ABHOW Words Sharing Our Stories - Sitemason · Sharing Our Stories Jane Bakaluba tends to her...

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Nurturing comes naturally for Jane Bakaluba. Whether working in her garden at ABHOW’s Rotary Manor in

San Rafael, Calif., or dedicating her life to social work, Bakaluba’s caring spirit shines through.

When she fled her native Uganda to escape Idi Amin’s oppressive regime, she knew that adjusting to life in a new country would bring challenges. As a mother of three teen boys at the time, she also under-stood the potential benefits.

Generosity Marks LifeOf San Rafael Resident

VOLUME 14 • ISSUE 7 • JULY 2012

Page 3 Nina Olmedo-Jaquenod sets the pace at Grand Lake Gardens.

Page 4 Team member Ida Brown goes above and beyond.

Page 5 Fresno firefighters test skills at demolition site.

ABHOW WordsSharing Our Stories

Jane Bakaluba tends to her garden on the grounds of Rotary Manor.

ABHOW WordsSharing Our Stories JULY 2012 2

“With challenges come great reward,” she says. “For everything we overcome there is gratification and the satisfaction of a better life.”

Before moving to the United States, Bakaluba attended Makerere University in Uganda. She also earned a secretarial degree from Pitman’s College in London. She then worked for British Airways at Heathrow Airport as a typist and later as secretary to the British Airways manager in her hometown of Kampala, Uganda.

Her life was full of travel and adventure, but when Bakaluba arrived in the U.S., she found it difficult to find meaningful work. “I decided to go back to school,” she says. “And I chose social work.” She attended Temple University in Philadelphia, where she earned a degree in social work and began a career that spanned more than two decades in two states.

Generosity Marks Life of San Rafael Resident Continued from cover

Bakaluba describes herself as a natural caretaker, so social work made sense.

“I came from a large family and took care of my sister’s children after school,” she says. “I love making other people happy and helping others.”

She also worked for the YWCA in Uganda and was a community development officer for the Ministry of Social Services in Kampala, teaching young women about child care, hygiene, nutrition and domestic skills to improve their standard of living. “I greatly enjoyed working with these women,” Bakaluba says.

“It was challenging and very difficult sometimes,” she says. “In social work you are always trying to make things better, and you are dealing with people’s prob-lems. Sometimes there is no easy answer.”

After retiring, Bakaluba continued to serve. She volunteered for the Marin County peer counseling program, which helps connect older adults with much-needed services. For her efforts, the Marin County Board of Supervisors recently presented Bakaluba with a certificate recognizing her work.

“It was the icing on the cake,” she says. “Looking out there and seeing my sons and the board of supervisors was very rewarding.”

Now, Bakaluba is focused on raising vegetables and volunteering on the resident council at Rotary Manor.

“Life is good at Rotary Manor,” she says. “I have my little garden plot and enough food to share with others. I’ve had some very good breaks in life, and I thank God for that.”A social worker, Bakaluba recently received recognition for her volunteer

services as a peer counselor.


New Grand Lake Gardens Resident Blazes TrailsNina Olmedo-

Jaquenod doesn’t believe in barriers. When others ask “Why?” she asks “Why not?”

The 84-year-old grandmother of three plays tennis twice a week, walks around Lake Merritt regularly and volunteers in her Oakland community. A retired edu-cator, she also holds four master’s degrees and is fluent in English, Italian, French and Spanish.

All of that and an Episcopal priest, as well.

“The first-ever Hispanic woman to be ordained in the Anglican church,” she says with a hearty laugh. “I felt the calling and responded. I never intended to make history, I just love people.”

A native of Argentina, Olmedo-Jaquenod loved the traditions of her Catholic upbringing — the liturgy, the solemn beauty, the people.

“But in Catholicism, women aren’t allowed to preach,” she points out. “I chose the Episcopal church because they’re liberal and very open.”

The journey was not always easy, however. Not ev-eryone accepted her decision.

