anything and she could cite Government Code by memory. I owe my state career to May, along with the many, many others she took under her tutelage to help understand accounting and budgeting. 

As a retired annuitant, May worked at the Department of General Services (DGS) and would drive to work taking the surface streets from her home on 35th Avenue (yes, May still had her driver’s license). Once she got to the parking garage at DGS, she would walk around the parking garage with her walker to exercise and stay fit. Then May would go into the office, work, and engage with the staff. Driving, exercising, and socializing is how she lived to the age of 102. She knew that staying active, physically and mentally, along with eating well was how to age well. May, along with the participants of ACC’s Lifelong Learning and Wellness Program, are the epitome of how to stay fit and active.

ACC will be celebrating the centenarians in our community at the ACC Ohana Walk Picnic on September 16.  We had a similar event in 2019, where 17 centenarians and their (large) families turned out for a fundraiser hosted by the ACC Care Center. Their stories were amazing. Everyone was uplifted by their presence. So, if you know any centenarians that would like to participate, visit accsv.org/ohana2023 to register.

In this issue of ACC News, Jeri Shikuma, ACC’s Home and Community Based Program Administrator, has written an insightful article about the “social determinants of health” (SDOH) and how our health and well-being are determined by factors that have very little to do with healthcare. While ACC does provide healthcare, so much of what we do is focused on non-medical interventions that affect health outcomes. This includes transportation, social services, employment training, lifelong learning, care coordination, food security, and social activities…lots of them. As part of the ACC wellness initiative, we are meeting with health plans to explore partnerships that will include ACC’s services as a benefit to their members. At the same time, ACC is winning more grants to fund our SDOH work. This, along with the feedback from health plans, is a clear indication of where mindsets and budgets are shifting.

I am happy to announce that Doug Hawkins is the new Administrator for the ACC Care Center. Doug has been quite successful as an administrator, most recently at Alderson Convalescent Hospital in Woodland. While there, he grew this facility to a Five Star rating, the same as he had with the facility he ran prior to Alderson. 

Doug likes to say he grew up in skilled nursing as it was often his daycare as a child! His father is a registered nurse and a skilled nursing facility administrator. His mother is also a nurse, but she helps those at the other end of the spectrum as a Maternity Nurse. Doug’s wife is a nurse and works in a skilled facility; his sister is also a nurse and skilled nursing home administrator. It is obvious the love for this industry runs deep in his family. 

Doug worked his way up in this industry and has done almost every job there is in a nursing home, caregiving, maintenance, dining….you name it! He decided he loved being around residents; thus, he returned to school and got his BS in Health Care Administration and became a nursing home administrator. Join me in welcoming Doug to ACC!  

Assisted living and independent living at ACC Greenhaven Terrace are completely full. There is even a waiting list for assisted living, which we have not seen since before the pandemic. Thanks to referrals from the community, ACC Maple Tree Village is 82% occupied, which is ahead of schedule for this year. So keep sending your friends and family our way.

ACC’s Big Day of Giving was a resounding success. The Big Day of Community on April 22, a lead up to the Big Day of Giving, attracted more than 1,000 people to the ACC campus. The Big Day of Giving Telethon on May 3rd and 4th raised $360,466. It was exciting to see so many new people and organizations participating, presenting, and performing at these events – all for ACC. I want to say thank you to all the pickleball players and golfers who participated in our tournaments and made donations. We are grateful for everyone’s support.

ACC Rides, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, is being used in new and useful ways. The Buddhist Church of Sacramento has contracted with Rides to provide transportation twice a month for Maple Tree Village and Greenhaven Terrace residents  to its Wednesday service. The Buddhist Church of Sacramento reached out to ACC as they were aware many of our residents were watching the Sunday service on Zoom during the pandemic . We knew  it would be great for the residents to attend in person. 

