ACC Maple Tree Village sets up Green Zone

ACC Care Center Meets Continuing Challenge of COVID-19

By Tamara Kario, MSN, RN, LNHA
Administrator, ACC Care Center

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). 

Chaia Lee welcomes Carolyn Muller to ACC Maple Tree Village.

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. 

Kaley Wong and Debbie Williams keep residents active and engaged.

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. 

Lora Connolly and Paula Mishima 2

ACC Appoints Two New Board Members

By Titus Toyama, Board Member

ACC Senior Services is pleased to announce the appointment of Lora Connolly and Paula Mishima to the ACC Board of Directors. Lora and Paula bring a wealth of experiences and knowledge to the Board. Let’s meet them!

When Lora Connolly was getting ready to retire and people asked her what she was going to do, she replied “learn Tai Chi.” Lora found that ACC was offering Tai Chi at ACC Greenhaven Terrace. So she enrolled, and soon Tai Chi at GT became Lora’s Wednesday morning destination! 

Lora’s involvement with ACC led her to consider serving on the Board of Directors, which she joined in July 2020. We’re very fortunate to have Lora as a Board member, as she’s been working on aging and long-term care issues for over 30 years. After earning her Master’s in Gerontology at USC, Lora came to Sacramento and worked in positions with the Legislature and various state departments. Lora’s career with the State included many years with the Department of Aging, where she served as the Department’s director under the Brown Administration. ACC will surely benefit from Lora’s first-hand knowledge of many aging issues and strategies to better address California’s increasingly diverse aging population. 

For the last two years, Lora has participated in the ACC strategic planning process and, as a Board member, she will also be serving on the Program and Care Center committees. “It is an honor and privilege to have been asked to serve on the Board and focus on direct services and programs right here in this area of Sacramento.”

Lora also shares that “ACC was a very caring home to my mother-in-law, and I have many cherished memories of those visits over those last three years of her life.”  And being a life-long learner, Lora surely misses ACC’s class offerings due to COVID-19, but she’s excited about ACC’s move to offer more classes and events on-line. Her latest idea – a hybrid Zoom/outdoor Pocket area birding group! 

Paula Mishima was appointed to the ACC Board in September. Paula shares that serving on the Board brings her time in Sacramento full circle. Being new to Sacramento back in the early 1980s, she began volunteering with her Auntie Chiz and Uncle Buro at ACC’s Bingo operation. Then, as a Mom with three daughters, Paula’s volunteer work pivoted to their activities, including Jan Ken Po Gakko, Asian league basketball, and Kennedy High School. Now, with her third daughter finishing college, Paula says, “I’m ready to re-engage in community work. I was drawn back to ACC because I’m often at Greenhaven Terrace (GT) where my Auntie Chiz’s two youngest siblings now live. They have found GT a supportive and caring place to live. I’ve become more aware of the other valued services ACC provides as I listened to the stories of my middle daughter, who volunteered for the ACC Legacy Corps program until she started medical school this past July.”

A native of Berkeley, Paula brings a wealth of public sector expertise and experience to ACC. She earned her undergraduate degree from Stanford and a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Washington. Paula came to Sacramento to pursue a career in public service, first working for the Legislative Analyst’s Office, then moving on to positions in the Legislature and with the California Department of Education (CDE). Paula served as Deputy Superintendent for then-State Superintendent Delaine Eastin and continues to work at the CDE as a special projects administrator for data systems.

Although serving on the Board for just a few months, Paula has been impressed by the dedication and talent of her fellow board members and ACC management and staff. She is currently on the Finance and GT committees, where the skills honed over many years working in the public sector will be of great value!

Please join the ACC Board in welcoming Lora and Paula. We appreciate their dedication to ACC, and look forward to their contributions in helping us achieve our mission and vision!

Illa Collin - 5

Illa Collin, A Treasure Among Us

By Corky Mau

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.” 

At age 2 in Wyoming

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. 

Illa and Don’s wedding on July 12, 1957. They have been married for 63 years.

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.

Ukulele Serenade

Ukulele Serenaders Answer the Call

By Glenn Watanabe

 â€œBusking” 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
SMUD Shine 2

ACC and SMUD Improve Job Prospects for Underserved Seniors

On November 17, 2020, ACC Senior Services began loaning laptop computers to 50 participants in the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), ACC’s job training program for older adults. The refurbished laptops were purchased with a $16,400 grant from SMUD as part of its Shine Award Grant Program. 

The participants of ACC’s SCSEP program are low-income seniors who face multiple barriers to employment. Most come from underserved communities with few resources across Sacramento County. Many have raised children and grandchildren and now seek work to make ends meet. Some are veterans who are at risk of being homeless. Others were incarcerated and now want to be productive members of society. While most have worked their entire lives, they do not have the technology skills to compete in the tight COVID-era labor market.

