My Autobiography: David Balleza K(C)atague: FaceBook Swamps with Senior Living Ads

Friday, June 28, 2024

FaceBook Swamps with Senior Living Ads

I was reading my Face Book Page Today. There were about six ads on retirement communities in the East Bay, from Walnut Creek, Concord, Danville and up to Brentwood. THD had also several ads and today posted the July Events Highlights.  A typical ads is as follows:

1. Comfort, Satisfaction and Care – When it comes to finding a retirement community for yourself or a loved one, the search can sometimes feel daunting. 

You want exceptional services in a wholesome community that feels like home from the first moment. 

With your needs in mind, --Name of Community-- offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care options, along with stylish residences, exciting amenities, and stimulating activities. 

Discover our wealth of features and see why we’re a top choice for senior living in -location-.

Join our community starting at $3,495 per month.

Personal Note: The rental will vary depending on the size of the units you rent.

2. COMMUNITY FEATURES

All that we do at ---Sisco Senior Living Community( Walnut Creek)---is about our residents. The Executive Director meets with the resident committee regularly and holds weekly meetings with all residents to talk about hot topics and inform everyone on the happenings in and around the community.

We have a resident committee that discusses food with our talented Executive Chef on a regular basis in addition to a committee that talks about the way they would like to see their home decorated for the holidays with our Activity Director.

Note: The above community(#2) was my second choice last year. The main reason why I chose THD is because of my patio for my 2 cats. The food service here as well as the Amenities is probably better than THD based on my interview with The Executive Director. The size of the 2-BR apartments is about the same as THD. They have a full-time nurse in the community for residents who needs more assistance. They community ambiance/location is not as great as THD. But the grounds are also well kept and maintained.

Personal Wish: Attention THD Management: The above is my Personal Wish: Form a Resident Committee that Discusses food and other amenities. The Committee should be Chaired by the Resident Liaison and meets regularly for better communications of the Residents concerns and improvement of their well-being.

Here in the Walnut Creek Area, my estimated guess of the rental fees  depending on the community location, offerings of services and size of the unit you need are as follows:

For studio- Range from $3,500 to $ 4,500 per month 

For 1- Bedroom: Range from $5,000 to 7,000 per month

For 2-Bedrooms: From $7500 to $10,000.00 per month 

Here are three THD ads in its FaceBook Page:

1. "So enjoy not cooking and going to Newtons (the restaurant here). It is especially nice to share good food with friendly residents.”

We are delighted to hear that our residents enjoy the culinary delights and warm community atmosphere at Newton's Fine Dining. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Your satisfaction and happiness are what we strive for every day". 

At The Heritage Downtown, we believe that dining should be an experience to look forward to. Our on-site restaurant, Newton’s Fine Dining, offers fresh, organic, and locally-sourced meals that are both nutritious and delicious. With diverse menu options and a beautiful dining setting, every meal is a treat.

From heart-healthy dishes to special themed events, dining at The Heritage Downtown is more than just a meal – it’s a time to enjoy great food and wonderful company. 

2. “My experience living at the Heritage has been nothing but positive. Staff are friendly, food is terrific, and dog friendly with close proximity to downtown.”

We are thrilled to hear about your positive experience at The Heritage Downtown. Our dedicated staff, delicious dining options, and prime location are just a few of the things that make our community special. Thank you for your kind words". 

3. "Pets bring unconditional love, companionship, and numerous health benefits to our lives. At The Heritage Downtown, we proudly support pet companionship with our pet-friendly environment. From emotional support and physical health benefits to mental stimulation and routine, pets enhance the lives of our residents in so many ways.
Our community offers pet-friendly apartments, on-site pet amenities, and access to pet care services, ensuring that both residents and their furry friends can thrive. We also organize pet-friendly social activities, creating opportunities for residents and their pets to build friendships and share joy".

My suggestion for Improvement of Communications between Senior Residents and THD Management:
Form a Resident's Council with two Representatives from each of the buildings and Chaired/Presided by the Resident Liaison or any Designated THD management Personnel.   This should be an umbrella group for the Greeters Program, Library Services and The Herald Newsletter and Activities run by Residents.  For Details read:
https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2024/02/suggestions-for-improvement-on-quality.html

Meanwhile, THD Ads Yielding Positive Results: I heard that 15 New Residents will Moving to THD for the Month of July and August. Kudos to Jenny Shively, THD Leasing and Marketing Director.

Lastly, here's my lunch yesterday, dill pickle chicken salad sandwich and chilled fresh strawberry/yogurt soup. Yummy!

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Highlights of My Professional Career

In my more than 40 years of professional career, I have experienced both working rank and file, as well as supervising the work of subordinates. I have worked in four private firms and the Federal Government, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where I retired. I enjoyed the challenges and difficulties of both types of job situations. This is the highlights of my work experience story.

My first job after completing my doctorate degree was a Chemist for Chemagro Corporation in Kansas City, Missouri. It was a subsidiary of Bayer Corporation, a German conglomerate. I worked for the analytical chemistry department comprised of about fifty people; half that number was either chemists or biologists. My specific task was to develop analytical methods for the detection of pesticide residues in plant and animal tissues. I worked on my own, similar to six other bench chemists, and we all reported to the same supervisor.

The firm sponsored my visa conversion from a student to a permanent resident, and I was able to legally work and reside in the United States with my family. The company generously took care of its employees. At the end of each successful year, everyone received a 13th month salary bonus. The employees and their families celebrated wonderful annual Christmas parties in a downtown Kansas City hotel, with dancing and free drinks for the whole night.