Anyone can meet at either Greenhaven Terrace or Maple Tree Village and join the residents on the first and third Wednesday of each month for the morning service. Contact ACC Rides if you are interested.  After the service, which is led by Reverend Matt Hamasaki, the participants enjoy a social hour with snacks provided. We thank Sharon Ito of the Buddhist Church of Sacramento for reaching out and arranging this.

ACC Rides is also providing transportation for a series of field trips sponsored by Alignment Health, a Medicare Advantage plan. Last month, 14 participants visited the California State Railroad Museum. Vicki Beaton, a certified docent for the Museum and a resident at ACC Greenhaven Terrace, was their tour guide. They had a great time. There are eight more field trips planned this year. Anyone can sign up at accsv.org/classes. 

On June 23rd, I attended the retirement party for Sumintra Devi, who retired from the Care Center after 24 years and three months as a dedicated housekeeper. The Care Center was Sumintra’s first job when she moved to California from Fiji. She took English language classes offered by ACC, gained confidence, and always went above and beyond in her job. The retirement party, attended by her family, was a surprise and Sumintra was genuinely surprised and touched by all the well wishes. It’s staff like Sumintra that epitomize the community of caring that is ACC. We wish Sumintra all the best in her retirement. Congratulations, Sumintra!

The 2023 Big Day of Giving (BDOG), organized by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, came to a close at midnight on Thursday, May 4.  More than 750 nonprofits in the Sacramento region raised money for their causes. ACC raised $360,466, the largest amount raised in a single fundraiser in our 50-year history. We placed second, right behind The Salvation Army, which raised $398,647. View BDOG Leaderboard.

Donations received in the mail after May 4th brought our total to more than $400,000. A whopping 1,048 donors participated in this year’s Big Day of Giving, a 40% increase over last year. This result is not all that surprising. As someone who works closely with donors everyday, I hear how grateful they are for the help they received, whether it’s from skilled nursing, social services, transportation, or even from a single class they attended. Many tell me they want to pay it forward to help others in the community.

Roger and Florence Fong, Dr. Gordon A. and Merrily F. Wong, and an anonymous donor led the giving with donations of $25,000 and above. 11 donors made gifts between $5,000 to $24,999. 77 donors gave between $1,000 and $4,999. This included a donation from Naomi Goto, who made a gift in memory of her late husband Leo Goto, the founding president of ACC (1972). One donor made a $1,500 gift to ACC in honor of her exercise instructor, Rowie Alberto. The ACC Pickleball Club collected more than $2,000 in donations for ACC. Alignment Health, a Medicare Advantage plan, pledged $12,000 to be used for “ACC Rides transportation for outings, excursions, and field trips.” We are extremely grateful for the hundreds of smaller gifts we received for the Big Day of Giving. They play a huge part in keeping ACC going.

ACC’s Big Day of Giving Telethon was one of several events leading up to May 4. The Big Day of Community, held on the back lawn of ACC on April 22, featured 60 vendors and community booths, food trucks, and live cultural entertainment. More than 1,000 people attended the festivities. Seniors 85 and older received a free lunch.

The Big Day of Golfing on April 26 registered 144 ACC supporters into a friendly tournament held at Teal Bend Golf Course. The weather that day could not have been more perfect. Breakfast burritos and lunch at ACC were provided. Thank you to Don Morishita and Holly Fong Korach for co-chairing this event.

The Big Day of Pickleball started at 8 a.m. on May 2nd, but had to shut down early due to rain. It was rescheduled and finished the following week. A big thanks to Sunny Jung, Gary Berg, and Jeannie Fong for organizing this year’s tournament.

ACC’s Big Day of Giving Telethon was an epic two-day production held at the ACC campus on May 3rd and 4th and livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook. The telethon’s nine hours of programming featured musical performances, storytelling, and cooking demos from the ACC community. The emcees of the telethon were Jean Shiomoto, Jeri Shikuma, Scott Okamoto, and Dani Lee. Media veteran Sharon Ito was our guest emcee. 