“But I made it,” she says. “I made it.”

That was 33 years ago. Although she retired in 2007, Olmedo-Jaquenod still preaches once a week at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and is a volunteer chaplain at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland.

“I’m busier now than before I retired,” she says.

Two years ago, Olmedo-Jaquenod began looking for a retirement community. Even though she was doing fine in her condominium, she knew that her two sons

(one is in the entertainment business in Hollywood, the other is a suc-cessful Bay Area businessman) were worried about her living alone.

But with her diverse interests and love of life, no ordinary retirement community would do. It had to be unique. Olmedo-Jaquenod wanted a community with a vibrant social calendar, plenty of leisure activities and interest-ing people. When she found ABHOW’s Grand Lake Gardens, she knew she had come to the right place.

“The first thing I noticed is that the people here are so congenial,” she recalls. “I like to laugh, and I like to talk. I always say, ‘Life is short; be happy!’”

From her apartment window, Olmedo-Jaquenod can see the gardens, which she describes as “beauti-ful” and “peaceful.” Shopping and dining options are a short walk away. When she’s not making the trek to the lake, Olmedo-Jaquenod can often be found in the exercise room, taking advantage of one of Grand Lake Gardens’ many classes or playing ping-pong. She also teaches a Spanish class for her fellow residents.

“Moving to Grand Lake Gardens was the best choice for me,” she says. “Here I have plenty of things to do, and I’m not alone. I’m never bored.”

WISE MOVE

Nina Olmedo-Jaquenod stays busy at Grand Lake Gardens.


Residents Recognize Team Member’s DevotionIda Brown makes a difference in

her community, and her awards prove it.

Last spring, Brown was named the Community Action Partnership of Riverside County’s Volunteer of the Year. And that was just one of three awards she received this year for her services.

A vibrant woman with a hearty laugh, Brown’s life is geared to help-ing others. Residents at ABHOW’s Mount Rubidoux Manor describe her as “wonderful” and a “great listener.”

As the social services coordinator for the afford-able housing community in Riverside, Calif., Brown has taken on several projects in addition to her daily duties. During her seven years there, she has formed many friendships among the 200 residents.

“I stay busy from the time I get here till the time I leave,” Brown laughs. “It’s a very rewarding job.”

Brown’s duties include working with Riverside County’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), as well as the county’s weatheriza-tion department.

“I helped the residents apply for LIHEAP, an en-ergy-efficient program where residents can get money

As Mount Rubidoux Manor’s social services coordinator, Ida Brown always lends a helping hand.

back for lights and gas and things like that,” Brown says. “The money this company gets is for low-income people and seniors in and around the Riverside area.”

The weatheriza-tion department makes regular assessments of the residents’ apartments and determines how to make them more energy-efficient and save money. From installing new air conditioners to replacing refrigerators, Brown makes sure the weatherization department is on the job.

An orthopedic nurse and surgery scheduler in Southern California prior to joining the Mount Rubidoux Manor team,

Brown serves on the holiday planning committee. She also organizes an annual cookie drive to benefit a local fire department, works with the nearby Dales Senior Center and does outreach for the community food program.

Paulette Mason, a Mount Rubidoux Manor resident for three years, appreciates Brown’s devotion.

“Ida does everything, from fixing telephone prob-lems to replacing furniture,” says Mason. “She goes way beyond what her job entails.”

Brown works tirelessly to ensure that all residents at Mount Rubidoux Manor are comfortable, happy and energy-efficient. Thanks to her, being green has never been easier.


Affordable Housing Earns Additional HonorsThe affordable housing commu-

nities of ABHOW continue to reap awards for their forward-thinking designs, energy-efficient buildings and exceptional service to residents.

The latest award recipients are Pacific Meadows in Carmel, Calif.; Salishan Gardens in Tacoma, Wash.; and Valley Vista in San Ramon, Calif.

Pacific Meadows, which recently under-went an extensive full-community renovation, was named one of the National Affordable Housing Management Association’s (NAHMA) Communities of Quality.

