Saratoga News

New director takes reins at Saratoga Adult Care Center

By Sarah Lombardo

The new administrative director of the Saratoga Adult Care Center almost didn't take the job, fearing that administrative duties might keep her away from the people who drew her to this line of work in the first place. "I came right out and asked Mary [Richards], 'Am I going to be able to interact with the participants? If not, this is not the right position for me,' " Citlali "Ciky" Garcia-Rose says.

But she did take the job, and she does spend time with visitors to the center. "I continue to have interaction with the participants. I open my door, and there they are," she says. "If I couldn't do that, I'd go nuts."

Garcia-Rose, 37, replaced former director Richards July 1. Richards left the position to take over the helm at the Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council after Olga MacFarlane retired. Between her work with Catholic Charities and the Council on Aging and various internships, Garcia-Rose has about 10 years experience in the social services arena.

The Los Angeles-born Garcia-Rose earned a bachelor's in psychology from SJSU in 1987, working for several years before returning to school for her master's in social work, which she completed this past spring.

Though she had worked previously as a case manager for chronically mentally ill patients, Garcia-Rose says she was drawn to work with older adults.

"I felt that they had so much to teach me," she says. "I really admire the resilience of some of these people."

Garcia-Rose admits to minimal experience in the administrative end of working with older adults, but says the staff at the Senior Care Center have made the transition extremely smooth. And a lot of fun, as evidenced by a number of photographs of Garcia-Rose, staff members and participants dancing at a recent luau held at the center.

One change Garcia-Rose has already implemented at the center is a monthly brainstorming session with program managers. She says she feels strongly about staffers being able to suggest ideas for new programs or events. "I'm very open to new ideas," she says.

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