That being said, this is not the time to relax our diligent efforts to protect our staff, volunteers, residents, and our community.  With the spread of the Delta variant, we have continued to employ best practices and follow guidance from the CDC and health department.  We have successfully vaccinated over 90% of our current staff and require new employees and volunteers to be fully vaccinated. In doing so, we have joined the growing number of companies, educational institutions, and government agencies determined to win the battle against COVID-19 once and for all. 

The data has shown that vaccines are extremely safe and effective in preventing sickness and death. Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine received full FDA approval, and the others are not far behind. Please get vaccinated if you have not done so already.

The pandemic has led to staffing shortages across many industries, including healthcare, retail, transportation, and restaurants. ACC Maple Tree Village and ACC Care Center have been hit especially hard because we are required to maintain specific staffing ratios. When these cannot be met, we have to limit new admissions and forego revenue. 

To improve our competitiveness, ACC recently approved equity and retention pay adjustments for staff members who are currently working at our skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. We are also developing new recruiting messages and tools. You might have seen Jay Sloan, our Talent Acquisition Specialist, in a new video describing why ACC is a great place to work, focusing on how healthcare workers can develop their professional connections and advance their careers. 

ACC continues to explore the home and community-based services. Lynda Tanner, President & CEO at VNA Health in Santa Barbara, and Judy Thomas, CEO at Coalition for Compassionate Care for California gave a special presentation on hospice and palliative care, services that are commonly delivered at home. This quarter, we are meeting with an expert from an investment firm to discuss the declining demand for institutionalized care and new business models for providing assisted living and skilled nursing services in-home. ACC had been studying these trends well before the pandemic began. The pandemic only made them more important and underscored the urgency to act.

One type of in-home service is ACC online programs. Thanks to the work of Jeri Shikuma, Susan Sarinas, Ted Fong, and Krystal Wu, we have held more than 415 virtual concerts, classes, and workshops in the last 12 months! In September, we asked registrants if they would like to continue with online classes or in-person classes after the pandemic. Out of 173 respondents, 63% said both, 30% said online-only, and 7% said in-person only. In other words, 93% want to keep online classes going! But to continue our online and in-person programs free of charge, we need sponsors. Our goal is to raise $250,000 per year in sponsorships to pay for instructors, production staff, and studio facilities. As you have seen, the ACC Community Room doubles as our production studio. If you or your company would like to help ACC achieve this goal, you can contact Jeri Shikuma at jshikuma@accsv.org or 916-393-9026. Jeri and her team can give you a tour of the ACC production studio and discuss ways we can recognize your gift and/or promote your business during our live broadcasts.

Last but not least, we are happy to announce the appointment of Betsy Donovan to the ACC Board of Directors. Betsy was the Chief Operating Officer at Eskaton from 2010 to 2020, overseeing 30 communities and programs including affordable housing, skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, continuing care retirement communities, home healthcare, adult day healthcare, and quality and compliance.  Welcome on board, Betsy!

The post A Message from Darrick Lam and Jean Shiomoto appeared first on ACC Senior Services.

2021 began with, as some would say, a shot in the arm as residents and frontline workers at ACC Care Center, Greenhaven Terrace, and Maple Tree Village got their COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccine took less than a year to develop, a fantastic triumph of science and technology, showing what is possible when government, companies, and organizations work together. 

As our community continues to adjust to life with vaccinations and the COVID-19 pandemic, ACC Senior Services is now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. ACC has started putting together a COVID recovery plan on visitation guidelines for in-room, indoor, outdoor, and large indoor communal spaces.

The pandemic has drawn attention to what it means to age in place. This year, ACC will develop a plan to determine which home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) meet the needs of people who want to get person-centered care in their home or community, instead of in an institutional setting. ACC is working on a speaker series to invite experts in HCBS to help ACC and the community learn about these services.  In early March, Jeannee Parker Martin, President & CEO for LeadingAge California, conducted a workshop for our Board members and volunteers on “Trends & Strategies for Home & Community-Based Services.” In early April, we will have a special presentation by the California PACE Association on “The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. We will continue to keep you posted on the speaker series and the development of the plan.  