New to the telethon was the Renaissance Society. They gave a short talk and then brought out their singing trio. Also new to the show were singer Alexa Mark, singers Roni and Rochelle Yadao, The Little Uke Group, philanthropist Moni Kondos, Lana Chong, and Thai restaurateur Suleka Sun-Lindley. Maryellen Burns and Chef David Soohoo introduced the ACC Community Cookbook, which will be available at the ACC Ohana Walk in September. Janice Joe led a presentation on the Congressional Gold Medal given to Chinese American WWII veterans. 

ACC Showstoppers opened Day 2 of the telethon with a rendition of “One” from the musical, A Chorus Line. Friends, family, and colleagues paid tribute to Virginia Wieneke, Program Manager, for her twenty years of service to ACC Rides. They presented her with flowers, a special edition of ACC News, and a cake. Later in the program, Rev. Matt Hamasaki from the Buddhist Church of Sacramento made a cameo appearance, playing the ukulele and singing “Over the Rainbow” to a surprised and delighted crowd. 

Returning to the telethon were the ACC Pocket Pickers, Folk Guitar Club, Guitar Ensemble, Asian Pair, Maeley Tom, Mette Mele, Patty Wood, Kimi Kaneko, Lorin Beacon, Carla Fontanilla and her band Ho’opili. Maple Tree Village Executive Director Yesenia Jones and two of her children performed an adorable rendition of “You Got a Friend in Me” and “La Bamba.”  ACC staff members Scott Okamoto, Dani Lee and Sean Hidalgo “rolled in” with a SNL “Weekend Update” inspired skit. Scott reprised his role as news anchor from last year’s music video, Dani as the ever busy Jean Shimoto and Sean as the lemon bar-loving Ted Fong.

In the last hour of the telethon, ACC was in a virtual tie for second place on the Big Day of Giving leaderboard. We made a snap decision to bring back performers Roni and Rochelle Yadao, extend the show, and have the emcees make one last appeal: “TAKE ACC TO THE FINISH LINE!” The ensuing surge in donations kept ACC in second place for the rest of the evening. 

On June 6, 2023, ACC hosted an online presentation focused on the risks, screening, and current treatment options for various types of cancer. The discussion focused on the importance of cancer screening and early detection and was moderated by Jack Sakai, a retired physician and active ACC supporter. Several cancer survivors from the ACC community shared their stories.

Glenn Watanabe, an ACC volunteer since 1978, shared the story of his diagnosis of bladder cancer and later, cancer in his left lung. Fortunately, the bladder cancer was treatable and did not require surgery.  Two years later, his annual chest x-ray showed a small smudge in his left lung; in a subsequent x-ray the spot had grown, and the biopsy indicated it was cancerous. Glenn now has only half of his left lung but, as a member of the ACC Pocket Pickers group, he noted that it hasn’t affected his singing voice. He also stressed that being honest and sharing with his doctor that he had been a smoker was crucial because the risks of lung and bladder cancer increases for smokers. His doctor knew to order routine testing based on that knowledge, which led to an early lung cancer detection. 

GLENN WATANABE: “The rapport and relationship with my doctor saved my life.”

Julie Toyama participates in the ACC hula, line dancing, and exercise classes with Joaquin, and is a breast cancer survivor. The first time she felt a lump, it was biopsied, and it was benign.  But she kept going every year for a mammogram and when the next lump turned out not to be benign, it was caught early. Julie had a mastectomy and she opted for post-surgery radiation every day for six weeks. After her last treatment and, with her doctor’s blessing, she flew the next day to Los Vegas for her 60th high school reunion. With routine follow-ups for three years, she is now considered cancer free. Julie shared that a girlfriend who had pancreatic cancer told Julie that she was going to beat it…and that positive attitude really inspired Julie to have that same confidence. Julie’s advice to women is to get a mammogram every year. 

JULIE TOYAMA: “I had in mind that I was going to be around for my grandson. I wasn’t going to let cancer take me.”

