Albert Lee - August 2011
Albert Lee is Presentation Center’s youngest participant.  He was a successful businessman in Hong Kong and moved his family to San Francisco in 1992.  Shortly after moving here he was diagnosed with Spino Cerebellar Ataxia, type 3, and subsequently lost his family and livelihood.  Albert does not let this disease get him down and is a positive, enthusiastic, and helpful participant in our program.  While it is getting harder for Albert to communicate verbally due to disease progression, he is always willing to utilize his bilingual Cantonese/English skills to help staff communicate with other participants.  He works with our Speech Therapist to help maintain his communication skills and is learning to use a Dynavox computer machine so that he can maintain his ability to interact with others at a time when he is no longer able to do so vocally.  Albert enjoys the care and attention he receives from Presentation staff.  Albert can be seen operating his electric wheelchair through Presentation’s hallways, giving a friendly greeting and “high fives” to staff 3 days a week.

Bik Kee Law - July 2011
Bik Kee Law came from Hong Kong and worked as See's Candy for 16 years. Since she was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease her mobility has decreased and she recently fell and broke her hip. After hip surgery last summer she began attending our Mission Creek ADHC. Nowadays, you can often find Bik Kee in the gym as she is among our most dedicated gym enthusiasts working with the Physical and Occupational Therapists and the Rehab Aides to keep her Parkinson's under control. Because of her hard work she is much stronger, has greater balance, and can now walk without her walker.

Since she started at Mission Creek she has made new friends, become an advocate for mono-lingual Cantonese speakers, and embraced the center's dynamic activities. Our Occupational Therapist referred her to UCSF for a new balance and movement study for people with Parkinson's Disease. Her participation in the study may result in new exercise treatment for the movement problems in Parkinson's Disease. And to prove that she's been very lucky not only can she now dance and walk independently but she won a lottery for a new senior housing apartment. She has just finished moving out of her basement apartment that had no window or fresh air and into her new place that is full of light and is handicap accessible. Bik Kee tells us that not only can she walk but she is no longer depressed. Bik Kee Law is very happy to be attending Mission Creek Adult Day Health Center - she knows that our program has made a huge difference in her life.

Zili He - June 2011
Mr. He is a 53 year-old monolingual Chinese man who immigrated to the United States in 1989. He worked as a janitor after he moved to San Francisco. He was put in a Skilled Nursing Facility in 2009 for a year following a stroke. When he was able to return home, he was enrolled in SteppingStone Golden Gate Day Health. While he is younger than most of the frail seniors in ADHC, he reports that he doesn't mind. He said "The reason why I am coming to Golden Gate Day Health is for my rehabilitation. I don't care how many seniors there are at Golden Gate Day Health, I can still make friends with them."

When Mr. He enrolled in our program at the beginning, he was in a bad shape. However, with the help from the staff at Golden Gate Day Health, he is getting much better now. He said, "I am very lucky to enroll in Golden Gate Day Health, otherwise, I can't imagine how bad I will become." Mr. He was awarded the "Excellent Participant of the Month Award" at Golden Gate Day Health in May, 2010.

Mr. A - May 2011
Mr. A is one of our favorite participants and our "Go to Guy" for current events, particularly national and world events. A soldier in the Filipino Army, he survived his experience as a POW and became an engineer and teacher. He still loves to learn and shares his knowledge generously with other participants, staff and volunteers. He has become quite proficient using the Kindle and at 91 years young, demonstrates a command and interest in new technology. Despite living alone and confronting multiple medical issues, Mr. A challenges the notion that growing older means slowing down.

Yuan Feng Ren - April 2011
Yuan Feng Ren has been a member of Presentation Adult Day Health Center's community for the past four years. She also lives on site at Mercy Housing's Presentation Senior Community. Our nurses work closely with Mrs. Ren to help stabilize her poorly controlled diabetes and assist her with preparing and administering her insulin dosages due to her poor vision.

We have always considered Presentation residents "lucky", as they are fortunate to live in safe, clean, HUD subsidized apartments with easy access to our ADHC center. Recently we noticed that Mrs. Ren did not come downstairs to our center as scheduled, which was out of character for her. Our social worker went upstairs to check on her and heard her cry for help as she knocked on the door. Mrs. Ren was found on the floor where she had fallen in the middle of the night. She had been lying there for 6 hours and was very grateful to be discovered. Her family was grateful as well and donated two beautiful paintings to our center after Mrs. Ren returned from a hospitalization and rehabilitation stay. Mrs. Ren enjoys her exercise therapy time in our gym and playing Mah Jong with other Cantonese speaking participants.