The Communities of Quality National Recognition and Awards Program honors those affordable housing communities that meet NAHMA’s high standards for maintenance, financial manage-ment, programs and services, employee credentials and other criteria. More than three-quarters of ABHOW’s affordable housing communities already carry the designation.

“It’s a 360-degree view of the property where they look at regulatory compliance, conduct a physical inspection of the property and look at its financial performance,” says Travis Hanna, ABHOW’s director of operations for affordable housing. “They consider letters

from family and residents, political leaders and regula-tors. They want to make sure we’re doing a great job.”

Part of the credit for the recognition goes to Pacific Meadows’ recent $7 million overhaul, which updated the community’s appearance and environmental technology.

“We did a great job taking care of our residents and our property, but the property needed a substantial re-hab,” Hanna says. “Now it’s beautiful, as well as a great place to live.”

“It’s just gorgeous,” says Kathleen Lepisto, administrator for Pacific Meadows. “Now it doesn’t look like what you’d expect from affordable housing. It looks like luxury living.”

In addition to the renovations to the com-munity’s residential buildings, a former work-and-water-inten-sive English garden was

replaced by landscaping that features drought-tolerant species native to the Monterey Peninsula.

“The look now is very Mediterranean, fits the set-ting and enhances the view of the property,” Lepisto says. “The new landscaping almost takes care of itself.”

She says the community’s new solar array, mean-while, draws 400 kilowatts and nearly powers the entire campus, freeing residents from power bills. Any residual electrical costs not covered by the solar collec-tion are covered by Pacific Meadows.

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Affordable housing communities like Valley Vista in San Ramon, Calif., set a new standard for design, planning and development.


Our company is proud of its pio-neering heritage. More than 60 years ago, ABHOW was one of the first organizations on the West Coast to develop the concept of continuing care retirement communities.

Today, ABHOW carries on that tradition of in-novation, whether it is by creating The Grove, which utilizes new methods of providing memory support, or by adding new affordable housing communities that help seniors find a place to call home.

Pioneers are often thought of as risk-takers, but in uncertain economic times it is fair to ask if taking risks is the best course. The senior living profession has seen a marked slowdown in occupancy num-bers as prospective residents, concerned about their financial security, delay their decisions to move into retirement communities. Throughout the country, businesses in all sectors of the economy have gone into survival mode, waiting and hoping for condi-tions to improve.

Although uncertainty can make it difficult to em-brace risk and innovation, ABHOW’s management practices have provided a sound financial foundation that maintains security for current residents, offers an attractive option for prospective residents, and enables the company to pursue new opportunities for the long term.

Times are tough, but by 2014 ABHOW will have opened another new affordable housing community in Washington and made improvements to several

Navigating Tough Times by David B. Ferguson

continuing care communities in California. The company is able to do this because the board and management have developed a long-term strategic plan that anticipates future needs.

In addition to planning for the needs of current and prospective residents, ABHOW looks for sound yet creative ways to finance new communities. For example, we team with like-minded nonprofit organizations and seek grants that will enable us to achieve our goals.

Furthermore, ABHOW is focused on marketing. This spring, the company’s sales offices began a three-month campaign called Season of Savings, which offers unique move-in incentives to attract new resi-dents at eight communities. The campuses are hosting events, answering prospective residents’ questions and providing financial information that details the ben-efits of moving to a CCRC. So far, the results have been very encouraging.

Navigating tough times requires a clear vision, con-tinuous planning and, yes, a pioneering spirit to make strategic business decisions. Our company is blessed to be able to use these assets in our mission to enhance the lives of older adults.

ABHOW President and CEO David Ferguson.


Firefighters Train on Old Fellowship HallMore than 40 Fresno firefighters

recently chopped holes in the roof and rappelled down the sides of the old Fellowship Hall at The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens. But this was no emergency.

