All posts by : Dave Lin

In these times of COVID-19, we miss our wonderful volunteers. Your generosity and dedication to ACC makes ACC what it is today. While the administrative center is closed and onsite events are cancelled, we still need our valued volunteers. If you would like to continue helping ACC while you are sheltering at home, we have several opportunities that might interest you that are listed below.

SCSEP needs someone to

• Help make phone calls to participants who are at home now and can help with mandatory online training
• Help train participants on smart phone and computer basics

TEAM/CHANGES needs

• Volunteers who speak other languages to help translate for non-English speaking clients (the goal would be to have a dedicated group that could be called upon when needed)
• Volunteers (ESL focused) who are part of other groups and could get materials out about utilities assistance 

Mickey Yamadera has come full circle at ACC. This remarkable volunteer who mobilized people, resources, and goodwill for ACC for decades is now living in ACC’s “community of caring” that she helped create. Read Mickey’s story.

Marketing needs help with

• Editorial writing for the print and online newsletters
• Production assistance for online streaming content

ACC Needs Clerical Support to

• Help take and type up meeting minutes

Volunteers Needed to Make Reassurance Calls to

• GT IL Residents
• Rides participants

If you are interested in helping with any of these opportunities, please contact Dave Lin at dlin@accsv.org or (916) 394-6399 x 143. As always, thank you for your generous support of ACC!

ACC has served the Sacramento community since the early 1970s. Long on vision and strong on planning, ACC has enjoyed tremendous growth decade after decade. Next year, ACC will celebrate its 50-year anniversary. But its work doesn’t stop there.

On August 18, 2020, ACC rolled out its 2021-2025 Strategic Plan at a virtual town hall meeting attended by approximately 80 ACC staff, members of the Board, volunteers, and key stakeholders. This was the culmination of a one-day strategic planning retreat held last year on August 17th and twelve  meetings of the ACC Executive Committee and Executive Management team since then. 

Attendees of the strategic planning retreat worked collaboratively to develop the four key goals and then the ACC Executive Team and the Executive Committee developed the action plan and guiding principles to achieve them. The ACC Board of Directors approved the 2021-2025 Strategic Plan at the August 31, 2020 Board meeting with the theme of Honoring the Past – Transforming for the Future.  The Goals are:

Goal #1: To be a premier provider of community and residential services focused on creating meaningful life experiences for older adults and their families 

Goal #2: To develop a business model that spurs program growth and charitable giving, while ensuring high levels of quality services and financial stability 

Goal #3: To be the preferred employer of an engaged workforce by supporting professional development and the collective contributions of our staff 

Goal #4: To cultivate an organization-wide culture where volunteers and staff work hand-in-hand to fulfill the vision and mission of ACC Senior Services 

The COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s racial issues played a role in developing these goals. They have broadened our view of health and safety and our responsibilities to the greater community. ACC will remain clear-eyed and proactive about handling these and other exigencies that will come our way.

The 2021-2025 Strategic Plan will be guided by the following principles:

• Emphasizing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Ensuring Financial Sustainability
• Reshaping Services & Programs with Technology
• Reimagining Volunteer Engagement
• Enhancing Social Interaction 

The Five-Year Strategic Plan lists specific strategies under each goal. These include:

• Creating a holistic environment at ACC where clients, residents, families, volunteers and staff have opportunities to nurture their body, mind, and spirit 
• Promoting ACC in the community as a thought leader and trusted expert on aging issues and best practices 
• Increasing transportation services to older adults living in ACC residential communities as well as those living at home 
• Developing a plan to remodel the Care Center and/or build an additional post-acute facility to maintain ACC’s viability and improve the level of resident privacy and self-direction 
• Evaluating the efficacy of ACC adding or collaborating on affordable housing options for seniors 
• Continuing to integrate services throughout ACC, eliminate siloed thinking, and promote teamwork across program lines 
• Developing a robust Intergenerational Program, engaging the local community throughout all ACC divisions to enhance community service and connectedness 
• Establishing a viable fundraising and endowment plan to sustain current programs and enable future growth of ACC 
• Expanding the Career Advancement Program (CAP) to include all employees and develop additional modules to meet employee development needs 
• Developing and scaling ACC’s unique “Community of Caring” brand throughout the community 
• Exploring and developing options to attract and retain high quality staff 
• Cultivating an ACC Core Value-driven workforce including both staff and volunteers. 
• Promoting communication, mutual understanding, and respect among staff and volunteers 

Each of these strategies (and there are many more) has an action plan and owners assigned to them. ACC’s Executive Management Team will report quarterly to the ACC Board of Directors on the progress of the strategies and action plans.  The Strategic Plan will be reviewed annually, adjustments made as needed, and shared with the ACC Community.   

