Sargent debuts as Foundation for Senior Care Executive Director

December 16, 2020, was an important day for Fallbrook resident Patty Sargent because it was her first day as the Foundation for Senior Care Executive Director.

As an employee of Palomar Health for 26 years, and a consultant for two years, she was searching for a smaller company where she could "make more of a difference."

When the position at FFSC became available, her husband, Allen, was the first person to make her aware of the opportunity, suggesting that she take a tour of the facility to learn more about it.

FFSC Director of Operations Karen Geuy gave her a thorough and inspirational tour.

"Just hearing about what the foundation does, and hearing the passion of the people I met, sparked an interest in me," said Sargent. It didn't take long for her to apply for the role.

During the same week that she applied, three Fallbrook friends separately called to make her aware of the career opportunity. Sargent took it as a "sign" that she should become part of the organization.

"It just resonated with me – I wanted to be able to do something to help," she said. "What the foundation does – helping seniors in so many different ways, is something that I wanted to be a part of. I think it is a good match, and I am happy to be here."

When Sargent worked for Palomar Health, she completed a variety of projects, including Information Technology, operational projects, and planning for the new hospital building. These projects helped prepare Sargent for her new position.

"I knew how to run a project where you had to plan, you had stakeholders, and you needed to make things happen to reach goals," Sargent noted.

In addition to managing three departments and staff at Palomar, she also supported finance, human resources, payroll, supply chain, and other business functions.

"I learned, through the years, how all of those functions operate," she explained.

When Sargent was looking for a small business to work with, she wanted to find a company where she could use the encounters and knowledge gained from her Palomar experience, as well as from her consulting work. These experiences developed in Sargent the skills necessary to meet and tackle the opportunities at the foundation.

Sargent possesses a BS degree in mathematics from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The university's motto is, "Learn by Doing."

"I think that, throughout my entire career, and certainly in this position, 'Learn by Doing' is exactly the right approach," she said.

"I am still learning. My staff is teaching me about our operations. I am learning a lot about the challenges of seniors, about fundraising, and community relationships. I am most definitely learning by doing," she said.

"I have always been passionate about process improvement, and at Palomar I managed a team of performance engineers. That is something I did naturally, and I loved doing," she related. "The foundation gives me an opportunity to work with the team, to make our processes more efficient, and to work on overcoming obstacles so that we can serve more seniors."

"We are doing the work that makes a difference in the lives of people in our community. Before coming here, I did not know what the foundation did, and now that I do, it is my goal to make sure that Fallbrook area residents find out what we offer for seniors."

Serving Fallbrook and the surrounding communities since 1979, the Foundation for Senior Care's mission is to provide programs and resources enabling seniors to enhance their well-being and give them a more meaningful life.

The foundation provides a door-to-door transportation service for seniors and the disabled, a grocery delivery service during the COVID-19 pandemic, a non-medical Adult Day Care for those declining cognitively or physically, and a Senior Advocacy service designed to help seniors by answering questions and providing guidance, connecting seniors to resources, helping establish care plans, and many, many other services.

Finally, the Foundation also offers computer and cell phone classes for seniors, taught by seniors. The Foundation for Senior Care in a non-profit organization, operating on community donations, grants, and bequests. For more information, call 760-723-7570 or visit https://foundationforseniorcare.org/.