Patty Berg moved to Humboldt County January 1, 1974 with her husband Patrick Murphy MD. Through the Center for Community Development at Humboldt State University, she was influential in the startup of the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in 1975. From there she moved to the Public Health Department where she developed California’s first K-12 comprehensive family life/sex education curriculum for public Schools which became a national model.

In 1980, Patty became the founding Executive Director of the Area I Agency on Aging serving Humboldt and Del Norte counties, an organization she ran for nearly 20-years, overseeing a staff of 25 and 27 programs serving senior citizens. The agency received national recognition from the Administration on Aging for developing the most comprehensive service system for older adults in California.

Upon her retirement in 1999, she was recruited by local Democrats to run for the California State Assembly serving Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity, Mendocino, Lake and Sonoma counties. There she became the Legislature’s key thinker and advocate on aging issues. During her 6-year term, she chaired a variety of committees and received 14 Legislator of the Year awards from various statewide organizations.

A widow since 1987, Patty would not consider living anywhere else in the world but Humboldt County, where she has developed a cadre of wonderful friends and key professional resources that she knows and trusts.

Why Life Plan Humboldt is Important To Me

Life Plan Humboldt is like the answer to a prayer for those of us who love the beauty of Humboldt County, consider it our home, and do not want to leave as we grow older simply because supportive housing with universal design is not available to us.

My husband and I moved here in 1974. I am fortunate to have an existing support group of close friends that I love, and professional local resources that I know and trust. Nearly all of my close friends are aging (I will be 78 in June). Some of us now live alone and we have large homes and property to manage. At this point in my life, managing a large house on acreage requires help. I also have to drive everywhere due to the fact that anything I might need or want to do is not within easy walking distance.

With the time I have left, I want to live my life to the fullest, surrounded by a supportive community of friends, amenities and the luxury affording the mind of remaining independent in a safe environment. I do so with the full knowledge that I am doing so on my own terms, for the right reasons and I am doing it for the rest of my life here in Humboldt County.

I have been involved in the planning of Life Plan Humboldt since the beginning. I strongly endorse and support the Mission, Vision and Core Values of our nonprofit resident-led Life Plan Community and cannot wait until it is a reality. It is indeed the answer to a prayer.