ACC’s Haroon Abasy helps SCSEP participant with her new laptop.

“SCSEP is giving these seniors a human connection and the technical training to get employed during this challenging time,” says Jeri Shikuma, SCSEP Program Manager. “With SMUD’s support, ACC’s SCSEP program will help these older adults develop digital literacy skills, making them more employable.”

 The loaner laptops are refurbished models and come fully loaded with Microsoft Windows and Office applications.

“Getting one of these laptops will be a great help for me to navigate online with my distance training,” says LaTonya Anderson. “I’ve currently been using my phone to do distance learning and it’s challenging being that I am legally blind. Not only will the laptop help me with my distance learning, it will also help me greatly with job searches.”

The Pew Research Center found in 2017 that 73 percent of low-income seniors in the U.S. don’t have home broadband. Many go to senior centers and libraries to get Internet access. The pandemic has shut down that access. 

“We’re proud to partner with local nonprofits on projects that will immediately address COVID-19 impacts in underserved communities,” said SMUD CEO and General Manager Paul Lau.  “I’m looking forward to round two so we can help even more people during this unprecedented time.  By supporting our community with job training, academic support and community services, we will make a lasting impact in our neighborhoods.” 

The Shine Award Grant Program is part of SMUD’s Sustainable Communities Initiative that uses innovative programs and local partnerships to help bring environmental equity and economic vitality to neighborhoods in the Sacramento area. ACC is grateful for SMUD’s partnership in helping seniors in our community find employment. For more information, visit https://www.smud.org/en/Corporate/Landing/Sustainable-Communities/Shine-awards.

Together-We-Engage

Update on Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Aging

By Darrick Lam, President and CEO, 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.

Happy New year 2021 large greeting card illustration

Ready for 2021

By Lisa Poon, CPA, Chief Financial Officer, ACC Senior Services

2020 is undoubtedly a year we will never forget, yet one most of us are glad to see coming to an end. We kicked off 2020 with the usual excitement that a new year brings – plans to fill up our beautiful new facility, ACC Maple Tree Village; sprucing up ACC Greenhaven Terrace with fresh dĂ©cor; new window treatments and bed linens at the ACC Care Center; and continuance of lifelong learning and social services provided through ACC Home and Community Based Programs.

And then came the global pandemic. March 2020 is a date that is imprinted in all of our minds, a date where the term “normal” took on a whole new meaning. We’ve seen the pandemic have the most significant impact on our senior population, the very people ACC has been serving every day for almost 50 years. Restrictions on where they can go and whom they can see has put an incredible strain on them and their family caregivers. The cancellation of in-person classes and workshops at ACC has further increased feelings of isolation. We long for the days when we can greet our friends with a hug or a handshake. 

However, rather than give in to the urge to raise the white flag, ACC has risen to the challenge and has vowed to keep our seniors healthy and safe, and to provide the best and most “normal” life possible. As 2020 comes to an end, we hope you can make a generous year-end gift to help ACC continue its remarkable work to:

  • Protect the health and safety of our residents, staff, and volunteers
  • Keep seniors engaged through new online services such as virtual classes, workshops and support groups
  • Provide transportation for essential appointments
  • Create a “No Wrong Door” social services system for our community

Since the last publishing of ACC News, we have spent approximately $73,000 on COVID-19 testing and over $20,000 on Personal Protective Equipment. We ramped up ACC Online Learning with hundreds of seniors participating. With funding from SMUD, ACC purchased 50 laptop computers to help seniors develop computer skills and find employment.

Our employees in skilled nursing, assisted living, and our home and community based program departments have never been so resourceful and are the true heroes of ACC. With your year-end support, they can continue to rise to the challenges posed by COVID-19.

Bring it on, 2021 – we are ready for you!

Message from Jean Shiomoto and Darrick Lam

A Message from Darrick Lam and Jean Shiomoto

As 2020 comes to an end, we reflect on how much and how quickly ACC and its volunteers have responded to the current health crisis. Early on, people made thousands of cloth masks for ACC. They rushed to donate supplies and their time to help ACC mitigate the crisis. 

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!

ACC Care Center Opens Green Zone at Maple Tree Village

ACC Senior Services has opened up the “Green Zone” at ACC Maple Tree Village as an extension of ACC Care Center. The 16-bed Green Zone provides skilled nursing services to residents with stable health conditions and no history with COVID-19, while allowing the Care Center to manage residents with more acute conditions. On October 29, the Care Center staff converged on Maple Tree Village for a final walk through.

ACC Care Center Staff

Funding The Fight Against COVID-19

As the U.S. passes 217,000 lives lost to COVID-19, ACC will require more funding to keep our residents and staff safe against this unseen enemy. This fight will extend well into the future, which makes your financial support so important at this time.

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.”

The family of Ms. Chang Hou celebrates her 101st birthday outside her window. Activity Director Debbie Williams looks on.

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