by MOLLY FORREST, PRESIDENT, JEWISH HOME FOUNDATION
I
am honored and grateful to serve as your Chair of LeadingAge California. For decades, our association has been a trusted voice and advocate for aging. As I begin my tenure, I thank our Immediate Past Chair, Jasmine Borrego, for her wonderful leadership, advice, friendship and support of our association.
I am honored and grateful to serve as your Chair of LeadingAge California. For decades, our association has been a trusted voice and advocate for aging. As I begin my tenure, I thank our Immediate Past Chair, Jasmine Borrego, for her wonderful leadership, advice, friendship and support of our association.
These are unprecedented and uncertain times, and it can be tempting to pause, perhaps in a bit of shock, during the current coronavirus pandemic. However, as individuals and an association of nonprofits, I firmly believe it is our time to lead. We must be robust and responsive to the needs of our member organizations and all seniors who rely upon the vital work we do.
Current challenges impact all sectors of healthcare and senior services. Initially, with COVID-19, we were seeking a central entity to guide us. However, we soon realized many of the solutions must come from within us. We need to rely on the same professionalism and expertise we have always offered. Nonprofits are often at the forefront of innovation, especially when faced with a unique challenge; collectively we rise to this one.
While things may never be exactly as they were, we will embrace innovative technology, develop new best practices of care, and explore exciting avenues to ensure we continue providing the best in senior living. I truly believe the future of our work and the services we provide will be even better as we adapt to the new normal.
I close by offering thanks to all who participated in the recent elections for our association, and as I begin my new role, I invite your ideas, thoughts and hopes for the future. I regret we cannot be together for this year’s conference; I look forward to our virtual forums and hope it will not be long before we are together again.
What comes next will test us – together we will continue to fulfill our mission.