Cliff Toyama shared that he had been successfully treated for colitis. But about two years later, the symptoms returned so he underwent the same treatment again, and his symptoms went away. He then needed cataract surgery and his ophthalmologist recommended that he make an appointment with his gastroenterologist. Although he really didn’t understand why, he did.  That doctor performed a colonoscopy and took biopsies that came back cancerous. Cliff got two opinions on his surgical options, and he was glad that he did. His main takeaway is that early detection is key.  

CLIFF TOYAMA: “My son asked if I wanted to be around to see my grandson grow up. So, I did the surgery.”

Bill Nagata has been involved with the ACC Pocket Pickers and the photography club for many years. He shared his story about the symptoms and testing that led to his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2012 and the treatment options available to him. His message to men is early detection is key, so do not procrastinate if you begin having symptoms.  

BILL NAGATA
“Getting a second opinion on my disease state saved my life, period!”

Jack Sakai, a retired physician, was asked why he considered early detection of cancer so important. He shared that it just simplifies matters when cancer is detected early. Potentially, there may be more treatment options available, and the surgeries are often less complicated and more successful.  

Early detection begins with self-examinations and routine screenings. For example, if the tumor is small and confined to the breast, then more than 90% of women will survive 10 years or longer. A 90% five-year survival rate is very high. 

Establishing a close relationship with your doctor is also crucial because you must be comfortable enough to have honest and open conversations with him or her.  In addition, Jack recommended self-education through online organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, and other established health organizations. They can provide valuable information to help understand why your doctor may be suggesting certain options and to help inform your cancer treatment choices.

In recent years, ACC Senior Services has seen an increase in donations coming directly from donors’ individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Most recently, we processed many of these donations for ACC’s Big Day of Giving, which raised $360,466 (read story). Some of these gifts were been quite sizable. Why has this become a popular way of giving?

Many retirement accounts such as an IRA require you to take an annual required minimum distribution (RMD) once you reach a certain age.  For many seniors this age is 70½, 72, or even 73 depending on your birth year.  The RMD is determined by the value of your IRA, your age, and life expectancy.  Your RMD amounts will vary from year to year based on these same factors changing as you age.   

Your RMD is taxable, but you can avoid paying income taxes on part or all of this retirement distribution by making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA custodian to a qualified charity like ACC Senior Services. The money never touches your personal bank account. Any amount up to $100,000 can be excluded from your taxable income. The IRS allows your QCD to satisfy all or part the amount of your required minimum distribution from your IRA. 

Of course, there are certain rules you need to follow. You should refer to the Internal Revenue Code and consult your financial advisor. The most important rule is that the funds must be transferred directly from your IRA custodian (like Schwab and Fidelity) to the qualified charity (like ACC). You can request that a check be mailed to the charity or to you, so you can forward it to the charity.

Donors often tell us they have sufficient retirement income and that they want to “donate their RMD” or a portion of it to ACC. We are happy for their financial security and grateful for their gift. Technically speaking, they are making a QCD to ACC which satisfies their RMD for that year. It’s an alphabet soup! At ACC, we just call it an “RMD donation.”

On Wednesday July 19, 2023, at 3 pm, Mark J. Pratt will visit ACC again and give his popular workshop on Required Minimum Distributions. He will discuss the latest IRS rules and practical considerations for people who want to make a qualified charitable distribution to their favorite charity. Register at accsv.org/classes.

Mark is the owner of Pratt Financial & Insurance Services, serving clients for over 25 years. He has been a guest speaker at ACC many times over the past decade.

For more information about giving to ACC Senior Services, contact Ted Fong, Development Officer, at tfong@accsv.org or 916-503-5392.

Marian Whitney’s transition from the hospital to her home was overwhelming. She was in a lot of pain and could not take care of herself.