Even before the pandemic, ACC and Meals on Wheels by ACC recognized people’s desire to maintain their autonomy and independence at home. Today, together, we provide transportation, home nutrition, and referral services to meet their needs, all of which we consider a good start towards planning for HCBS.

In January, Governor Gavin Newsom released California’s Master Plan for Aging (MPA), which Darrick helped develop as a member of the MPA Stakeholder Advisory Committee. The article on page 2 explains the critical features of the state’s 10-year plan.  As part of MPA implementation, Darrick has been appointed to the California MPA Equity In Aging Advisory Committee, which focuses on applying an equity lens thoughtfully and thoroughly to MPA implementation activities and the California Department of Aging’s services and programs, particularly those in response to COVID-19. 

Darrick plays a significant role in planning the American Society on Aging’s Diversity Summit On Aging Annual Conference scheduled in early April. He will serve as the host for a panel featuring Jennie Chin Hansen, RN, Commissioner at Healthy California for All Commission; Professor Fernando Torres-Gil, Ph.D., first Assistant Secretary for Aging at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – Administration on Aging; and Percil Stanford, Ph.D., President at Folding Voice LLC. 

We want to take this opportunity to welcome Deborah Kania as the new administrator for ACC Maple Tree Village. Deborah is a Registered Nurse whose career has spanned over 35 years in the health care field, working with seniors in various settings.  Her experience includes skilled nursing, acute hospital, hospice, and PACE (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly).  She was, in fact, the early Director of Nurses at ACC Care Center back in the day! 

In recognition of National Women’s Month, we want to acknowledge the many women of ACC, past and present, who have made many significant contributions and tirelessly work for and on behalf of ACC as Administrators, managers, staff, and supporters.  One is Donna L. Yee, who led ACC for 17 years before her retirement at the end of 2017.  As ACC navigated through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Melanie Segar, ACC’s Chief Operating Officer, and Tamara Kario, ACC’s Care Center Administrator, worked diligently to keep residents and staff safe in all of ACC’s facilities.  As there is not enough space to name everyone, we give a shout out to all the women of ACC

ACC Online Programming has enjoyed a strong run since it began in October 2020. To date, we have live-streamed more than 150 class sessions, workshops, concerts, and community meetings on YouTube, Facebook, and Zoom. We have seen a rise in attendance from people both inside and outside Sacramento! Help us continue to keep our seniors active and engaged by supporting ACC.  To donate, go to accsv.org/donate or contact Thyan Pham at tpham@accsv.org.

Finally, on Thursday, May 6, ACC will host its Big Day of Giving Virtual Telethon. Building on the immense success we had last year, ACC is looking to raise at least $100,000. If you would like to be a supporter or a performer in this year’s event, contact Thyan Pham at tpham@accsv.org.  See you on May 6! 

The post Pandemic Puts Focus on Aging in Place and Care Services appeared first on ACC Senior Services.

On February 27, 2021, my mother passed away at the Care Center. My father used his last words to call out for her the next morning and passed away the evening of February 28, just 18 hours after his wife. Their amazing story of being together all the way to the end was made possible by ACC.

After serving on the ACC Board back in the day with some of the “originals” like Chewy Ito and Winston Ashizawa, I was excited to see ACC expanding into the senior independent living market and my parents were one of the first couples to move into ACC Greenhaven Terrace after the facility was purchased in 2007.  I was grateful to have my parents within minutes of my own home.  At the beginning, they were very shy because they were native Cantonese speakers, and their English was limited.  But after a couple of years, as more Cantonese-speaking residents moved to GT, they made many friends and could be seen “high-fiving” others in the Community Room.

Activities were a big part of their lives, especially those that were culturally focused.  I could tell the activities made my parents feel lively and important instead of old and useless.  Although my mom was frail and couldn’t participate in the exercise classes, she enjoyed just being in the room, watching and moving her feet along to the music.  My mom started planting and I could tell she was having fun.  GT-organized birthday celebrations, trips to Red Hawk, hanging out in the mah-jong room visiting with friends, and free coffee were other highlights.  These types of supportive activities are so critical for the elders and really enabled my parents to thrive and flourish during their time at GT.