Inasmuch as I enjoyed and loved working for Chemagro for five years, I found a new job which offered a substantially higher pay. Due to my exemplary work performance, my supervisor preferred and lobbied for me to stay with the company. I had to turn him down because they could not match the package presented by my new employer. It was also a chance for me and my family to move and live in the US west coast, where the mild winter climate is bearable compared to the Midwest.

My next job was at the agricultural research division of Shell Development Company in Modesto, California. I was a Research Chemist, and again I worked individually, same as five other chemists who all reported to a supervisor. My specific duty was similar to my previous job. I worked for them for five years, until the company decided to get out of the pesticide business. They closed their research facility affecting the jobs of more than 200 employees.

My third industrial job was with the agricultural research division of Stauffer chemical company, located in Richmond, California. I was a Senior Research Chemist doing the same project as my two previous jobs. I worked for twelve continuous years for the company, with outstanding annual job performance. I became a Principal Research Chemist, the highest attainable non-supervisory position.

One day in 1986, my supervisor informed me that my job had been eliminated, and I had one day to vacate the facility. It was the most dreadful lay off experience in my life. I felt anger, sadness and humiliation to be dismissed from work with one day notice, after all the years of hard work invested for the company. This was an unforgettable incident and was the gloomiest point in my professional career.
The company terminated sixty research employees, who were upset of the bad news.

One of the chemists was distressed and expressed his outrageous anger by threatening the company and its workers. He told his supervisor of his intention to bomb and burn down the laboratory. He was immediately escorted by the security staff out of the building and into his car. He was informed to leave behind his personal belongings; they will be mailed to his residence. He was warned never to show up again near the company premises or risk getting arrested.

My supervisor was kind and allowed me to take my time to pack up my belongings. It took me two days to clear up my workplace, after toiling for a long period in the same jobsite. We were provided clerical help and office space, in preparation to look for another job, such as updating our resumes, and using the computer and copy machine. We were given six weeks of separation pay plus benefits.

Fortunately, with the help of a friend who is a Church parishioner, I found another job thirty days after leaving Stauffer chemical company. He hired me as a senior research chemist and as a group leader with two technicians to supervise. It was in the same field as my expertise in my previous three jobs spanning the last twenty one years. My new employer was Chevron Chemical Company, and which was located in the same area as my former employer.

This job gave me the introduction and basic knowledge of managing the work of subordinates. I worked for Chevron Company for four and a half years. The company decided to consolidate their research facilities in Texas, and lay off all its research employees. This time I had enough distress and agony from working, and eventually getting laid off from several private companies. To avoid going through any more miserable layoffs, I made a vow that I would never again work for a private company.

In my work experiences, there were noticeable and unavoidable jobsite occurrences. One can never miss the office romantic relationships between co-workers, both illicit and permitted. Though it was frowned upon, there was a boss and staff relationship, which was used as a ploy to get ahead in the company. Some relationships had chemistry, no pun intended, but some never worked out. Oftentimes, there was a sense of distrust among bench chemists for some workers who unjustly obtained preferred work assignments.

Some employees resorted to bribing superiors to get special privileges, such as being able to attend choice conferences and meetings in exciting venues or locations. Likewise, politics was always present at the worksites. It was during an era when various forms of harassment, equal opportunity and discrimination laws were not yet enforced in the workplace. Occasionally, an unexpected chemical explosion happens in a laboratory setting, where luckily no one got seriously hurt.

In the three private companies I worked for, I was able to publish scientific journals for some of the research studies and analytical methods which I developed for the respective companies of Chemagro, Shell Development and Stauffer.

After deciding and making a vow to avoid working in the private sector, I made my new goal which was either to work for the state of California, or the Federal government in Washington, D.C. Four months after I lost my job in Chevron, I was lucky and joyful to be hired by the Food and Drug Administration as a review chemist in the fall of 1990.

In 1994 I was promoted as an Expert Research Chemist with a GS-14 rating. My expertise was on Anti-malarial and Anti-parasitic drug products. In 1997, I was again deservingly promoted to Chemistry team leader, supervising the work of six Chemistry reviewers including five with doctorate degrees.

As team leader, I was responsible for prioritizing, assigning, and assuring the technical accuracy of all chemistry, manufacturing and control issues for all new drug applications submitted to the Division of Anti-Infective Drug Products, Center of New Drugs.

It was part of my responsibility to give advice, instruct and promote high morale and teamwork in my group. My work in the FDA is confidential, until the drug patent on the products I worked on has expired. There are manufacturing supplements that I have approved that are now open for the public in the Internet.

In 1998, I won the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Award. The citation reads, “For outstanding accomplishments in fostering the objectives of the EEO Program by hiring minorities and encouraging their professional growth while providing excellent leadership.” I have received numerous certificates of appreciation, awards in leadership and communications, commendation for teamwork and excellence in the accomplishment of the FDA mission. I have also received several letters of appreciation from private industry for my review work.

There are many good things working as rank and file while enjoying doing one’s job individually. It is a humbling, satisfying and productive experience, if one can work in harmony with one’s immediate supervisor. Working individually develops one’s skills in goal setting and scheduling. But in general, the financial rewards are less than a person who has supervisory responsibilities.

Managing the work of others has its challenges. Moreover, it develops one’s skill in handling and developing people, and the compensation rewards and benefits are better. Due to additional duties, responsibilities and leadership, supervisory work can be more stressful than working as a subordinate. However, supervisory jobs give one more personal growth and satisfaction, based on my personal experience. My work in FDA as a team leader managing the work of six scientists had been the happiest and rewarding work experience in my career in Chemistry. You might also like:

Friday, June 28, 2024

FaceBook Swamps with Senior Living Ads

2. COMMUNITY FEATURES

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