A couple of years ago, Marian Whitney’s life turned upside down while taking her dog Sofie for a walk.  “The steps were wet that day, and I was wearing flip-flops, which I probably shouldn’t have been.  I slipped and ended up shattering my elbow!”  Marian’s neighbor took Sofie while she went to the hospital.  Fifteen days and two surgeries later, Marian returned home, “grouchy from all the meds and in a lot of pain,” unable to cook, drive, or even take a shower by herself.  Fortunately for her, her sister from Mariposa and a friend from Merced helped her get set up, but after a few days when they left to go back to their own homes, Marian found herself alone, trying to manage a web of details, instructions, and daily activities in the middle of a pandemic shut down.  “When I left the hospital, I didn’t know a lot.  I needed help… but I knew ACC connected people to a lot of resources.” She reached out to staff at ACC and got advice about asking for in-home physical therapy and other services. And they connected her to resources like home-delivered hot meals.  “ACC was a godsend. It was a long recovery.  If I had to do it by myself, it would have been very hard.  I would have ended up in a nursing home.”

Marian’s experience is indicative of an unwieldy, uncoordinated healthcare system that makes it very difficult, sometimes impossible, for people to get the care they need.  When people have to be their own care coordinators, it can be overwhelming, resulting in the loss of independence, more trips to the emergency room, rehospitalization, or skilled nursing. Our ACC Caregiver Support Team receives inquiries from people who are concerned about their own or a loved one’s safety and care needs on a daily basis: people living alone who have health needs but don’t feel safe driving, concerned children of elders who have started falling, who have been diagnosed with dementia, or who will soon be discharged from a nursing facility. 

“All these concerns inevitably end with the question ‘Where do I go from here? I have no idea where to start,’” says Soojin Yoo, ACC’s Caregiver Support Services Manager. “Most seniors and caregivers share their confusion and frustration while trying to make sense of the long-term care services in our society. ‘Which program helps pay for in-home or residential care costs?’ ‘Where can I find care services that match my unique needs?’ ‘My loved ones refuse my help, so how do I make this happen?’ The burden to navigate this complex system increases to an even greater extent if you are from different cultures, not using English as your primary language, are challenged financially, or living in a remote area.” 

It is nearly impossible for anyone to navigate the maze of a long-term care system composed of Medicare, Medi-Cal, Older Americans Act (OAA) funded services, VA programs, and other local resources from both for- and not-for-profit agencies, while spending most of their time and energy caring for their daily needs or the daily needs of their loved one. It’s especially challenging when in a transitional state, like returning home from the hospital or from a skilled nursing facility, when people have recently experienced an acute medical condition, received multiple care instructions and medicines, and don’t know whom to call with questions.  

That is why ACC started providing Caregiver Support in 2014 and became a core partner of the Sacramento County Aging and Disability Resources Connection (ADRC) in 2022. Anyone in need of assistance related to aging can receive care navigation and management services from ACC at no cost. Compassionate Care Team staff with professional backgrounds listen to your situation, understand your family’s needs, guide you to help with personalized referrals, and provide ongoing support for care planning and problem-solving as long as you want. 

But we know that isn’t enough.  There is a tremendous need for more care coordinators, caregivers, and other direct care workers to meet the demands of an aging population. Recently ACC became a partner in a CalGrows Innovation Fund program to increase the development and retention of direct care workers. The program will provide in-person and virtual classes at no cost to direct care workers and generous incentive pay for those who complete their training.  Family caregivers are also eligible to take the classes at no cost. 

Marian Whitney is one of those workers who is looking forward to benefiting from this program.  Now mostly healed from her fall two years ago, Marian is about to start a new job as an in-home caregiver.  She will be doing light housework, driving people to their appointments, taking them shopping, and providing companionship. “I really appreciated the help I received. Now I feel glad to help other people. It’s so rewarding. People need help and they need help from people they can trust.  They need it and they deserve it.”

Jeri Shikuma, MPH, is ACC’s Home and Community-Based Programs Administrator.