Skip links

Recent News

Below are a number of headlines and pieces that our organization has been featured in. You may notice a number were published under our previous name Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa, Solano and Alameda. These pieces demonstrate our work and impact during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are proud to announce the graduation of the fourth cohort of Certified Nursing Assistant students from the Healthcare Career Pathway program – Empowered Aging’s partnership with Opportunity Junction and Concord’s Mt. Diablo Adult Education. The 12-week training course is twice the length required by the state, and because of the intensive training, 19 newly minted graduates are going directly into the workforce with the equivalent of one year of work experience. Our Executive Director, Susannah Meyer, who also holds office as Vice Mayor for the City of Brentwood, was invited to speak during the ceremony. After the graduation, she stated, “I appreciate the opportunity in my role as an elected official to commemorate such a special event and an inspirational group of students. I can’t wait to see all they do for those they go on to serve in our community.”

All residents in long-term care have rights! We’re proud to share the Public Service Announcement highlighting residents’ rights and sharing more about how our ombudsman program advocates for our senior community in Alameda County. We want to thank our Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Coordinator in Alameda, Charmaine Brent, for collaborating with Alameda County Social Services Agency to share this important message.

Thank you, to Pleasanton Weekly, for sharing the news of our new name! We appreciate your support for not only us but our elder community. You can read more on PleasantonWeekly.com

We’re happy to share this issue of the American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Magazine dedicated to lessons learned from the pandemic. This issue features our executive director Nicole Howell and other #seniorcare professionals responsible for advocating for #longtermcare residents and their families, sharing powerful stories and insights.

Our vulnerable #longtermcare communities, there is still confusion about implementation and some obstacles to overcome in terms of distribution and managing impacts from side effects. Thank you to The New York Times for including our executive director in this coverage. We hope you take a moment to read more about this breaking news.

The pace of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, led by the pharmacy partnership, lags behind expectations causing worry and frustration among families and industry watchdogs. Hear more from California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform‘s Mike Dark and our Executive Director, Nicole Howell, as they talk about this issue along with facility staff and families who have been impacted thus far.

See Our Latest Videos

We’re happy to share some of our top videos demonstrating our leadership and our organization prior to the reveal of our new name and identity of Empowered Aging.

Empowered Aging Live: Mental Health in the Elder Care Community

We hope you will join us for a meaningful discussion on mental health in the elder care community as Empowered Aging staff shares their insights personally and from the field.

The Power of Pets: Long-Term Care Ombudsman Robotic Pet Project

Thanks to a new program with our partners at the California Department of Aging State Long-Term Care Ombudsman office, we have distributed 12 robotic pets in Solano County and 50 in Alameda among three different types of facilities, skilled nursing, memory care, and assisted living, with the goal to combat loneliness and social isolation and to support those who are living with cognitive impairments.

Empowered Aging Innovation Award – Healthcare Career Pathway Program

Thank you to The SCAN Foundation for this recognition and honorable mention of the Healthcare Career Pathway Program as a part of the Innovation Award. We’re thrilled to be fighting alongside you for all older adults.

California State Assembly Subcommittee No. 6 Hearing

COVID-19 in Skilled Nursing Facilities with Testimony from Nicole Howell

2020 Women of the Year Award Ceremony – Q&A

Hear our Executive Director, Nicole Howell, ask Congressman Garamendi to address the future of trained caregivers and the needs of older adults.

Health Subcommittee Congressional Hearing

Examining the COVID-19 Nursing Home Crisis with Testimony From Nicole Howell

COVID 19 and Elder Care

What You Need to Know Featuring Nicole Howell

Quarterly Newsletters

Clients and Supporters: Do you have a testimonial or story about Empowered Aging that you would like to share?

Contact Us and your story could show up here!

Explore Our Annual Reports