It’s been a roller coaster ride since the New Year began. And while there have been a lot of ups and downs, it’s hard to say how much forward progress we’ve made. The good news is that we’re still here, hanging on, doing our best to deal with challenges as they come our way.
In brief, here’s what’s been happening:
Art from the Heart Fundraiser
On May 3 we will host our annual fundraiser, Art from the Heart, in the historic Piedmont Community Hall. As usual, we’ll auction paintings created by our participants and beautifully framed by businesses who donate their services. We’ll also have food, wine, entertainment, and a silent auction. This is always a very popular and fun event.
We will be in touch with more details, but right now please save the date and please help us with donations. We need your support to make this event a success. There are many ways to help—by donating items we can auction (services, vacations, meals, goods), by making a monetary donation, and by attending the event. Keep an eye on our website www.aseb.org and Facebook page for more information as it becomes available. Even $20 can make a difference.
Transition from ADHC to CBAS
Effective April 1, 2012, Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) will replace Adult Day Health Care (ADHC), which was eliminated by the California legislature. CBAS will be administered through three Medi-Cal managed care plans: Alameda Alliance, Anthem Blue Cross, and Contra Costa Health Plan.
The transition from ADHC to CBAS has been difficult because there is so much uncertainty, and it’s hard to deal with uncertainty when your need is immediate. As of today, many of our families still don’t know if they’re eligible for the program. We’re still waiting for regulation revisions, and we still haven’t been told what the reimbursement for each participant will be. As the government scrambles to connect the dots while they attempt to overhaul a system that’s been in operation for three decades, we’re left to carry on our day-to-day operations not knowing what the future will bring.
One bright spot in this ordeal has been Ingrid Lamirault, CEO of Alameda Alliance. Ingrid and her organization have been a blessing to ASEB. Ingrid has attended our meetings, helped us formulate ways of dealing with the changes, shared data, and generally provided a strong guiding presence through this period of transition. ASEB looks forward to a fruitful partnership with Alameda Alliance.
Oakland closure
It was a difficult decision, but on February 17 we closed our Oakland Center. The good news is that all of our Oakland participants were welcomed at either our Berkeley or Hayward centers. We were also able to retain most of our Oakland staff. Just last week our Berkeley site was licensed to accept 15 new participants in addition to the 45 who already attend. Participants from the Oakland center are thriving in their new homes, where we continue to provide them with outstanding care.
As always, we are grateful to all of you who support us in our mission of caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s and providing respite to their families and caregivers. Thank you!
Micheal Pope
Executive Director
Alzheimer’s Services of the East Bay