ABHOW had given firefighters from four truck companies and eight engine companies two days to practice their skills on the retirement community’s 80-foot structure before it was razed to make way for a new campus center.

Firefighters erected 105-foot ladders over the building and punched holes in the roof to work on ventilation techniques. Finally, to help the demolition crew, they attached to the roof beams heavy cables that were later used to safely pull down the 45-year-old structure.

“The training we did there is invaluable,” says Lawrence French, a Fresno Fire Department captain with Engine 11, located across the street from the community. “Nearly 100 percent of our potential first-alarm responders participated.”

The firefighters also offered “quite a bit of enter-tainment” for the residents, according to Harvey Zimmerman, resident council president.

Fellowship Hall’s demolition was part of the second phase of a $121-million major renovation. Construction

will begin soon on its replacement, to be called The Valencia, scheduled to be completed by May 2013.

“The Valencia will be the hub of the campus,” says Tom Walls, director of facilities at The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens. It will feature a 192-seat auditorium, 72 seats more than its predecessor. In addition, it will house a business office, gift shop, computer lab, library and brain-fitness room.

The Valencia floor plan also includes a commercial kitchen that will serve three new restaurants: The Grill, which will include a separate space for private par-

ties; a more formal fine-dining restaurant, and a casually elegant coffee and snacks café.

But the campus’ old kitchen won’t be discarded. It will serve a soon-to-open community for women and children, in what was once the Vagabond Hotel, to be operated by Rescue The Children, a ministry of the Fresno Rescue Mission.

Also coming to The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens over the next 18 months are three more key additions: The Grove, ABHOW’s ac-claimed memory support program; The Villages, a new health center that will be just the second of its kind in California to offer smaller, homelike cottages to resi-dents; and a cluster of 86 residential living apartments.

Residents are excited about the new campus grow-ing around them. “Having everything in one loca-tion [at The Valencia] will be good for residents,” says Zimmerman. “It will benefit us all in the future.”

Firefighters from Fresno community practice their skills on The Terraces of San Joaquin Gardens’ old Fellowship Hall before demolition.


ABHOW, National and State Websites: ABHOW: abhow.com LeadingAge: leadingage.org Leading Age Arizona: agingservicesofaz.orgAging Services of California: aging.orgAging Services of Washington: agingwa.org

“American Baptist Homes of the West, as an expression of Christian mission, seeks to enhance the independence, well-being

and security of older people through the provision of housing, health care and supportive services.”

Published by the Strategic Planning and Communications Department Kay Kallander, Senior Vice President e-mail [email protected]

6120 Stoneridge Mall Rd., 3rd Floor, Pleasanton, CA 94588 phone: 1-925-924-7150 toll-free: 1-800-222-2469 fax: 1-925-924-7232

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Salishan Gardens, located in Tacoma, Wash., took home a Gold Nugget award from the Pacific Coast Builders Conference.

“We’re really proud to receive this recognition and to be part of such a prestigious group of communities,” Lepisto says. “I do believe we’re right up there with the best.”

As with all ABHOW’s senior affordable housing communities, the upgrades were paid for by a com-bination of federal, state and local housing funds. Ongoing operations at the communities are funded through government subsidies and resident rent.

“ABHOW Affordable Housing has gone through a renaissance in the last few years where we have be-come a vital part of the organization,” Hanna says.

As for Salishan Gardens and Valley Vista, their hon-ors came in the form of multiple Gold Nugget awards from the Pacific Coast Builders Conference (PCBC). The organization recognizes developers and architects that “improve communities through exceptional con-cepts in design, planning and development.”

Valley Vista won in two categories: Affordable Housing Project (15 to 30 apartments per acre) and Affordable Seniors Housing Community. Salishan

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Gardens won for Affordable Housing Project (over 30 apartments per acre).

The Gold Nugget Awards were presented at the PCBC Home Tradeshow at the Moscone Center in San Francisco on June 28.

“These are very distinguished awards, especially when it comes to the affordable housing world,” Hanna says.

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