My parents resided at GT for almost 12 years before moving to the ACC Care Center due to failing health. Their participation in daily activities continued at the Care Center where having employees who speak other languages was essential to their well-being.  I consider it a blessing that my parents were able to be cared for at another ACC facility after being unable to continue safely living on their own.  They spent their final 2 ½ years at the Care Center.

My family, Joe , Gulnara, Brittany, Marshall  and Sophia are so thankful for the wonderful, compassionate care my parents received and all of the happy memories ACC helped to create.

The post My Parents Had A Good Life at ACC appeared first on ACC Senior Services.

Chinese Americans and even those who look Chinese are being blamed for COVID-19. The Governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, who is married to a Korean American, recently reported that his wife, three daughters, and grandkids had experienced discrimination. Around the country, racial hate has escalated into violence.

The problem has gotten so bad that President Joe Biden issued a memorandum in January denouncing hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). During his first national address on March 11, the President went straight to the issue, saying there have been “vicious hate crimes against Asian Americans who’ve been attacked, harassed, blamed and scapegoated… It’s wrong, it’s un-American, and it must stop.” What a stark change in attitude from the previous administration.

For nearly 50 years, ACC Senior Services has worked hard to support our seniors’ health and welfare. But we did not foresee the day when we would have to protect them from racial violence.

George Floyd’s death taught us that all groups experiencing racial injustice must stand up for each other; otherwise, the plight of individual groups will be ignored. We quickly saw how a coalition of minorities became a majority demanding an end to institutional racism.

That said, I am heartened to see that more and more companies and organizations (including ACC Senior Services) are practicing “diversity, inclusion, and equity” in their operations and in how they relate to the world. In particular, “inclusion” addresses the need to work with, respect, and appreciate people who are not like ourselves. Perhaps this would have prevented Mr. Ratanapakdee’s death.

I believe that self-interest, the lack of cultural awareness, and the media are among the root causes of racism. If you agree that these are factors, then we still have a lot of work to do.

In the meantime, let’s remain vigilant in fighting all hate crimes. Report them to the police. In addition, you can report AAPI hate crimes to stopaapihate.org, which is run by Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the Asian American Studies Department of San Francisco State University. They track and respond to hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, and bullying against AAPI in the United States.

The post Addressing the Rise in Hate Crimes Against Asian Americans appeared first on ACC Senior Services.

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, ACC Care Center has been focused on quality care and enhancing our residents, staff, and family members’ experience. These efforts came to fruition when we were granted approval for an innovative proposal: convert 16 apartments at ACC Maple Tree Village (MTV) for skilled nursing services as we braced for what many had called the “twindemic.” 

The Care Center staff developed an in-depth plan to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by grouping and locating residents into three Zones – Red (confirmed COVID-19 cases), Yellow (unknown/known exposure and new admissions), and Green (No COVID or recovered from COVID-19). 

The ability to extend our SNF license to MTV enabled the Care Center to expand the Yellow Zone for residents who may have had an exposure or where the status is unknown. In October, our staff safely and successfully moved 16 residents to the new Care Center Green Zone at MTV. The 16 residents were excited to move into private suites that came with added amenities. Having a team of dedicated staff assigned at MTV has lessened the residents’ transition trauma. We are grateful to the family members of the 16 residents who have continued to work with us. Through collaboration with them, we have continued to address important topics, including the creation of a VIP lounge similar to the one at the Care Center. 

Moving 16 residents to MTV was the first step; the second Herculean step was the internal room moves of 30+ residents at the Care Center. Staff came up with a group called CMP (cleaners, movers, packers), who were assigned to support and assist moving the residents. 

On the day of the internal room moves, we were notified of an ancillary staff member who had tested positive for COVID due to a family exposure. We immediately contacted the local health department to see whether the internal room moves could continue as previously planned. The county confirmed the moves could continue since the individual did not have direct contact with the residents. The internal room moves went smoothly, and the galvanizing effects of hard work from the staff spoke volumes. 

