Joyce recently retired after serving as Executive Director for the Humboldt Senior Resource Center since 2003. Her career has focused on the development and support of community based senior programs that give options for older adults to age in their community. During this time she has led the agency in the capital campaign to build a specialized Alzheimer’s Day Plan and Resource Center for Humboldt County. Most recently, she has provided the leadership for HSRC to develop and begin a Program of All-inclusive Plan for the Elderly (PACE). Prior to being Executive Director she was Nutrition Director at HSRC. Born in Scotia, CA, Joyce left Humboldt County to attend Oregon State University and went on to earn a M.S. degree in Dietetics and Nutrition and complete a dietetic internship as a registered dietitian at the University of Kansas Medical Center. With her family, they returned to Humboldt County in 1981 to allow their children to be close to grandparents who were lifelong residents of Fortuna. She has extensive experience in private consulting to Area Agencies on Aging, senior nutrition programs, skilled nursing facilities and other community based senior service non-profit agencies. She served as Trustee for Eureka City Schools for 13 years. Joyce and her husband David of 50 years have three adult children and six grandchildren.

Interest in Life Plan Humboldt

Despite the richness of senior services in Humboldt County, the north coast has been and continues to be lacking in housing options for the aging population. Throughout 44 years of work with older adults and with programs that promote independence, health and quality of life, it is obvious to me that the core component critical for all aging adults is safe, healthy and appropriate housing that supports the changing needs of an older adult.

Despite love for Humboldt County, it is well known that older adults in our area decide to leave because quality housing choices with a continuum of support services are not available. I would like to see this change. The opportunity to work with Life Plan Humboldt is just an extension of my life long career in promoting quality of life and independence of older adults in our community.