Amidst all this, ACC is prepared to adapt to future changes in the marketplace. The number of older adults and their life expectancy will continue to rise, driving more demand for assisted-living, memory care, and in-home services. More social services and life-long learning programs will be needed too. 

The Strategic Plan also calls for developing a strong culture of philanthropy and business innovation. The Big Day of Giving held in May raised a record-breaking $160,000, a clear indicator that the community is passionate about what ACC does. Jean Shiomoto, our Board Chair, believes that the challenge in the next five years is to create more opportunities for philanthropic donations and creating endowments that will lead to  new, impactful programs for seniors.

ACC’s stature in the community has risen over five decades. People and other institutions will continue to seek ACC’s views on a range of healthcare and social issues, especially those that affect underserved seniors and people of color. Because of this, ACC needs to move in the direction of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are no longer just serving the Asian community.

ACC is already seeing a more diverse workforce and client base, but there is more work to be done. The transformation will continue in the next five years.

By Darrick Lam, ACC President/CEO and Jean Shiomoto, ACC Chair of the Board

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the ACC Care Center has worked diligently to follow the evolving guidance from local, state, and federal resources in order to maintain the safety and health of our valued residents and staff. ACC maintains robust infection control practices, a universal masking requirement, daily symptom screenings, and strict personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements. ACC also implemented visitation restrictions in accordance with regulatory guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Unfortunately, with COVID-19 numbers surging in Sacramento County and throughout California, ACC Care Center had its first resident with COVID-19 positive results in July. Subsequent to this, multiple residents and staff members also tested positive. We notified our residents, their family members, responsible parties, and primary physicians. We also notified our staff members and made a public statement on the ACC website on July 24. The residents who tested positive were safely transferred out to the hospital for follow-up. The staff members self-isolated at home under guidance from county health officials. 

No new cases have been reported at the Care Center since August 18, 2020, but intensive testing continues per County healthy guidelines. Along with the rest of the nation, ACC’s fight against COVID-19 will extend well into the future. Rest assured, our procedures for prevention and handling the recent surge are as strong as ever thanks to the leadership of our Medical Director, Dr. Scott Stringer. In fact, ACC has appointed Dr. Stringer to also be the Medical Director for Assisted Living at ACC Maple Tree Village and ACC Greenhaven Terrace. Your moral support and donations have helped Dr. Stringer and his team fight this unseen, uncanny enemy.

In the midst of all this, ACC has experienced many uplifting moments. To show our appreciation to our valued volunteers ACC held a Volunteer Lunch Delivery Event in place of the Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon that is normally held in May. We delivered 150 lunches to volunteers at their homes in mid-July. Thank you to all the staff and, yes, volunteers, who made ACC’s Volunteer Lunch Delivery Event a success. Read Volunteer Appreciation story.

On Friday, August 14, ACC Care Center resident Mrs. Chang Hou celebrated her 101st birthday. With the help of Activity Director Debbie Williams, her family made a “window visit,” standing outside in 102-degree heat to sing Happy Birthday, hold up a giant sign, and talk to their mom through the glass. Mrs. Hou, whom her daughter Emily Chapman describes as strong and feisty, was visibly moved, as were the family members and staff who were present. 

Another centenarian, Maple Tree Village (MTV) resident Minnie Iseri, turned 100 years old. MTV staff arranged for her to celebrate her birthday with family and friends online via Zoom on August 29th.  Family from across the country and from Japan shared in this special celebration for Minnie. Minnie was amazed we could “call” everyone like that and she could see everyone. Minnie was able to converse with her family from Japan too.  It was cute to hear one family member say they would take a small virtual slice of cake.  Don’t we all say that in person! Sacramento City Councilmember Rick Jennings even presented her a key to the city. Happy Birthday, Minnie! Read Minnie’s story.

The paradox of social distancing is that people are becoming closer. Their feelings for each other and their drive to connect have become more important as we change how we interact during the pandemic.  At ACC, we have seen the best of our core human values emerge as people find new ways to connect with each other.

This Fall, ACC Programs is launching an initial offering of online classes and events. Many seniors embrace this, but according to our recent survey, 48% of respondents were “not sure” if they would participate in a new online format.  We saw at the recent ACC telethon, a new level of energy and creativity is building around online programs among staff and volunteers alike. We also know that not everyone can connect online.  Stay tuned as we work on content, and learning and connectivity strategies. 