We are especially grateful to the Care Center families who have unequivocally supported our efforts to fiercely care for our residents and staff. With ongoing scrutiny from regulatory agencies and information changing rapidly, we believe we have firmly aligned our mitigation plans with state and federal regulations. 

To date, we have had six COVID-19 focused surveys, including a federal survey. We are encouraged each time the surveyors report that we remain in substantial compliance with our COVID-19 mitigation plans. Furthermore, the Care Center has partnered with CVS to be the facility’s COVID-19 vaccine provider.  More information will be shared as we learn about the vaccine scheduling and administration process. 

As we celebrate the holidays, we echo our appreciation and gratitude to everyone who has continued to support ACC. Thank you for the donations and generosity you continue to show each day. It is because of people like you that we have continued to press on against all odds. 

The post ACC Care Center Meets Continuing Challenge of COVID-19 appeared first on ACC Senior Services.

It was a cold, grey day when I sat down to talk to Karen Weisner and Barbara Breisemeister, Illa Collin’s daughters. Illa, a former Sacramento County Supervisor, lived at ACC Care Center for several years and recently moved into the skilled nursing “Green Zone” at ACC Maple Tree Village. 

Illa was elected to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, representing District 2, in 1978. During her 28-year tenure, Illa championed the preservation of Sacramento County’s open space lands. She helped create the Sacramento Tree Foundation and the American River Parkway Foundation. She was instrumental in getting Sacramento’s light rail system established. Former colleagues, including Congresswoman Doris Matsui, describe Illa as “one of Sacramento’s most distinguished citizens and an extraordinary woman.” 

Illa had a great working relationship with ACC’s then President, Chewy Ito. Recalls ACC former Board Chair Winston Ashizawa, “Illa helped clear the way for ACC to use Bingo as a fundraising method. She was deeply interested in the Asian community and always found time to attend ACC fundraisers and other events. It’s just amazing how her friendship with Chewy has come full circle, as both are now residents at ACC Maple Tree Village!”

Illa retired in 2007, but stayed busy with other personal projects, such as volunteering with Rebuilding Together (a nonprofit that helps low-income homeowners with necessary repairs). Her dedication to the Sacramento community is evident as several sites in the region bear her name: the Illa Collin Preserve (Mather Field), Illa Collin Early Learning Center (a Head Start school), and the Illa Collin Park in South Sacramento.

Illa Collin was born January 24, 1932, in Rock Springs, Wyoming. After her father passed away in a mining accident, her mother moved the family to Portland, Oregon. She attended the University of Oregon, where she met her husband, Don. “My mother must have been really smitten, because she broke off her engagement to another fellow, to pursue Dad,” said Karen. 

After graduation, Illa taught school in Portland. Even though Don was involved with the Young Republicans and Illa was a staunch Democrat, theirs is a lifelong love story. They got married on July 12, 1957, in Portland. After their honeymoon, the couple moved to California. Don attended law school at Cal Berkeley, and Illa taught school in Piedmont. They raised their three young daughters (Karen, Anne, and Barbara) in Berkeley, Oakland and El Sobrante before settling down in Sacramento in 1968. 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the family’s “fourth daughter,” Clarabelle, the family cat. Illa found Clarabelle, then a flea-ridden kitten, in a park after leaving a business meeting. The cat still holds a special place in Illa’s heart. Clarabelle lived a long (18 years), happy life with the Collin family.

It was clear from the family photo albums that Illa was the consummate community volunteer – from school PTAs, Girl Scouts, to local politics. She worked on several local political campaigns. She was active in the Women’s Movement and from 1973-1975, led the League of Women Voters in Sacramento. She strived to improve social service programs, especially to underserved areas of the county, before her stint as a County Supervisor.

Both Don and Illa had busy work and community meeting schedules. There were many times that they forgot to pick up their daughters from school. “We often tell people that we were the original latch-key kids…without the key,” said Barbara. The sisters erupted in loud laughter as they recalled, “When we got older and could walk home by ourselves, we’d wait in the garage for mom or dad to come home. Thank goodness there was a bathroom in the garage!”

