By Jeannee Parker Martin, president and CEO, LeadingAge California We hear daily about the two-year ‘anniversary’ of COVID-19 – closing down offices, working from home, staff burnout, the ‘great resignation,’ zoom calls from morning ‘til night, and more. On this second anniversary of the pandemic, I thought back on my own feelings of isolation, inability Read More…
Winter 2022
Q&A with Susan DeMarois: CDA Director on the Road Ahead
Susan DeMarois is the new Director of the California Department of Aging. She took on the role in November of 2021 after eight years with the Alzheimer’s Association as Director of Public Policy & Advocacy, and prior to that, California Government Affairs Director. We chatted about goals for the coming year, where priorities will lie, Read More…
Q&A with Joshua Smith, LeadingAge California Director of DEI Initiatives
Joshua Smith joined LeadingAge California in September 2021 as their new director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives. We sat down to chat about the rewards and challenges of DEI work and hear his perspective on what it means to practice true self-care. What do you find rewarding about working in the DEI field? I Read More…
COVID-19’s Impact Continues but Hope is on the Horizon
By Eric Dowdy, Chief Government Affairs Officer, LeadingAge California As we continue to deal with the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the pandemic’s impact can be felt in nearly every aspect of senior living and care. Tremendous strain has been placed on our caregivers, nurses, food service, transportation, and all other areas of our Read More…
Self-Care for Residents and Staff
By Brenda Klutz, Policy Consultant, LeadingAge California Living under the pandemic the past two years has been extraordinarily stressful to both residents and staff. Until recently, and to provide protection from preventable infection, residents were severely restricted from having visitors, thereby eliminating a major source of joy and well-being. Opportunities to dine in restaurants, join Read More…
Critical workforce shortages and COVID-19 pushes California’s mental health system closer to breaking point
By Jason Shoultz, Director of Communications, Steinberg Institute The signs of a mental health crisis worsened by the pandemic can be found throughout California: in our families, on our streets, and in our schools. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, at the height of the pandemic in 2020 more than three in ten adults in Read More…