ACC was scheduled to roll out its Five-Year Strategic Plan before the pandemic changed everything. This plan was the result of a retreat we had in August 2019 attended by more than 60 ACC volunteers including Board and committee members. Since then, we have reset the timeline and adjusted some of our goals to reflect the new normal caused by COVID-19.

In closing, we want to thank the ACC Community for remaining diligent against COVID-19, helping those adversely affected, and remaining optimistic that we will emerge from the pandemic stronger and better.

By Darrick Lam,
President and CEO,
ACC Senior Services

Black lives matter. The senseless killing of George Floyd and others by the police shows that bigotry and discrimination against African Americans will keep growing unless we step outside of our comfort zone and take real action. 

I’ve talked to many ACC employees who are outraged, hurt, and threatened by this latest round of police brutality, especially those who have experienced unbridled prejudice in the past.  I believe ACC needs to explore ways to break its silence and join the worldwide community to condemn the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and other African Americans. We cannot continue to tolerate the deaths that have shocked the nation’s conscience or the bigotry and discrimination that foster it.  

Today, many people, including victims of violence, are afraid to call the police, fearing that more harm than good will result. As a trained social worker, I agree with the view that policing alone cannot solve the underlying causes of social problems.  

Thousands of protesters marched in downtown Sacramento on June 6, 2020. More than 750 cities in U.S. held protests since the killing of George Floyd. 

You might wonder what this has to do with our mission to care for seniors. Seniors, too, can be victims of discrimination, violence, and abuse. If we focus only on what we consider “our business,” then it becomes easier for destructive forces to divide and harm us. When our neighbors are fighting for social justice, we must step in and support their fight to be treated with the same dignity and respect due to every person. Protests around the world in the wake of Mr. Floyd’s death are a catalyst for populist change and we have an opportunity to be part of this change.

I fully agree with an article published by TIME Magazine on June 9^th that “lasting change won’t happen without actively deconstructing our beliefs about race…in order to make social and economic change in a society rife with institutional racism, it’s not enough to not be racist, but rather people need to be actively anti-racist. For many people learning how to be a helpful ally, the best place to start is educating themselves and listening.” 

We often use our own culture and values as a measuring stick to determine how and why we treat people the way we do. We forget to ask ourselves, “How does this person want to be treated, not based on my values and culture, but theirs?” Or, “Do I even know their culture and values well enough to know if I’m treating them with respect?” These questions are the basis of ethical human interaction. We all need to learn, to grow, and to fully appreciate other people. 

We can begin our fight for social justice by asking ourselves these questions:  

• How can we help African Americans and other communities of color obtain justice? 
• What can we do to reduce implicit biases, racial injustice, and inequality in our institutions, not just law enforcement? 
• How can we protect the rights of all our citizens regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, age, or country of origin? 
• What can we do to invest in our community to educate our young and old, fight racism, and give would-be victims new life-changing opportunities?

It’s time for ACC to take real action and join our neighbors in support of causes that address racial violence in this country.  Please let me know if you would like to join me in this long overdue fight for social justice. For those who are interested in a dialogue, please email your comments or questions to info@accsv.org.

As you walk through the glass doors into the lobby, you’re greeted by stunning artwork from famed San Francisco artist William Gatewood (1943-1994).  Large images of kimonos and Japanese screens, enhanced by splashes of gold and silver leaf, are prominently displayed on the walls.  Walk further into the building and you can take a meandering stroll along the Sacramento River Delta, courtesy of landscape paintings by legendary local artist and former Sacramento City College art professor Gregory Kondos.  No, you’re not at the Crocker Art Museum.  You’re visiting ACC Maple Tree Village, the newest residential community that will provide Assisted Living and Memory Care services to older adults.  Located in the Pocket-Greenhaven neighborhood, Maple Tree Village will open its doors in early 2020.

I recently sat down with Moni Van Camp-Kondos, Gregory’s wife.  She is also the sister of William Gatewood. Moni led the effort to permanently house a vast collection of fine art from renowned artists at Maple Tree Village.  She took an active role in selecting the artists, the artwork and the specific placement of each piece.  The Kondos family donated 11 limited edition and signed prints.  Moni placed most of her husband’s paintings in the “Blue Jay Neighborhood,” located in the assisted living area – a most appropriate setting since the color blue is a signature feature in most of Kondos’ pieces.  “Gregory is very impressed with the design of the Maple Tree Village community. He can’t stop talking about it,” says Moni.  “The river has been a major part of Gregory’s life and he loves that residents will be surrounded by familiar Delta images on a daily basis.” 