Even though Illa was busy with her civic duties, she carved out time for her daughters. She planned their birthday parties and sewed all of their holiday outfits and Halloween costumes. To this day, all the Easter bonnets she made for the girls are safely stored away. Illa read to her girls most nights. Barbara recalls, “I had three favorite books. I made my mother read them to me night after night. This is my fondest memory of my mother.” Now the grandchildren have inherited these childhood books, as well as Illa’s vast collection of Beanie Babies (over 100).

In recent years, Illa has experienced health issues. But she still has her famous beaming smile, even during these challenging times when visits from family and friends are very limited. Linda Revilla, now Director of Programs at Meals on Wheels, recalls a touching story about one visit from Don Collin. In keeping with safety protocols, the couple couldn’t be in the same room or hug each other. But they lovingly “touched hands” through a window. There wasn’t a dry eye among the staff.

Today, Collin spends her days watching the NHK channel, old movies and listening to music. Illa’s favorite musicians? Gene Autry, John Denver and Johnny Cash to name a few.

Barbara adds, “She loves any black and white movie – a good whodunit or comedy. She is a MAJOR fan of Star Wars – she’s seen all the movies.” In fact, the family home has a dedicated ‘Star Wars Room’ that now houses almost 100 figurines and movie paraphernalia. Illa’s entire collection actually numbers closer to 500 pieces, but most of it is in a large storage container and several pieces are in Illa’s Maple Tree Village apartment. Last year, Illa convinced ACC to have a Star Wars Halloween party. The family loaned a lot of their collection to ACC for the event. Illa had planned to attend the party as Darth Vader. Unfortunately, she got sick and spent that night in the hospital. But the family draped the costume over Illa, so she didn’t miss out on the festivities.

Barbara insisted I drink the special green tea from Frank Fat’s – the family’s favorite restaurant – as I listened to more stories that revolved around food. Don was the chef of the family, as “Illa just didn’t seem interested in learning how to cook”. As soon as they returned from their honeymoon, he began studying Julia Child’s cookbooks. This came in handy as the couple often entertained family and business associates. But Illa had some cooking skills. Karen said, “Mom was the worst cook in the world, but she always made and decorated our birthday cakes.” Illa often whipped up family favorites like Chicken Bits & Pilaf, French Breakfast Puffs, and Chugwater Chili. Try this famous Wyoming-based recipe, which includes Illa’s secret ingredient (V8 juice):

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. of lean ground beef
• 2 (15 ounce) cans of pinto and/or kidney beans, undrained 
• 2 – 3 (5.5 ounce) cans of V8 juice
• 3 Tbl. Of Chugwater Chili Seasoning 

Instructions:

• Brown the ground beef, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks.
• Add in Chugwater Chili Seasoning; mix well.
• Add in the V8 juice.
• Give the mixture a good stir; now add the beans.

If you want a thicker chili, drain the beans first. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. And if you happen to run into Illa at Maple Tree Village, let her know you made her chili recipe. She’ll be thrilled and thank you with her beaming smile.

The post Illa Collin, A Treasure Among Us appeared first on ACC Senior Services.

 “Busking” is the activity of playing music in the streets or other public locations. Volunteers at ACC recently organized two groups of ukulele players to do just that for the residents of ACC Greenhaven Terrace and ACC Maple Tree Village.

“Arnie’s Angels” and “Robbie’s Rascals” staged several outdoor performances at these locations to the delight of ACC residents looking for fresh air, good music, and great company. This project began with a general concern among ACC staff and volunteers that volunteers would disconnect from ACC during the pandemic. ACC Chief Operating Officer Melanie Segar met with them and came up with a list of ways volunteers could help remotely during the pandemic. Among them are:

• Making wellness calls
• Helping with language translation
• Editorial writing for print and online newsletters
• Production assistance for online streaming content
• Remote clerical assistance

In September, the Volunteer Services Committee proposed the idea of forming two small teams of ukulele players to serenade ACC residents outdoors. Committee co-chair Linda Cabatic forwarded this idea to Melanie, who immediately emailed the managers of ACC Care Center, Greenhaven Terrace (GT) and Maple Tree Village (MTV) with the offer. The offer was accepted, and thus began the process of recruiting performers. Eight players from ACC Pocket Pickers signed up immediately. Life Enrichment Coordinators Stephanie Lue and Liana Ma arranged dates and times for performances at GT and MTV.

