David B. Ferguson

To celebrate ABHOW’s 60th year, we are spotlighting the many ways our residents have been leaders and innovators. The company shares that adventurous spirit.

Since 1949, we have strived not only to create communities of the highest quality but also to advance the senior living field. From pioneering the concept of continuing care communities to developing cutting-edge practices that became industry standards, ABHOW has led the way.

In the late 1980s, my predecessor, Dr. Richard E. Ice, saw the potential of a new public-private approach to financing affordable homes for seniors. At Pacific Meadows in Carmel, Calif., ABHOW initiated one of the nation’s first tax-credit developments, a model that others in the industry have adopted. ABHOW continues to be highly successful in attracting funding and developing strategic partnerships. We now manage 21 affordable housing communities, and more are in the works to meet a growing need.

To serve people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, ABHOW launched The Grove in 1996. Today, four of our communities operate this pioneering person-centered memory support program and two more will offer it soon. We continue to innovate by incorporating into our program the nationally respected Best Friends philosophy. This year ABHOW became the first multisite organization in the country to receive CARF-CCAC accreditation for dementia care.

In line with our dual mission to serve both our own residents and seniors everywhere, company leaders regularly share expertise with state, regional and national trade associations engaged in senior housing and health care. ABHOW is a founding member of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging and is actively involved in state professional associations in California, Arizona, and Washington. On the national level, ABHOW leaders advocate on issues that affect seniors, including reforming the financing of health care and long-term care.

We have led the senior living industry in numerous other ways as well: by adopting a model of policy governance that engages our residents in decision-making and places social responsibility at the center of our work; by incorporating such programs as PositScience, PointClickCare, My Choice Dining and Masterpiece Living, all of which better the lives of older adults; and by striving to protect our environment through green initiatives. Our efforts in these areas have won state and national recognition as exemplary practices.

To nurture emerging leaders, we are building on the existing administrator-in-training model and creating intensive programs to train executive directors and affordable housing specialists. These efforts will ensure that our communities continue to be well run, and they will help meet the growing demand for professionals trained to the highest standards. We have taken leading roles in state and national professional associations to train the next generation of leaders, and our executives are regularly selected for inclusion in advanced leadership development programs.

We take seriously our continuing responsibility to help move the senior living profession forward. The challenges of the current economic situation mean we must bring even more creativity to bear as we work to redefine aging and adapt to a maturing society. A pioneer for 60 years, ABHOW will remain on the leading edge.

David B. Ferguson
President and CEO