Gregory’s work is included in permanent collections around the world, so ACC is very appreciative of this generous donation from the Kondos family.  I asked Moni why the family made such a generous donation to Maple Tree Village.  “I worked with Scott Okamoto (Marketing Manager for Maple Tree) to display a few art pieces at Monroe Manor.  When Scott proposed a similar, but larger project for Maple Tree Village, I was very excited to make this happen.  It’s a great venue to show off all of this wonderful art.”

I recently went on a walking tour of Maple Tree Village with Scott.  His pride about the modern, yet functional facility was evident as we walked and talked.  The community is thoughtfully designed and built around a “person-centered program” philosophy.  There are 72 apartments in the four assisted living “neighborhoods” and 30 in the memory care neighborhood.  Each apartment has state-of-the-art lighting and adaptive living features.  Each neighborhood has its own “just like home” dining and activity centers, with lots of windows allowing views of the lush landscaped courtyards filled with water features and native plants.  Colorful, comfortable furnishings and local nature images avoid the stereotypical “institutional” look common in many residential living facilities.  This unique, nurturing environment is a place I’d consider for my mother if she needed such services.  And how fortunate the residents are to live inside an art museum!

Down the road, Scott anticipates acquiring more artwork and envisions the possibility of self-guided art tours. With the help of Maple Tree Village staff, Moni will create informative signage to accompany each piece of art.  Moni told me many of the artists are local or have roots in Northern California.  There are 17 pieces from William Gatewood.  She adds, “My brother Billy passed away 25 years ago.  To see his Asian-inspired art displayed in this beautiful building is a great tribute to him.” 

Lotus-inspired artwork from Chinese artist, Shimo, hangs in the Welcome Center.  Originally from Shanghai, Shimo moved to Sacramento in 2003 and is a good friend of Gregory Kondos.  His Midtown gallery, Shimo Center for the Arts, is dedicated to promoting local artists. There is also original artwork from Oakland-born artist Fred Uhl Ball, whose parents taught art classes at Mills College. 

Says Scott, “Our residents, their families, and the greater Sacramento community will have this extraordinary opportunity to enjoy this special art collection for many years to come.” Moni couldn’t agree more.  “I want everyone who passes through Maple Tree to admire the beauty around them, inside and outside.”

Thank you for supporting ACC Senior Services in 2019. This year, we helped thousands of older adults in Sacramento get healthcare, housing, transportation, and social services. We kept them engaged with 2,700 class sessions and wellness workshops. We provided more than 30,000 rides and more than 29,000 days of long-term care. Our home visits have given hope and help to people who are homebound and living alone.

2020 will see the opening of ACC Maple Tree Village Assisted Living and Memory Care. ACC is helping dozens of families navigate a critical transition in their loved one’s care. While it has been a difficult journey for many, they now have a path forward. We will care for them in the ACC tradition. In the words of our COO Melanie Segar, “Our staff is educated and compassionate. These two qualities go hand in hand at ACC.”

Please consider making a year-end gift to ACC to fund these important programs in 2020:

ACC Memory Care Program: curriculum development, training for staff and family caregivers, community outreach; to be introduced at ACC Maple Tree Village

ACC Care Center Career Advancement Program: training staff on dementia and hospice care, concierge customer service, and the use of new diagnostic equipment including ultrasound, BiPAP and state-of-the-art point-of-care testing equipment

ACC Rides: recruiting and training new drivers and driver assistants, training on new scheduling software, providing transportation vouchers for low-income seniors and others not covered by grants

ACC Home Visits: recruiting and training new Friendly Visitor volunteers, increasing social workers to handle the caseload, providing visitation vouchers for low-income seniors and others not covered by grants

ACC Music and Arts: Expanding music and arts programs for residents of ACC Care Center, ACC Greenhaven Terrace, ACC Maple Tree Village and participants of ACC Lifelong Learning
and Wellness; developing a new contingent of volunteers and philanthropists who are connected with ACC through their love
of music and the arts

ACC’s priorities for 2020 echo the conversations about aging taking place in communities across America. And earlier this year, Darrick was appointed to Governor Newsom’s Master Plan on Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee. This gives ACC a place at the table, helping us affect change throughout the state!

We appreciate gifts of all sizes. If you want to underwrite a major portion of any of these programs, contact Ted Fong at 916-503-2085 or email tfong@accsv.org. Also, contact Ted if you want to discuss giving to ACC through stocks, real estate, RMDs (a popular option), and charitable trusts.

Since our founding in 1972, ACC has relied on philanthropy from donors like you to become “a community of caring.” We welcome your continued support!