The First Serenade — Arnie’s Angels was the first to serenade the mostly assisted living (AL) residents from the central courtyard at GT. It was a balmy 80°F, and the residents gathered on their balconies and in the AL Activity Room with the sliders open to listen and sing along with the Angels. We chose songs that were favorites of the in-house GT-AL Happy Strummers singing group (that I started in 2014). They happily swayed, tapped their feet and sang along with our 45-minute playlist.

The MTV Double Header — MTV wanted two shows, one for their Memory Care residents (MC) and one for their AL residents. On Thursday, November 5, another 80°F afternoon, the Angels played for the AL residents seated on the sidewalk surrounding the main entrance and an hour later, the Rascals performed for the MC residents in the same locale. And, like we did at GT, we sang the favorite songs from MTV’s in-house singing group, The Songbirds (that Elsie, Nami, Frank (Yamanaka) and I started in January of 2020), so the residents could sing along. Doreen Wong, whose mother resides at MTV, danced a graceful hula to our song, “Tiny Bubbles.” 

Temperatures Drop — The Rascals also performed on November 14th and 21st at GT, and it was barely 58°F. Even though their balconies were in the shade, some of the AL residents wore hooded down parkas and sat or stood on their balconies for our 45-minute show. Talk about a tough audience!

2021, Here We Come — Now that we have two experienced teams, we are starting to look at creative performing opportunities for next year. Of course, we will continue to observe the ever-changing COVID-19 safety guidelines, but these dedicated ukulele players feel optimistic about the future ahead.

Arnie’s Angels

• Arnie Marks
• Kay Sakamoto
• Peter & Susan Dileanis

Robbie’s Rascals

• Robbie Yee
• Esther Hokama
• Fran Sumida
• Randy Chinn

The post Ukulele Serenaders Answer the Call appeared first on ACC Senior Services.

Recognizing that California’s over-65 population is projected to grow to 8.6 million by 2030, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order in June 2019 calling for the creation of a Master Plan for Aging to be developed by December 2020. The Master Plan will serve as a blueprint that can be used by state government, local communities, private organizations and philanthropy to build environments that promote an age-friendly California.

In September 2019, I was appointed a Member of the Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) to work alongside those who represent a broad array of Californians with an interest in building an age-friendly California, such as older Californians, adults with disabilities, local government, healthcare providers, health plans, employers, community-based organizations, foundations, academic researchers, and organized labor.

Since the Governor’s Executive Order, the Master Plan for Aging’s Together We Engage campaign has included nine SAC meetings, as well as thirteen Long-Term Services & Supports Subcommittee, six Research Subcommittee, and four Equity Work Group meetings. In between these meetings, countless hours of work took place, including review and consideration of over 240 stakeholder organization recommendation letters and over 1,000 public comments collected via meetings, surveys, email, and nine Webinar Wednesdays. Legislators convened communities to discuss the Master Plan for Aging at six legislative round tables. Throughout the past year, the Master Plan for Aging team has gathered a wide range of input through dozens of Master Plan for Aging forums with associations, local communities, and private sector partners.

This engagement process has culminated in over 800 SAC recommendations to inform the final Master Plan. In September 2020, an executive summary was released by SAC, focusing on Long Term Services and Supports, Housing, Poverty, Equity and Leadership priorities along with over 800 recommendations. The California Health and Human Services Agency and an All Cabinet Work Group are currently reviewing these recommendations and developing the Master Plan for Aging with the Governor. This month, the Governor will release the final Master Plan for Aging, including the State Plan, Local Playbook, and Data Dashboard in alignment with the Governor’s Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness Task Force. I look forward to partnering with state and local governments, as well as non-profit and private entities, on implementation of the Master Plan in 2021.

The post Update on Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Aging appeared first on ACC Senior Services.

