For more than 70 years, Choice in Aging has been redefining how we age in our community. Our next big leap in busting ageism and the institutionalization of seniors is construction of our innovative Aging in Place Campus.
Debbie Toth
2022 was the year the Aging in Place Campus went from a dream to reality:
- Initial construction has begun on grading, underground infrastructure, the Service Road (that will circle the entire project), utility connections and upgrades, and the preschool has been temporarily relocated to a remodeled space that can accommodate the new configuration and construction.
- Our Capital Campaign Committee and President & CEO Debbie Toth put together a finance plan and secured half of the funding needed for construction. This included a very generous one-time allocation of $10 million from the California budget, shepherded through by State Senator Bill Dodd.
Dirt is moving and out-buildings are coming down to make way for the housing, Choice in Aging’s Adult Day Health Care facility, and the Choice in Learning Montessori intergenerational preschool. Our Aging in Place Campus is a first-of-its-kind intergenerational space with independent living for frail seniors with the services they need right outside their front door to keep them living independently and out of a skilled nursing facility.
We have so many people to thank for the giant leap forward in building an age-friendly living environment in Pleasant Hill:
- The Pleasant Hill Mayor and City Council for unanimous support of our entitlements and design
- Supervisor Karen Mitchoff for her continued advocacy on our behalf and generous funding
- State Senator Bill Dodd for championing Choice in Aging to colleagues in Sacramento and securing funding in the California State Budget
- Our Capital Campaign Committee — led by Co-Chairs Sidne Long and Hank Delevati, as well as Marc Berger, our liaison between staff and the Committee — for their enthusiasm and leadership as we continue to secure private funding for the Campus
- All of the significant early donors that have joined us in our mission to build this game-changing campus vision
If you are looking for a project in 2023 and would like to be part of making this national model for aging independently a reality, please reach out to Mike Maxwell at mmaxwell@choiceinaging.org and learn how you can get involved.
We welcome you anytime to tour our ongoing project!
For more information on Choice in Aging, visit: www.choiceinaging.org
For information on their 48th Annual Crab Feed Event — click here