December 27, 2022
Dear Friends and Supporters:
Seven years ago, Dean Willis noticed that her husband Roy was getting more anxious. He also started doing things he normally wouldn’t do, like putting his shoes away on the patio instead of the closet. When she tried to talk to him about it, he would ask her why these things were even an issue. But his anxiety grew worse, and it wasn’t long before Roy informed Dean that he was going to quit driving and handed her his car keys.
Roy’s behavior was startling, especially given his illustrious history. The first African American to graduate from the University of Virginia’s College of Arts and Sciences in 1962, Roy was an early civil rights activist and went on to earn an MBA from Harvard University, where he was instrumental in setting up the first Black Student Union. Following his graduation, Roy spent most of his career in real estate urban development, eventually running his own real estate consultancy firm in California.
Recognizing that her brilliant, take-charge husband of 44 years was not himself and that his memory was getting worse, Dean now found herself in the role of full-time family caregiver. Fortunately, at a trip to his doctor, she learned about the Adult Day Center at WISE & Healthy Aging, where Roy now attends five days a week.
The Willis’ story and many others like theirs are those we intervene in every day at WISE & Healthy Aging.
For the past 50 years, older adults and caregivers have been coming to us to find the care and support they need through a wide range of services including our Adult Day Center, social engagement for active seniors through Club WISE, Care Management for those wishing to stay in their homes, Peer Counseling, Elder Abuse Prevention Services, transportation services and hot meals.
A large part of our work also involves advocating for seniors and adults with disabilities living in skilled nursing and residential facilities throughout the counties of Los Angeles and San Bernardino through our Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.
We could not do the work we do without your generosity and ask for your continued support. Your gift will ensure that the older adults we serve can age with the dignity they deserve.
With our great appreciation and best wishes for a happy New Year,