In May, ACC’s Big Day of Giving saw an outpouring of donations like we’ve never seen before. The virtual telethon raised $160,000, three times the amount raised at last year’s event. In the face of this crisis, we saw a community that cares about others above itself.

All the while, our leadership team was mobilizing the workforce for what has become the deadliest pandemic in 100 years. Most important were the safety measures put in place for our residents, volunteers and staff in early March, which we continue to improve on. 

We have stayed on top of PPE procurement, infection control, COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. Last month, the Care Center expanded its license to provide skilled nursing services at Maple Tree Village (see page 3). ACC Senior Services also transitioned to Zoom to remain connected with the community. We felt it was really important to be open, transparent, and timely with critical information. We held town halls at all our facilities, some more than once.  We did the same with our volunteers and employees. When we learned about the first case of COVID-19 at the Care Center, the employees and the Board were notified within hours and families shortly thereafter.

Through all this, we remain passionate about serving this community in the best tradition of ACC. This includes finding new ways of serving our seniors.

In October, we launched ACC online classes, workshops, and concerts. More than 400 people have signed up (visit accsv.org/online). We received a grant from SMUD to purchase and distribute 50 laptops and training to seniors seeking employment (SCSEP program). We are making reassurance calls to residents and continuing to operate ACC Rides for our most vulnerable seniors.

Before the pandemic, we started a “change management” initiative, which looked at how ACC can develop stronger working relationships between volunteers and staff, so that future challenges can be met. Managing our business growth was one of them, but, practically overnight, COVID-19 took center stage.  The effects of COVID-19 will be felt for years to come, even with a forthcoming vaccine. This has been factored into our 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. We have to embrace change. It is the only way we will move forward in this brave new world. 

Last, we want to mention that on Wednesday, December 16, at 6 PM, ACC is having an online musical event, “Home for the Holidays,” to honor the heroes of ACC (see page 12). We encourage you to watch it and make a year-end gift in tribute to the staff, volunteers, and family caregivers who care for our seniors. For nearly 50 years, your philanthropic donations to ACC have spurred growth and service to the community. We want to thank the people who make ACC truly a community of caring – families, staff, volunteers, and our Board of Directors.

On behalf of a grateful organization, we wish you Happy and Healthy Holidays and a bright New Year ahead!

The post A Message from Darrick Lam and Jean Shiomoto appeared first on ACC Senior Services.

To give you an idea of what we are facing, weekly required testing of ACC Care Center staff amounts to $15,000 per week or $60,000 per month.  Staff go through PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) at a minimum cost of $3,500 each month. Additionally, restrictions on admissions to our newly built ACC Maple Tree Village and the assisted living at ACC Greenhaven Terrace have resulted in significant losses.

In July, one resident tested positive for the virus followed by several other residents and staff. From the beginning, we have taken every precaution to keep our residents safe, going above and beyond government guidelines. Since August 10th, the ACC Care Center has reported no new cases.

Amidst the pandemic, we are working doubly hard to keep our residents engaged and hopeful. On August 14, we celebrated the 101st birthday of Ms. Chang Hou. ACC Care Center Activity Director, Debbie Williams, arranged for Ms. Hou’s family to celebrate with Ms. Hou outside her window.  The temperature outside was 102 degrees, but they were too overcome with joy to feel the heat! Later that afternoon, Ms. Hou’s daughter, Emily, wrote to us saying:

“You are all been trying so hard to keep residents healthy, to keep this place going.  It is a very difficult time mentally and financially.  With the care you guys provide, mom is eating and sleeping well.  She told me she is happy.  I asked her did the worker love you and she said yes. Good to see her smile. Thank you so much for everything.”

Your donation will help more residents like Ms. Hou and our care staff, who work under tough conditions, accepting the risks that come with protecting our residents.  They go home to families that are worried, but supportive of their mission.  We are grateful to them and to you for supporting ACC in this time of need.

Best regards,

Jean Shiomoto
Chair of the Board
ACC Senior Services

Darrick Lam, MSW, MBA
President/Chief Executive Officer
ACC Senior Services

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