Ronaldo Divino - March 2011
Ron has been with Mission Creek Adult Day Health Center since July of 2010. Ron brings a lot of social energy to the Center despite the consequences of the stroke which paralyzed his left side. He appreciates the extended physical and occupational therapy that he receives at Mission Creek and knows that the therapy is helping him improve his coordination and walking abilities.

In a letter to State Senator Mark Leno, urging the Senator to support the continued funding of Adult Day Health Services, Ron wrote, "I feel that Mission Creek, both staff and participants, are part of my family. Without Mission Creek, I would be housebound and would be without any help and support".

Ron brings his sketch book and draws the balancing rock sculptures that he used to create on San Francisco's Marina Beach. He enthusiastically encourages the other artists at Mission Creek to continue their art.

Jeannie Shear - February 2011
Jeannie Shear was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to San Francisco in 1970. She has been enrolled at Golden Gate Day Health since 2009. As her health deteriorates due to aging, exercising in the center helps to maintain her well-being and reduces the level of her multiple-site pain. Jeannie lives alone and feels lonely most of the time, but coming to the center improves her mood a lot because of the various activities in the center that she can participate in such as exercising, games, and socializing with her peers. Jeannie has become much happier and feels that "it's like a family here".

Evelene Washington - January 2011
Ms. Washington came to Mabini in 1991 to help improve the balance and coordination she lost as a result of a stroke. Having been self sufficient since the age of 15, she is especially motivated to work on maintaining a level of independence that allows her to live on her own. She comes two times a week for exercise, skilled nursing care, social support and creative arts. As an active member of the art therapy group, Ms. Washington has produced collages representing feelings of hope and illustrating the power of living through the strength of community.
View Evelene's artwork here.

Lai Sin Wong - November/December 2010
Presentation Center was delighted to celebrate Lai Sin Wong's 100th birthday with her.  Lai Sin was born in China on October 28, 1910.  She remembers back to a time in China when there was a lot of famine and hardship but she was able to find work as a homemaker for a wealthy family.  They eventually sponsored her move to the U.S. in the 1960's.  She has 4 children, 3 who live in the Bay Area.

Exercise is at the top of the list as Mrs. Wong's favorite things to do here at the Center.  She attributes her faith in God and her active involvement at her church with her long life.  When asked what advice she would give to others who would like to live a long life as well, she answered, "be happy and share what you have."

Lua Soloatoa - October 2010
Lua was born in San Francisco to immigrant parents from American Samoa. Lua had been in a car accident and spent a lot of time in the rehab hospital. He has a big warm extended family that has supported him in his recovery. It’s hard to imagine that when Lua first came to Mission Creek three years ago he was unable to walk or talk. Now he’s the life of the Mission Creek party – he wins big in Black Jack, Uno or Dominos; walks down to the Mission Creek Promenade; loves going on field trips and goes crabbing off the Mission Creek Bridge. Most of all Lua likes to help others at Mission Creek. He’s the first one to help move chairs and get the rest of the participants to go outside and exercise. He smiles easily and has a great infectious “Lua laugh”. He wants to “Be Cool” – Lua is cool.

Adoracion Jimenez - September 2010
Adoracion Jimenez was born in the Philippines and immigrated to San Francisco in 1988. Ms. Jimenez has a Doctoral Degree in Filipino Literature and taught Social Studies at San Francisco City College. Ms. Jimenez remembers walking a kilometer to high school everyday when she was in the Philippines. Although her family was poor, she never gave up on her education and persevered to get her Doctoral Degree.

Ms. Jimenez has been enrolled at Golden Gate Day Health since 2002. Though her physical function is declining and she has a lot of muscle pain, coming to SteppingStone Golden Gate Day Health brings her much happiness. She especially enjoys the exercise program because it enables her to forget her pain. Ms. Jimenez lives alone and reports that the program is like her second home.

Amparo Carreon - August 2010
Mrs. Carreon has been with our Mabini Center since 2010. She is an active writer and brings joy to everyone who meets her. This photo was taken at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival in June 2010.
Read Amparo's poem here.